Darlings (in both the feminine and masculine forms) is the new name of the Paris Lesbian and Gay (etc. etc.) film festival, now in its 15th year and back at spiritual home the Forum des Images, finally reopened.

There are lot of films and quite a few parties on offer for the Chéries-Chéris festival, which is what we are now calling the Paris gay, lesbian, transgender and ‘everything else in-between’ film festival. After a few years at the Rex, the festival is back in its subterranean home, the Forum des Images, with what’s looks like a great selection of quality films.

As ever, fiction is heavily represented with a special showing of Spring Fever by Lou Ye (which won the best screenplay award at Cannes this year) opening up proceedings and a special showing of I Love You Phillip Morris by John Requa and Glenn Ficarraen finishing the festival off.

As well as the other films (20-odd of them), there are programmes of short films (for girls or boys), an exhibition called Les Toiles Roses at the Gay & Lesbian Centre, debates also at the Centre, a carte blanche programmed by the Berlin Porn Film Festival(!), another carte blanche programmed by the rather brilliant graphic artists Antoine & Manuel (also responsible for the festival’s logo and poster)…

But wait, there’s more! You can’t spend all your time in a dark room watching films, so… why not spend some time in a dark room dancing to deafeningly loud music?

The dancing starts before the festival even, with a special short film and DJ night on Wednesday 11th November at the Troisième Lieu, then there’s the opening night cocktai party on 16th November at 10.30pm at the Toro restaurant, another club night at the Yono bar with the Relou Crew mixing irreverently, un dinner-show of « contemporary eroticism » at the La Maison Chéri Chérie – Dansoir de Karine Saporta on Saturday 14th November, 8pm, a testosterone-heavy after party at the Eagle on Friday 20th November at 1am, and two other grand evenings out that look rather special:

- Le Cabaret Bouffe hosted by Madame H at Divan du Monde on Sunday 15th November, 3pm, with Monsieur Anna Petrovna, Tom de Pékin, Victor, Monsieur Katia, Deborah Dégoûts, Monsieur K, The man inside Corrine…

…and la nuit Chéries-Chéris on Saturday 21st November in a surprise venue to be announced, with (wait for it) 20 DJs, VJs and prestigious artists form the world of fashion, cinema and electronic music (or so they say!). The entrance fee (you give what you want, but minimum 5 euros) is donated to Act Up.

If you want to know where this party will be held, check out the festival’s Facebook page. Or (all in French) check out the festival’s blog, Myspace space, newsletter or…

The official site! – www.ffglp.net

Chéries-Chéris, the Paris gay, lesbian, trangender and +++ film festival is at the Forum des Images (here) from 16th – 22nd November 2009. Tickets 8 euros, but there are many ways to get a reduction. Check out the info page here.