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In the campy, sexy comedy The Science of Love Sydney is an evolutionary anthropologist who has invented a test that can measure if a person is truly in love. After her boyfriend passes the test she accepts his proposal of marriage, but when making a bid for tenure at her University, she hits a roadblock. She needs the approval of the beautiful blonde department chair, Illeana, who doesn't believe in her research (or in evolutionary anthropology, for that matter).

A duel of wits between the two women ensues, along with sexy swordplay in high heels. Determined to prove her theory, Sydney sets up a cocktail party in the science lab where participants are wired to reveal their attraction to the other participants. The test betrays Sydney's feelings about Illeana, but can a cultural anthropologist and an evolutionary anthropologist find true love?

Emmy-winning director Joyce Draganosky studied for a year with neurobiological experts at Columbia University before shooting the film to ensure that the script was scientifically accurate. The name of her company, Hollywon't Films, may have to be changed after her first feature (now in development) is released.

The drama Triple Minority (written and directed by Amber Sharp) portrays the problems faced by an African-American preacher's daughter whose parents disapprove of her interracial lesbian relationship. Since Clair and Rebecca were caught kissing in the church coat closet, Clair hasn't spoken to her parents.

Rebecca asks that for their anniversary her partner at least try to give her parents a call. Clair takes the initiative and invites them for Sunday dinner, but the meeting quickly devolves into an argument of traded Bible quotes and the problems between the family members are left unresolved.

Finally, the "She Drives Me Crazy" program explores what happens at the end of the affair. Top of the World (written and directed by Maya Kenig, in Hebrew with English subtitles) was filmed on a rooftop in Jerusalem and portrays two young women interviewing potential roommates for their apartment below. After giving the applicants the third degree, one roommate (played by Liat Tamari) rejects them all for various reasons, some of which seem completely unreasonable.

Later, when we see the the two girls kiss, we learn that they're not just roommates but lovers in the midst of a break-up. The potential new roommates don't measure up because Tamari's character doesn't want her lover to leave. The chemistry between the two girls is outstanding, and actress Liat Tamari gets special notice for her authentic performance.

In the romantic mystery Gillery's Little Secret, Gillery is back in town and she's got some ‘splainin' to do. Blake, the daughter of Gillery's first love, Bernadette, has been waiting for this moment a long time. She tells Gillery over coffee, “My dad knows you. When he thinks I'm not listening, he calls me ‘Gillery's little secret.'" Blake wants to know just how close Gillery and Bernadette really were, and why she was born exactly nine months after the last time Gillery left town. “I don't look like my dad or my brother,” she speculates.

Later, when Gillery and Bernadette meet for the first time in 18 years, the air is full of questions. “Have any children?” Bernadette inquires. “Not that I know of,” Gillery answers, wondering if the impossible might have actually occurred.

The part of Gillery is played beautifully by Annabeth Gish, who has matured into a fine actress. Gillery's Little Secret has already appeared on LOGO while making the rounds of the festival circuit and director Tina Scorzafava is planning to turn her 25-minute short into a full-length feature. In the meantime you can watch Gillery's Little Secret online here (note: will not play on Macs; go here for an explanation).

Get more info about the films at Newfest.org

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