Florida Agenda

“Celebrating Life in Pictures for 21 Years”

By BOB KECSKEMETY

In a year of dull realities, GLBT filmmakers around the world have created a vibrant selection for this year’s 21st annual Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, one of the world’s largest events of its kind. The 11-day run from October 7 through 17th will showcase 37 film screening events, including three shorts programs and five major party events.

There will be screenings all 11 days at the Tampa Theatre venue in downtown Tampa and there will also be four nights of programming in St. Petersburg, Monday, October 11th through Thursday, October 14th at Muvico Baywalk in downtown St. Petersburg. Single tickets are $9.50.

Programming Director, Margaret Murray summarized the 2010 film line, “This year’s crop of films showcases the true diversity of the LGBT filmmaking world. We have films that tackle thorny subjects, we have comedies, and we have art-house films from all over the world. The vision of the filmmakers we’re showcasing this year is astonishing — each and every one will take you to places you never imagined. That could be a small fishing village in Peru, a trip back down memory lane to the late ‘60s or it could be a look into the future. It’s an exciting year for us — and for everyone who attends the festival, as well.”

“This line-up is smarter, sexier and more fun than we’ve seen in years” said John Thomas, TIGLFF Board President. “This is my seventh festival and this year really marks a shift in where things are headed, you can see it very clearly when you look at this year’s schedule. GLBT filmmakers at home and around the world are gaining access to more resources to tell their stories, our stories, and you can see it in the production values across the board.”

Is It Just Me? Courtesy TLA Releasing

The films to be shown at the festival, their show times and locations are:

Thursday, October 7

VIOLET TENDENCIES

(7:45 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

Friday, October 8

THE SECRET DIARIES OF MISS ANNE LISTER

(7:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

THE MAN WHO LOVED YNGVE

(9:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

Saturday, October 9

SEX IN AN EPIDEMIC

(1:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

MAKING THE BOYS

(2:30 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

CHILDREN OF GOD

(4:30 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

A MARINE STORY

(7:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

ROLE/PLAY

(9:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

Sunday, October 10

RIOT ACTS: FLAUNTING GENDER

DEVIANCE IN MUSIC PERFORMANCE

(1:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

“Celebrating Life in Pictures for 21 Years”

BEST OF THE FEST – SHORTS

(2:30 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

THE OWLS

(5:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

THE ADULT IN THE ROOM

(7:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

I KILLED MY MOTHER

(9:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

Monday, October 11

WOMEN’S SHORTS

(7:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

EYES WIDE OPEN

(9:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

UNDERTOW (CONTRACORRIENTE)

(7:30 p.m., Muvico Baywalk)

Tuesday, October 12

MEN’S SHORTS

(7:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

SASHA

(9:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

EL NINO PEZ

(7:00 p.m., Muvico Baywalk)

BLOOMINGTON

(9:00 p.m., Muvico Baywalk)

Wednesday, October 13

FIT

(6:45 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

THE PEOPLE I’VE SLEPT WITH

(9:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

HOWL

(7:30 p.m., Muvico Baywalk)

Thursday, October 14

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT: PRIMA DONNA

(7:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

FASHION VICTIM

(9:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

LE TIGRE ON TOUR

(7:30 p.m., Muvico Baywalk)

Friday, October 15

FOUR FACED LIAR

(7:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

YOU SHOULD MEET MY SON

(9:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

Saturday, October 16

KIDS IN THE HALL

(11:30 a.m., Tampa Theatre)

THE ADONIS FACTOR

(1:30 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

ELENA UNDONE

(3:30 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

LEADING LADIES

(6:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

IS IT JUST ME?

(8:30 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

OUT IN SILENCE

(1:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

MISSISSIPPI QUEEN

(3:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

THE TOPP TWINS: UNTOUCHABLE GIRLS

(5:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

LA MISSION

(7:00 p.m., Tampa Theatre)

Tickets and passes can be purchased onlineat www.tiglff.com or by calling (813) 879-4220 or at the Tampa Theatre Box Office. Single tickets are $9.50, student tickets are$7.50 and are available at the theater boxoffice with valid student ID.

The People I Slept With photo courtesy 408 films/ margin films

By BOB KECSKEMETY

The Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Film Festival starts next week, Thursday, October 7 with a Grand Opening Party at The Manor Entertainment Complex, 2345 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors with special live performance by Karina Iglesias and Band. All films will also be shown at The Manor.

These to be shown at the festival and their show times are:

Thursday, October 7
- THE SECRET DIARIES OF MISS ANNE LISTER (7:30 p.m.)

Friday, October 8
- STONEWALL UPRISING (5:30 p.m.)
- IS IT JUST ME? (6:00 p.m.)
- THE OWLS (7:45 p.m.)
- THE PEOPLE I’VE SLEPT WITH (8:00 p.m.)

Saturday, October 9
- THE MORMON PROPOSITION (2:00 p.m.)
- STRAPPED (2:30 p.m.)
- THE STRING (4:30 p.m.)
- THE FOUR-FACED LIAR (5:00 p.m.)
- BABY JANE (7:30 p.m.)
- UNDERTOW (Contracorriente) (7:45 p.m.)

Sunday, October 10
- THE BELIEVERS (2:00 p.m.)
- MAKING THE BOYS(2:30 p.m.)
- OFF AND RUNNING (4:30 p.m.)
- VIOLET TENDENCIES (5:00 p.m.)

THREE FILMS ARE PARTICULAR STANDOUTS THIS YEAR:

VIOLET TENDENCIES (Sunday, October 10 at 5:00 p.m.) Violet is a single, thirty-something, gal who has a seemingly wonderful life filled with a loving group of friends, a good job and a busy social calendar. Yet Violet wants more; she wants to find love. Though she is constantly hanging around hunky, gorgeous men, none are interested in her. Violet is fag hag who surrounds herself with gay men so while she receives tons of affection from her boys, it’s not the type that keeps her warm at night. Her friends that aren’t coupled, are busy hooking up while Violet is on her own. At the insistence of Salome, she decides to ditch the gays in search of her own Mr. Right. Starring ‘80’s child actor, Mindy Cohn (Natalie from “Facts of Life”) as Violet.

Violent Tendencies, courtesy TLA Releasing

THE PEOPLE I’VE SLEPT WITH (Friday, October 8 at 8:00 p.m.) Angela loves sex and is proud to call herself a slut, which she claims is simply a woman with the morals of a man. She’s having the time of her life until she wakes up one morning and finds herself pregnant and unsure of whom the father is. Luckily, her best friend is Gabriel, a gay man who knows a thing or two about ships that pass in the night. Armed with the photos that Angela has taken of all her conquests just after the ‘act’, they set out to find the father. Gabriel has his own problems when his cute new boyfriend catches him being too friendly with an ex-beau and refuses all his attempts to make up.

STRAPPED (Saturday, October 9 at 2:30 p.m.) A routine trick at a man’s apartment propels a cynical hustler into a series of strange and life-changing encounters. Tall and lanky with a mop of unruly dark hair, the young man makes for an attractive prostitute — handsome in body, amiable in personality and efficient in sex. He’s just out to make a buck, one guy at a time. But this coldly efficient rent boy begins to look at himself in a different way one stormy night when he finds himself lost in a maze-like apartment building. His unexpected odyssey leads him to a series of encounters with: a “straight” guy with issues, a cocaine-fueled queen who thinks he knows him, an older manhidden away in a leaky attic apartment who assists him on his journey and a lonely young man who thinks he’s finally found a connection with someone.

STRAPPED courtesy TLA Releasing

OTHER FILMS OF SPECIAL NOTE ARE:

STONEWALL UPRISING (Friday, October 8 at 5:30 p.m.) In the early morning hours of June 28th, 1969 the NYPD traveled into Greenwich Village to raid the Stonewall Inn and to arrest gay patrons in the neighborhood bar. These raids were routine and in fact, not uncommon at even the Stonewall Inn, but on this particular day something was different.

THE FOUR FACED LIAR (Saturday, October 9 at 5:00 p.m.) Trip and Bridget are best friends living together in New York. When not chasing girls, the pair are chugging beers and hanging out at their favorite Greenwich Village watering hole, The Four-Faced Liar. One night they meet Molly and Greg, a straight-laced young couple. The foursome instantly develops a close repartee though they are very different. Molly and Greg cherish their yuppie existence while Trip and Bridgett enjoy a lifestyle that’s more akin to a frat house.

MAKING THE BOYS (Sunday, October 10 at 2:30 p.m.) Crayton Robey´s masterful documentary, Making the Boys, thoroughly examines the creation of the ’60’s play and film, The Boys in the Band, along with the subsequent controversy of both through a loving yet impartial view at its role in LGBT culture. Crowley unabashedly recounts not only the details of how the film and play came to pass, but shares his insight and rare video footage of his friendship with Hollywood royalties including Rock Hudson, Roddy McDowell, Judy Garland and his dear friend Natalie Woods.

OFF AND RUNNING (Sunday, October 10 at 4:30 p.m.) Avery was adopted at an early age by a Jewish lesbian couple; she shares her home with her older mixed-race brother, Rafi, and younger Korean-born brother, Zay-Zay. A star athlete at her local high school, her path is seemingly planned out with a track scholarship in her foreseeable future. However, when the ever-curious Avery begins to really yearn to learn more about her identity as an African-American and where she came from.

The official closing party will be Sunday, October 10 at The Manor with a special live performance by Leesa Richards Band.

Ticket prices are $8 for festival members, $12 for non-members and can be purchased on the internet at www.flglff.com (24 hours a day), by phone at (305) 534-9924 (Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) or in person at the box office at The Manor (days of festival only.) A ticketing service charge of $1.25 per ticket will apply to all online orders. A ticketing service charge of $1 per ticket will apply to all in-person/telephone orders. Additionally, a transaction charge of $2 per overall order is applied to each online/telephone order. Courtesy: Courtesy Courtesy The Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Film Festival starts next week, Thursday, October 7 with a Grand Opening Party at The Manor Entertainment Complex, 2345 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors with special live performance by Karina Iglesias and Band. All films will also be shown at The Manor.