Entertainment/Film
Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
The Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival returns for its lucky 13th run October 17-26, 2008. Produced by Three Dollar Bill Cinema and offering the best in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender film and video, the festival will present 86 programs with 170 narrative features, documentaries, local films and shorts. This year the festival expands its local venues with debut programs at West Seattle’s Admiral Theater and the newly reopened King Cat Theater downtown.
With 20 more films than last year, the festival opens with Tom Gustafson’s Were the World Mine, an enchanting new musical with a love story spun around Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Nights’s Dream.” A festive opening night gala will immediately follow the film at Sodo Park. "This year's festival offers an amazing array of films and a variety of styles, “says Rachael Brister, Executive Director of Three Dollar Bill Cinema. “Were the World Mine has a fantastic sense of fun and a talented cast, striking the perfect note to kick off our ten day festival."
The festival's two Centerpieces, Steam and Save Me boast casts with mainstream award-winning talent. Steam’s Ruby Dee and Ally Sheedy portray women emerging from struggles to new found strength and confidence. Save Me’s Chad Allen, Robert Gant and Judith Light engage audiences in this challenging drama that tackles the debate between religion and homosexuality.
The ever-popular cinematic Sing Along is back with a screening of Little Shop of Horrors, starring 80’s favorite Rick Moranis. The vibrant connection between film and music is showcased throughout the festival with a midnight screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and documentary films about Pansy Division and songwriting genius Arthur Russell.
Other festival highlights include a slate of gay themed horror movies, from new queer cinema to cult classics. The festival closes with the hilarious horror parody Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. Before the screening, the ultimate spooky gay icon herself will be interviewed in-person by underground drag phenomenon, Peaches Christ. "To complete our 13th year, we knew we could look to none other than Elvira to bring some campy, sexy fun to Seattle,” says Jason Plourde, Programming Director. “Men, women, gay, straight, everyone who comes to our closing night film and gala will have a great time!"
For those who are unable to attend theatrical events, the festival is offering an unprecedented online option. Three Dollar Bill Cinema and IndieFlix.com are co-presenting the first every major online lesbian & gay film festival at www.indie-fest.com starting October 6. Streams of three features and five shorts are available for users to watch and then vote for their favorites. The winning filmmaker receives a cash award, theatrical screening and a preferred IndieFlix distribution deal.
"We're very happy to be a part of one of the largest queer film festivals in the world,” says IndieFlix CEO Scilla Andreen. “The whole idea of getting hard to find content out to the audience is extremely important to us and we’re grateful for the opportunity to work with Three Dollar Bill Cinema to promote and support talented filmmakers who have consequential stories to tell."
The Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival and Three Dollar Bill Cinema, the 2006 Greater Seattle Business Association’s Non-Profit of the Year, have garnered national recognition for showcasing extraordinary and award-winning work from around the world. More importantly, the festival provides a venue in the local Seattle cultural scene, inspiring community members to express their creativity through film and video.
“We’re committed to showcasing work made by LGBT filmmakers from our community,” says Brister. This year’s festival includes For My Wife..., about the tragic death of artist Kate Fleming and her partner Charlene Strong’s struggles in dealing with the aftermath. “We are very proud to have supported this film through our fiscal sponsorship program. It is thrilling to be able to mentor local filmmaking in this way."
Festival passes and single event tickets are on sale now via www.brownpapertickets.com or by phone at 800-838-3006.
With 20 more films than last year, the festival opens with Tom Gustafson’s Were the World Mine, an enchanting new musical with a love story spun around Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Nights’s Dream.” A festive opening night gala will immediately follow the film at Sodo Park. "This year's festival offers an amazing array of films and a variety of styles, “says Rachael Brister, Executive Director of Three Dollar Bill Cinema. “Were the World Mine has a fantastic sense of fun and a talented cast, striking the perfect note to kick off our ten day festival."
The festival's two Centerpieces, Steam and Save Me boast casts with mainstream award-winning talent. Steam’s Ruby Dee and Ally Sheedy portray women emerging from struggles to new found strength and confidence. Save Me’s Chad Allen, Robert Gant and Judith Light engage audiences in this challenging drama that tackles the debate between religion and homosexuality.
The ever-popular cinematic Sing Along is back with a screening of Little Shop of Horrors, starring 80’s favorite Rick Moranis. The vibrant connection between film and music is showcased throughout the festival with a midnight screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and documentary films about Pansy Division and songwriting genius Arthur Russell.
Other festival highlights include a slate of gay themed horror movies, from new queer cinema to cult classics. The festival closes with the hilarious horror parody Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. Before the screening, the ultimate spooky gay icon herself will be interviewed in-person by underground drag phenomenon, Peaches Christ. "To complete our 13th year, we knew we could look to none other than Elvira to bring some campy, sexy fun to Seattle,” says Jason Plourde, Programming Director. “Men, women, gay, straight, everyone who comes to our closing night film and gala will have a great time!"
For those who are unable to attend theatrical events, the festival is offering an unprecedented online option. Three Dollar Bill Cinema and IndieFlix.com are co-presenting the first every major online lesbian & gay film festival at www.indie-fest.com starting October 6. Streams of three features and five shorts are available for users to watch and then vote for their favorites. The winning filmmaker receives a cash award, theatrical screening and a preferred IndieFlix distribution deal.
"We're very happy to be a part of one of the largest queer film festivals in the world,” says IndieFlix CEO Scilla Andreen. “The whole idea of getting hard to find content out to the audience is extremely important to us and we’re grateful for the opportunity to work with Three Dollar Bill Cinema to promote and support talented filmmakers who have consequential stories to tell."
The Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival and Three Dollar Bill Cinema, the 2006 Greater Seattle Business Association’s Non-Profit of the Year, have garnered national recognition for showcasing extraordinary and award-winning work from around the world. More importantly, the festival provides a venue in the local Seattle cultural scene, inspiring community members to express their creativity through film and video.
“We’re committed to showcasing work made by LGBT filmmakers from our community,” says Brister. This year’s festival includes For My Wife..., about the tragic death of artist Kate Fleming and her partner Charlene Strong’s struggles in dealing with the aftermath. “We are very proud to have supported this film through our fiscal sponsorship program. It is thrilling to be able to mentor local filmmaking in this way."
Festival passes and single event tickets are on sale now via www.brownpapertickets.com or by phone at 800-838-3006.
