Inaugurated in 1993, the QFilm Festival annually presents narrative features, documentaries, and short films that embody the entirety of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community. Last year’s event was the most successful yet with over 1,000 attendees, and featured a U.S. premiere and several area premieres as well some of the most acclaimed features on the 2011 film-festival circuit.
The 2012 QFilm Festival will open at the Art Theatre on Friday, September 14 with Thom Fitzgerald’s acclaimed Cloudburst, starring Academy Award winners Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker, and the Southern California premiere of Rosser Goodman’s gay-themed comedy Love or Whatever. An pening night party will take place between screenings at the Gay and Lesbian Center of Greater Long Beach next door.
The festival will come to a close on Sunday, September 16 with the Swedish romantic-drama Kiss Me (Kyss Mig) and Glenn Gaylord’s timely I Do. A closing night party will also take place between these final two screenings.
The remaining narrative and documentary features selected to screen on Saturday and Sunday (screening times and venues TBA in August) are: Gay LAtino: Coming of Age (U.S. premiere); the award-winning Raid of the Rainbow Lounge (West Coast premiere); Dances with Films Audience Award winner Delusions of Grandeur (LGBT Festival premiere), Taking a Chance on God (Southern California premiere); Unfit: Ward vs. Ward (Southern California premiere); Outfest Audience Award winner I Stand Corrected; Outfest multiple award winner Mosquita y Mari; Positive Youth; Elliot Loves; and Morgan.
Additional screenings on Saturday, September 15 will include a variety of great men’s and women’s short films. These programs will be announced in August.
Many filmmakers and cast members of the films to be shown will be present this year as they were last year for audience discussions. Festival events will be hosted by a variety of local luminaries and will feature numerous parties and opportunities for attendees to meet and mingle with filmmakers, actors, critics and other industry professionals.
For more information on the Art Theatre, please visit www.arttheatrelongbeach.com.
Passes and tickets will be available for purchase beginning in August through the QFilm Festival page. Submissions for this year’s fest are now closed but will be accepted beginning October 15th for the 2013 festival via www.withoutabox.com.