The Gay and Lesbian Center of Greater Long Beach kicks off the Q Film Festival 2009 Friday afternoon at 2:30 with a free screening of the cult favorite, “Mommie Dearest”, starring Faye Dunaway.
The Art Theater will be filled with fans exclaiming “NO WIRE HANGERS!”
The Festival takes place May 8-10, 2009 during Pride Week at the newly renovated Art Theater located at 2025 East 4th St. in Retro Row of Long Beach. The 4th Anniversary of the Q Film Festival presents features, short films and documentaries focusing on issues within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community.
The Long Beach is excited to have their own LGBT film festival. Each night, the feature film will be hosted by local comedians Sandy Seacrest, Carlease Burke, Lynda Montgomery and Long Beach’s own Nikki Coldwater.
FRIDAY
After Mommie Dearest, Opening Night will feature a homecoming for the local Long Beach feature film, “Don’t Go,” Directed by Amber Sharp a new television series filmed in Long Beach. Director and cast are expected to attend the screening with a Q & A following the film. Later that evening is the feature film “Tru Loved” about Sixteen-year-old Tru who is uprooted by her lesbian moms from her gay-friendly home in San Francisco and moved to a suburban community in Southern California.
SATURDAY
Saturday kicks off with a workshop entitled “How to Make Your First Short Film” by local film maker, Camrin Pitts of Little Red Pictures. Little Red Pictures has produced several music videos and feature films in Long Beach and contributed to the community.
At 2pm come and see Bi The Way (website here); a documentary that features a road trip across the country offering a hip, fresh insight into a growing awareness of a more fluid sexuality featuring commentary from the likes of Michael Musto and Dan Savage. This film offers a mix of scientific information on sexuality and fun personal insights on sexual culture. It will be followed by a panel discussion at the Center with Bi journalists Denise Penn and Mike Szymanski and bisexual film producer Kyle Schickner.
Later at 4:00pm: Fun in Women’s Shorts highlighting academy-award nominated short “La Corona,” translated as The Crown, a film about female murderers who ferociously compete for a beauty pageant crown while in prison. After that at 6:30pm we will present Fun in Men’s Shorts highlighting. John Keitel’s “Saving the Boom” a story of one man’s crusade to save the oldest gay bar in Laguna Beach from the wrecking ball. The director and cast will be with us for the screening and Q&A.
SUNDAY
Sunday’s line-up starting at 1:30 will feature “A Place to Live: The Story of Triangle Square” a documentary about planning and building a place for LGBT seniors. “For My Wife” shows at 3:30 and chronicles how Charlene Strong was became a powerful voice for the equal rights of same-gender couples following the death of her wife. “The Constant Process,” a film about spirituality; “Remembering Harvey” featuring Cleve Jones who will speak about the Names Project; “I Can’t Think Straight” ; which delves into Middle Eastern culture, women’s rights and views on homosexuality.
At 8:30, Her highness Nikki Coldwater will grace the stage and introduce “Let It Reign: The Imperial Court” produced by mother-and-son filmmaking team, Kathleen and Camrin Pitts, as they take you on a wild ride of pageantry, illusion and performance that promises to “heal the world, one small step-ball-change at a time.” Finally, “Showgirls, Provincetown, MA” a documentary by C.Fitz on the legendary Provincetown stage production of “Showgirls,” and the stories of the people involved.
Monday night, the film “Eleven Minutes” will be shown by The Art Theater – for more information on the Art Theater go to arttheatrelongbeach.com.
The annual Q Film Festival is an opportunity for members of the community to get involved with The Center Long Beach and to meet other community members with similar interests. Visit the Center’s website at centerlb.org for a complete schedule and more details.