A Decade of Queer Cinema
The Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Hits the double digits

By Mary Damiano

The daughter of two lesbian moms fights rumors at high school and falls for an ambiguous quarterback in Tru Loved, which will make its world premiere Friday, May 2, at the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival be screened

There are 10 pink flamingos on the cover of the program for the 2008 Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, and each of the perky pink birds symbolize one year in the history of South Florida’s queer film fest.

Yes, 2008 is a landmark year for the film festival that began when a core group of friends met in publicist Lisa Palley’s Miami Beach living room to discuss the formation of a film festival for the gay community. Filmmaker Robert Rosenberg was there, so was Harvey J. Burstein. Today Burstein is the publisher of MiamiARTzine.com, but back then, he was relatively new to Miami Beach, a Chicago transplant eager to get involved with creating something the gay community could be proud of. He contributed the first $5,000 to the fledgling festival, challenging others to match it.

Back then, the festival lasted three days and showed a two dozen films. Today, the festival lasts 10 days and will screen nearly 100 films. The MGLFF has become one of the most respected film festivals in the country, playing host to the Planet Out Short Film Awards, attracting major premieres from both established an up-and-coming filmmakers, and attracting stars who come to support their films and enjoy all that Miami Beach has to offer.

And while in the past the MGLFF has partnered with the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, to make sure Broward’s substantial gay community is not left out, this year they’ve formed the Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, their own brand.

Here are some of the highlights of the 10th annual Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. For a complete schedule and list of venues, visit www.mglff.com. And at the end of this story, enjoy a special comic strip about the festival by BiBi.

Opening Night: Breakfast with Scot

Breakfast with Scot, the opening night film of MGLFF

The MGLFF kicks off this year’s fest with the east coast premiere of Breakfast with Scot at the Olympia Theatre at Gusman Performing Arts Center in downtown Miami. This is a charming, funny and sweet tale of love, family, and embracing who you are. It centers on rugged and handsome Eric McNally, a former star hockey player with the Toronto Maple Leafs. After an injury forces him to retire, the sexy athlete starts a second career, as a successful television sportscaster. Closeted Eric shares his life and home with partner Sam, a corporate attorney. Their domestic tranquility is unexpectedly turned upside down when the two learn that Sam's deadbeat globe-trotting brother Billy has been left custody of his ex-girlfriend's son and until Billy can be found, the two men will have to act as temporary dads to 11 year-old Scot, a fact that doesn't make Eric happy at all. Director Laurie Lynd and producer Paul Brown will attend the screening to discuss the film with the audience. After the screening, party at Jungle Island in a movie-themed gala from 10 p.m. to midnight.

Centerpiece Film: The Secret

The Secret, the MGLFF centerpiece film

The centerpiece event came about when founding artistic director Robert Rosenberg decided that the MGLFF needed a big event midway between the opening and closing night festivities. This year’s centerpiece takes place at the Colony Theatre on Lincoln Road on Wednesday April 30, with the Florida premiere of The Secret by Avi Nesher. Starring iconic actress Fanny Ardant, the film takes a respectful look at the place of feminism and sexuality in the world of Orthodox Judaism. A rabbi’s daughter, betrothed to her father’s star pupil, convinces her father to allow her to study at a seminary for Jewish women. During her religious training she meets the daughter of a wealthy secular family who has sent her to Israel to restore her faith and possibly find a husband. Before long, the two women reawaken long suppressed feelings of love and passion that seemingly have no place in Orthodox life. The Maxine Hotel, one of the three Catalina Hotels, will be the backdrop for the Centerpiece Gala After-party. Indulge in an open bar while enjoying Marti the amazing fire performer as she manipulates, juggles and twirls the fire to the music stylings of DJ Danny Bled.

Celebrity Guests

Jennifer Tilly, star of Relax…It’s Just Sex, will attend the MGLFF

The red carpet awaits the confirmed celebrities at this year’s MGLFF, including actress Sharon Gless, “Project Runway” winner Jay Mccarroll, actress Jennifer Tilly, “Star Trek” star Nichelle Nichols, and producer Christine Vachon.

Special Honors
Robert Rosenberg
The 10th Annual Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival will pay tribute to its Founding Director Robert Rosenberg at its Gala Opening Night on Friday, April 25 at the Gusman Center for Performing Arts. Rosenberg founded the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in 1998 and served as the Festival Director through 2002. Thanks to his initial vision the Festival has rapidly grown into the largest cultural event for South Florida's GLBT community and an internationally important part of the queer film festival circuit.

Christine Vachon

Producer Christine Vachon, who will receive the MGLFF Career Achievement Award

The MGLFF Career Achievement Award, sponsored by HBO, will be presented this year to innovative filmmaker Christine Vachon. While hers’ may be just a name that rolls in the credits of her many films, those who follow gay-themed films know that Vachon is a force in filmmaking, producing challenging, independent films that are nonetheless commercially successful. Her films include Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Boys Don’t Cry, Velvet Goldmine and Poison. The award will be presented prior to the Florida premiere of Savage Grace on Saturday, May 3, 10:15 p.m., at the Colony Theater.

Affinity, a film by Tom Fywell, adapted from novel by Sarah Waters

Spotlight Screenings, Panels and Special Events
The women’s spotlight screening this year is Affinity by Tom Fywell, adapted from Sarah Waters’ novel of the same name. (Waters’ Tipping the Velvet was one of the highlights of the MGLFF a few years ago.) The film is atmospheric and filled with tension and plot twists. , and the sharply-crafted plot twists build up to reveal a spectacular ending. For the men, Boystown (Chuecatown) by Juan Flahn. In this madcap comedy, a man desperate to become Chuecatown’s top real estate agent makes old apartments available by murdering the elderly residents and disguises their deaths as suicides. He updates their décor; and flips them to affluent gay couples in his effort to establish Chuecatown as the new queer hot spot in Spain.

Planet Out Short Film Awards
The 9th Annual PlanetOut Short Movie Awards, judged by industry professionals in Los Angeles, Miami, New York and San Francisco, will be held Sunday, April 27, 3:15 p.m. at the Regal Cinema South Beach, followed by a celebratory after-party with all the attending filmmakers at Piola Restaurant. The $15,000 awards are the largest cash prizes in the world for LGBT shorts.

MergeMiami

“Project Runway” winner Jay McCarroll, who will appear at the MGLFF to support his short film, Eleven Minutes

This year’s MGLFF features MergeMiami with the generous support of premiere sponsor the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences. Seasoned film industry veterans will lend their vast knowledge and expertise to aide those commencing their entry into motion pictures. The international industry tastemakers will have the opportunity to come together and interact with the newest crop of pioneering filmmaker and industry talent to discuss obstacles and inroads for the growth and positive development of the industry as a whole. The Merge program will be comprised of six seminars, workshops and networking events across two-days at the MGLFF host hotel and delegate center The Catalina Hotel in South Beach. The list of panelists includes respected industry veterans from all fields of filmmaking, from production to publicity, digital media to distribution. Among the panelists confirmed to attend are: Randy Barbato (World of Wonder), Fenton Bailey (World of Wonder), Kelly Burkhardt (TLA Releasing), Mickey Cottrell (Inclusive PR),Veronique Courtois (Casque D’or Films), Bob Hawk (Independent Consultation for Independents), Alexis Fish (SAG Indie), Dan Renzi (blogger; reality TV personality) and Dennis Williams (HBO). Topping the weekend of events will be the spectacular live fashion show by “Project Runway” winner Jay McCarroll in celebration of his film Eleven Minutes on the rooftop of the Catalina Hotel on Saturday, April 26.

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival

Reverend Troy Perry, the subject of the documentary Call Me Troy, which will close the Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

Powerful documentaries bookend the Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festival with Ask Not by Johnny Symons as the Gala Opening Night Film on Thursday, May 1 at Parker Playhouse; a rare and compelling exploration of the effects of the United States military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. The film exposes the tangled political battles that led to the discriminatory law and examines the societal shifts that have occurred since its passage in 1993. Director Johnny Symons and several subjects from the film will attend the screening to discuss the film with the audience. After the screening, the stage will be turned into a lavish setting for the after party, where serving stations, butler passed hors d'oeuvres, bar service and music will make the stage come alive for an unforgettable party.

The final Fort Lauderdale film is the acclaimed Call Me Troy by Scott Bloom on Sunday, May 4 at the Sunshine Cathedral; about the Reverend Troy Perry who has been, and continues to remain, on the front lines of virtually every major civil rights struggle in gay/lesbian history. In 1969, he performed the first public same-sex marriage in the U.S., and went on to file the first lawsuit seeking legal recognition for same gender marriages. Director Scott Bloom and subject Troy Perry will attend the screening to discuss the film with the audience. The screening will be followed by a catered Brunch at Sunshine Cathedral.

Closing Night: Were the World Mine

Were the World Mine, the closing film of the MGLFF. Director Thomas Gustafson and his cast will attend the screening and answer questions from the audience.

The MGLFF closes on Sunday May 4 with the South Florida Premiere screening of the musical extravaganza Were the World Mine by director Thomas Gustafson at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts. As the gay outcast at an all-boys prep school, Timothy is of course prone to daydreaming about the handsome jock. But his are no ordinary flights of fancy; they’re musical theater extravaganzas, complete with show-stopping songs, dazzling sets, and pirouetting rugby player chorus boys. When the drama teacher invites Timothy to audition for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, it’s understood that theater is his destiny. Director Thomas Gustafson and the entire cast will attend the screening to discuss the film with the audience. The closing night gala will be held at the Miami Art Space/MAS, which opened earlier this year. Kick back for a tasty late-night bite and party with the MGLFF regulars and guests one last time before next year’s festival.