International Festival Kicks Off : Eighth Annual Event Features the Best in Gay Cinema

Q Cinema has announced this year’s schedule for the festival showcasing the best in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender films featured during the four-day event from May 18-21. The screenings will take place at the Rose Marine Theater just south of the Fort Worth Stockyards.

The four-day festival will start May 18th with the Opening Night Gala presentation and Southwest Premiere of George Bamber’s “The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green” based on the popular comic strip by Eric Orner. Bamber and Orner will attend the screening and discuss the film with the audience. The show will be followed by a wing ding at Flowers on the Square.

On May 19th the festival will present the world premiere screening of Dave Stovall’s “The Blue Saloon” shot on location throughout Fort Worth, including the former 651 (most recently known as Hot Shots). Director Dave Stovall and many of the cast and crew will be on hand to talk about the film after the screening.

The movie will be followed by what promises to be one of Fort Worth’s most talked about celebrations, the Blue Party, taking place at the usual home of Hangman’s House of Horrors, behind Magic Etc. at I-30 and Forest Park. The event will feature music by DJ Soul, dancers painted blue from head to toe, a silent auction, and video screen entertainment.

On Saturday, after a full day of screenings with several filmmakers in attendance and a number of Texas and World Premieres, the festival will present the Fort Worth debut of the Dallas-based comedy sensation Queertown, a live performance.

Then on May 21st look for more premieres, more filmmakers, and the closing-night extravaganza, the Texas Premiere of Andrea Meyerson’s long-awaited sequel to her award-winning documentary “Laughing Matters, Laughing Matters . . . More!” Meyerson will attend and talk about the movie after the screening which will be immediately followed by the annual Q Awards presentation and the closing-night party taking place next door in the museum space of the Rose Marine.

“We couldn’t be more excited about finding a home at the Rose Marine this year,” says Artistic Director Todd Camp of this year’s venue. “Our traveling circus atmosphere of years past was fun and all, but it will be awfully nice to settle in one place and focus on our true goal – providing audiences some of the best films available.

On the heels of the success of “Brokeback Mountain” our mission has never been clearer and as new audiences, even straight audiences look to gay and lesbian cinema for the first time we will continue to provide a variety of depictions of the gay experience for any audience that enjoys a story well told.”

Below is a list of features with dates, times, and locations.

For more information, visit www.qcinema.org.

Features:

“The Blue Saloon” (Director Dave Stovall) – The death of a family member prompts a long-distance phone call to Sicily with the announcement that Salvatore’s late brother has just left him a nightclub in the States – Texas to be exact. So after burying his brother, Sal boot scoots across the pond to his new inheritance only to discover that in this honky-tonk, some of the men are wearing cowgirl outfits. (U.S. – World Premiere).

“Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema” (Directors Lisa Ades /Lesli Klainberg) -Book-ended by Kenneth Angers avant-garde “Fireworks” and “Brokeback Mountain,” this film competently guides the viewer through the history and defining seminal moments of gay and lesbian cinema in the U.S. (U.S. – Texas Premiere).

“Laughing Matters . . . More!” (Director Andrea Meyerson) – All-access pass is being given to four of the hottest hilarious lesbian comedians working today; Elvira Kurt, Sabrina Matthews, RenÃ?© Hicks, and Vickie Shaw in this hilarious documentary sequel. (U.S. – Texas Premiere).

“Lesbian Grandmothers From Mars – (Director Keith Wilson) – From San Francisco to New York City, Elisia and Carrie Ross-Stone, two lesbian grandmothers (from Mars, Penn.) – ride across mountain ranges, through deserts and across prairies as they struggle through the mud-slinging of election-year politics, hateful protests, and even death threats to show America that they’re not alien life forms.

“Loving Annabelle” – (Director Katherine Brooks) – The newest student at this prestigious all-girls’ Catholic academy is Annabelle, the rebellious daughter of a senator who’s too busy to parent. Underneath her bad-girl persona Annabelle hungers for love and it doesn’t take long for her to crush out on everyone’s favorite English teacher, Simone. A steamy new boarding-school romance destined to set hearts on fire. (U.S. – Texas Premiere).

“The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life Of Ethan Green – (Director George Bamber) – Eric Orner’s popular comic strip of the same name provides ample material for first-time director George Bamber’s big-screen adaptation. But much like its pen-and-ink inspiration the film’s charm lies in its wonderful cast of characters all brought to life by a terrific team of players. (U.S. – Texas premiere).

Shorts:

âÂ?¢ “Arie”- (Director Gianluca Vallero) – A professional dancer is spellbound by his new choreographer. (Germany – Texas Premiere).

âÂ?¢ “Available Men” – (Director David Dean Bottrell) – A Los Angeles film producer’s business meeting and a blind date get jumbled at a hotel bar. (U.S. – Texas Premiere).

âÂ?¢ “Begging For Change” – (Director J.P. Tepnapa) – A coin toss leads a homeless teen on parallel paths toward redemption or desperation. Director Tepnapa and producer Bill Warren will attend. (U.S. – World Premiere).

âÂ?¢ “The Betsy Wetsy Time Bomb Effect: – (Director Bryan McHenry) – What if your life was a sitcom? Or if an argument with your mother turned into a scene from “Dynasty?” Allistair is about to find out. (U.S. – Texas Premiere).

âÂ?¢ “Butler” – (Director Erik Rosenlund) – A tuxedoed butler finds himself caught up in the middle of a bizarre love triangle as he juggles to address his employers’ needs. (Switzerland – Texas Premiere). PlanetOut Winner for Animated Short.

âÂ?¢ “Casting Couch” – (Director J.T. O’Neal) – A nervous first-time director gets confused during auditions and turns the camera off instead of on. Director O’Neal and writer Ken Gilden will attend. (U.S. – Texas Premiere).

âÂ?¢ “Colin” – (Director Peter Lindhout) – Check out the animated adventures of a gay guinea pig. (The Netherlands – U.S. Premiere).

âÂ?¢ “Copain De Paris” – (Director Jacob Owens) – Even in the world of hamsters boy culture has complicated twists and turns. (Canada – Texas Premiere).

âÂ?¢ “Cosa Bella” – (Director Fiona MacKenzie) – Delphine and Belle make an awfully good-looking couple but Delphine has an important decision to make if she wants to win the Belle’s heart once and for all. (U.S. – Texas Premiere).

âÂ?¢ “Dallas Diamonds: One Team, One Goal” – (Director Karen Seimears) – Follow this lady football team through their 2004 championship season and get to know the players. (U.S. – World Premiere).

âÂ?¢ “The D.L. Chronicles” – (Directors Quincy LeNear & Deondray Gossett) – A real estate banker is overwhelmed by the demands of his marriage, career, and his closeted attraction to men. (U.S. – Texas Premiere).

âÂ?¢ “Hitchcocked” -(Director David M. Young) – David M. Young (“Freud Slips,” “Looking For Mr. Right”) returns for his third consecutive year with a high tension offering about sexual fantasies going too far. (U.S. – Texas Premiere).

âÂ?¢ “Latch Key” – (Director Garth Bardsley) – Two adolescent brothers separately scheme to woo their respective playmates for afternoon sex until mom makes it home that is. (U.S. – World Premiere).

âÂ?¢ “Mormon’s Visit” – (Director Casper Andreas) – When a Swedish photographer gets a surprise visit from his 82-year-old grandmother (his mormor), the two have plenty of questions for each other. (U.S.).

âÂ?¢ “Never Rob A Bank With Someone You Love” – (Director Jill Maxey) – Joan and Candy once had the perfect life together. But Candy’s flair for spending Joan’s cash forces these lovely ladies to risk it all. (U.S. Premiere).

âÂ?¢ “Oh, You Pretty Things” – (Director Michael Alen) – This experimental collage of sound and vision chronicles the enchantment and disintegration of a relationship. (U.S. – Texas Premiere).

âÂ?¢ “Queer Spawn” – (Director Anna Boluda) – What’s it like growing up with gay or lesbian parents? Teens from New York to Texas share their experiences. (U.S. – North Texas Premiere).

âÂ?¢ “Queer Web” – (Director J.T. O’Neal) – A pair of young lovers surf the Web for a threesome but their perspective third sure seems a bit too familiar. Director O’Neal and writer Ken Gilden in attendance. (U.S.).

âÂ?¢ “Sissy Frenchfry” – (Director JC Oliva) – Student body President Sissy Frenchfry is quirky, happy-go-lucky, likeable, and openly gay. All is well until a hunky student arrives and attempts to “fix” the progressive campus. (U.S. -Texas Premiere). PlanetOut Grand Prize Winning Short.

âÂ?¢ “Who’s The Top?” – (Director Jenni Livingston) – A tale of the trials and tribulations of Alixe’s passage through nearly a decade of sexual explorations set against a backdrop of stunningly choreographed song and dance numbers. (U.S. -Texas Premiere).

âÂ?¢ “Wish Fulfillment” – (Directors Matt Brown & David Simpatico) – A simple coming-out moment becomes a whirlwind of imaginary outcomes as a son tells his father he’s gay with ten very different responses. Directors in attendance. (U.S. – World Premiere).

2006 SCHEDULE:
MAY 18
“The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green” (88 min.) (Texas premiere) (Total program: 102 min.)
7:30 p.m. Thursday with “Available Men” (14 min.) (Texas Premiere)

Opening Night Wing Ding
10 p.m. Thursday, Flowers on the Square

MAY 19
“The Blue Saloon” (World Premiere) (90 min.) (Total program: 105 min.) 7:30 p.m. Friday, with Arie (15 min.) (Texas Premiere)

The Blue Party (Special Event)
9 p.m. Friday, Magic Etc.

MAY 20
“All in the Family” (Shorts Program) (Total program: 82 min.)
1 p.m. Saturday
“Queer Spawn” (30 min.) (U.S. Premiere)
“Wish Fulfillment” (16 min.) (World Premiere)
“Queer Web” (8 min.) (North Texas premiere)
“Latch Key” (12 min.)
“Mormor’s Visit” (16 min.) (North Texas premiere)
“Loving Annabelle (77 min.) (Total program: 92 min.)
3 p.m. Saturday with Cosa Bella (15 min.)

“Our Shorts Are Showing” (Shorts Program) (93 min.)
5 p.m. Saturday
“Sissy Frenchfry” (28 min.) (Texas Premiere)
“The D.L. Chronicles” (30 min.) (Texas Premiere)
“Oh, You Pretty Things” (14 min.) (Texas premiere)
“Hitchcocked” (8 min.) (Texas premiere)
“Casting Couch” (8 min.) (Texas premiere)
“Colin” (5 min.) (U.S. premiere)

Dinner break
7-8:30 p.m.

Queertown
8:30 p.m. Saturday

“Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema” (82 min.) (Total program: 86 min.)
10:30 p.m. Saturday, Stampede Night Club with Looking for Mr. Right (4 min.)

Sunday:
“Lesbian Grandmothers From Mars” (81 min.) (Total program: 92 min.)
1 p.m. Sunday with “Never Rob a Bank With Someone You Love” (11 min.)
“Our Shorts Are Showing . . . Again” (Shorts Program) (Total program: 101
min.)
3 p.m. Sunday
“Dallas Diamonds” (35 min.) (World Premiere)
“Begging for Change” (World Premiere) (13 min.)
“Who’s the Top?” (22 min.)
“The Betsy Wetsy Time Bomb Effect” (22 min.) (Texas Premiere)
Butler (9 min.)

Dinner break
5:30-7 p.m.

“Laughing Matters . . . More!” (75 min.) (Texas Premiere) (Total program: 88 min.)
7 p.m. Sunday

The Q Awards and Closing Night Party
9 p.m. Sunday