Newsline #7 - 13th Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

NEWSLINES

13th Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
Newsline #7 – July 16th, 2007


THE WILD RIDE OF THE WEEKEND HAS SLOWED BUT THE FESTIVAL IS STILL GOING AT HIGH SPEED

The rising temperature of the city didn’t hinder the masses one bit. Couples “came out” of the woodwork as did large groups of friends to fill every screening, party and event that was offered. The city was alive and we’re pleased to take responsibility for injecting an overdose of testosterone and estrogen into Philadelphia.

The pace of this weekend will be pretty hard to match and was definitely hectic, frenetic, manic and energetic – But that’s exactly how we like it. Everywhere you turned, you were face to face with Hollywood hunks, debuting directors and lovely lesbians.



SUNNY SUNDAY

Today, offered a great opportunity to see a great batch of films making their festival debuts, including the “visually sumptuous and explicitly erotic lesbian feature” The Chinese Botanist’s Daughters, Pantasya, an exotic film from the Philippines “featuring five erotic interludes,” as well as Kitchen Table Stories, one of this year’s featured Shorts programs highlighting women of color. This collection focused on female stories centered on African-American, Hispanic and Lebanese women.

And if you had missed them the first time, but needed to see them after hearing all the buzz, we offered encore screenings of the erotic-thriller Socket, Shelter, Out At The Wedding and of course, Starrbooty.

At the Black Box inside the Prince Theater, Diane Marini and director Pilar Prassas were greeted by a sold-out crowd for their screening of In Sickness and in Health, the true story of a South Jersey couples’ efforts to legalize same-sex marriages.

Those folks not attending the late screenings of 2:37, Pantasya and In The Blood all gathered at Lucky Strikes Bowling Lanes (1311 Chestnut Street) for the Strykes for Dykes (and gay boys too!) social event. Festival patrons were graciously offered complimentary bowling and billiards until midnight and everyone had a ball.


MANIC MONDAY
Don’t think that just because the weekend is over, that you can just skate through the rest of the festival… No, no, no. There’s still waaay too much fun to be had, waaay too many more movies to see and waaay too many more parties to crash.

Here are some options to consider for tonight.

Showtimes begin at 5:00pm, which will give you plenty of time to feign an attack of lunchtime food poisoning, leave work early, pick up all your friends and leaving not a moment to spare in getting to the Prince Music Theater for Four Minutes, a stunning story that takes us into Germany’s Mannheim Women’s Prison for violent, female offenders were a deep bond is forming between a prisoner and her teacher. For something a little lighter, you can still feign food poisoning, leave work early, grab your friends but can head to the Wilma Theater instead to the stand-up comic film Laughing Matters… The Men.

If you’ve got a boss who showed no sympathy when your did your best impersonation, hunched-over, holding your stomach and moaning about the lunch cart vendor on the corner, we’ve still plenty for you to see.

At 7:15pm, we roll out another slate of screenings, including the Shorts Program International Male, at the Prince Music Theater. This presentation features six short films, each one representing a different country (Spain, Australia, Germany, Israel, Sweden and Japan).

Meanwhile, right down Broad street at the Wilma, another country France will be featured with the film Times Have Been Better, a delightful comedy about a gay man “coming out” to his brother and parents.

Also at 7:15pm, Tick Tock Lullaby will hit the screen at the Arts Bank, telling the story of a “sassy” lesbian couple in London, who’ve just noticed that their biological clocks are ticking.

The evening’s final full round of screenings offers a chance to see encore showings of three features that first played during opening weekend. Eternal Summer screens at the Prince at 9:30, The Godfather of Disco dances into the Wilma at the same time and Trantasia transitions over at the Arts Bank.

Last but not least, don’t forget that Movie Mondays at the Trocadero has been festivalized (Is that a word???). We’re teaming up and showing everyone’s favorite cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, showtime is 9:00pm.


WHO’S IN TOWN?

Today may also be your last chance to get snapshots of some of your favorite festival guests, who’ve been spending the weekend in town.

Laughing Matters… The Men, Monday, July 16th, Wilma Theater, 5:00pm – Comedians Bob Smith and Eddie Sarfaty
Trantasia, Monday, July 16th, Arts Bank, 9:30pm – Cast member Maria Roman and director Jeremy Stanford


MOVIES ON THE VERGE OF SELLING OUT

Don’t let it happen to you, get your tickets in advance because the following movies have less than 75 seats available, so if you’re interested in them, don’t wait till the last minute.

7/17/07 Dead Boyz Don’t Scream Arts Bank 9:30pm
7/21/07 Kate Clinton: 25th Anniv Black Box at the Prince 5:00pm
7/21/07 Bears Black Box at the Prince 7:15pm
7/21/07 In The Blood Black Box at the Prince 9:30pm
7/22/07 Out in Philly – Shorts Arts Bank 2:30pm
7/22/07 Rag Tag Black Box at the Prince 7:15pm


LASTLY –
Don’t forget that tomorrow night is our special presentation of Gus Van Sant’s ground-breaking 1985 debut Mala Noche, a chance to follow the sexual reassignment of Alexis Arquette and of course, everyone’s favorite Tuesday night hangout, Queer Kinky Quizzo at Valanni.


T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE !!!

For those of you that ripped your shirts off on the dance floor during the opening night party and put a dent into your wardrobe, not to worry. The Philadelphia Film Society has thought of everything. We’re selling Official Film Festival T-shirts at the Prince Theater, Wilma Theater, TLA Video Store locations and online.
T-shirts cost $15 for M, L & XL and $18 for XXL sizes.


TICKET INFORMATION

To purchase Festival tickets, visit www.phillyfests.com, call 267-765-9700 ext. 4 (10 a.m. – 9 p.m.) or visit any Philadelphia area TLA Video store (11 a.m. – 10 p.m.).


GETTING INVOLVED
In order to put together any festival of this caliber, we rely primarily on the help of volunteers. But, if you don’t feel like volunteering out of the goodness of your heart, do it for the tickets. Volunteer for the film festival = see movies for free!

Ushering is an easy - but ESSENTIAL – volunteer job. You will tear tickets and hand out ballots with a friendly disposition, representing the festival to all of our attendees! Shifts generally begin an hour before the first show of the day and end 1/2 hour after the last show.

Rewards:
In exchange for your time, you will receive a complimentary pass to exchange for a ticket to the film of your choice. Earn double comps on Sundays – Work any shift on Sunday and receive TWO comps for the shift!

Please email your information contact information and scheduling requests to Pari Patel at volunteer@phillyfests.com.


MEMBERSHIP
The Philadelphia Film Festival is produced by the Philadelphia Film Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting outstanding film and video in the greater Philadelphia region. To become a Society member, visit www.phillyfests.com, or call Timothy Ferretti, PFS Interim Membership Coordinator, at 267-765-9700 x.296.


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Since its conception in 2001, the Philadelphia Film Society remains dedicated to the presentation of film and video in the Greater Philadelphia area as a powerful form of artistic expression and a unique force for cultural diversity and international understanding. Founded in 1995, the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival presents a rainbow of GLBT films and video images from around the world.

This year’s festival has been made possible by the generosity and support of the Members of the Philadelphia Film Society and our Presenting Sponsors: Avis, City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce, Pennsylvania Film Office, Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing, here! Networks and TLA Entertainment Group; Official Sponsors: Anheuser-Busch, Tylenol-PM, Sundance Channel, Eventions Productions, Scion, Triumph Brewing Company, Twenty21, Penn’s Landing Corporation, Parrot Bay, Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue, Cashman & Associates and University of the Arts; Partner Sponsors: Plumer & Associates, Inc., Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, Modern Eye, Fest In Philly, Crowne Plaza, Sofitel Hotel, B-Side, Mixto, Hoffman Design Group, Haru, Hangar 1, PA Festivals and Premier Tours; Patron Sponsors:Jennifer Angelo Design, Marathon Grill, Sisters, Campus Philly, PhillyCarShare, Lucky Strike Lanes, P.I.N.K., The Restaurant Collection, Caviar Assouline, Vitamin Water, Philadelphia Trolley Works, Neff Associates Inc., Philly Fringe Festival, Vesuvio, Drexel University Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, McCormick & Schmick’s, Allied Advertising, The National Condominium Residences, 12th Street Gym, Whole Foods, FuntasticFotos, Prince Music Theater, Bluecoat, American Apparel and Philly Aids Thrift; and Media Sponsors: Gaydar Magazine, Where Philadelphia, Metro, Philadelphia City Paper, Philly Gay Calendar, HX Philadelphia and Queer Times.