Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Film

Gay and Lesbian Film Festival gets rolling

By Times Staff Writer
Published October 6, 2005

[Publicity photos]

The Lady in Question is Charles Busch

	The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green

The 16th annual Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival begins tonight with a family drama set in North Carolina, and wraps up Oct. 16 with a comedy about the single life in New York City.

With 88 films from 18 countries, diversity is the overriding theme.

"What's the use of showing films that will end up at multiplexes in six months, or everybody's going to get to see in some way or another?" program director Joseph Cook said to St. Petersburg Times film critic Steve Persall recently. "There's so much gay media now and so much access. You can find gay characters on TV with ease. They're all over the place, but they're the same character."

No danger of that here. Besides the screenings at the Tampa Theatre downtown and Sunrise Cinemas in Old Hyde Park, there are also filmmaker panels, parties and special events. Here are the opening week's highlights; the second week's highlights will appear in the Oct. 13 issue of Weekend. Printed here is just a sample - the Saturday screenings, for instance, start early in the afternoon and continue past midnight. For complete details, go to the festival's Web site.

6:30 p.m. Kickoff event, including local elected officials, business and community leaders; plus food, music and entertainment on the street in front of Tampa Theatre. Free.

7:30 p.m., Tampa Theatre. Loggerheads, the story of a birth mother, child and adoptive parents in three regions of North Carolina. Stars Tess Harper, Bonnie Hunt, Michael Learned, Kip Pardue and Chris Sarandon.

7:30 p.m., Tampa Theatre. Gala premiere features the campy comedy The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green, described as "the gay man's Bridget Jones's Diary." Director George Bamber and star David Monahan (Crossing Jordan and Dawson's Creek) are expected to attend. With a live performance from "America's Favorite Dragapella Quartet," Kinsey Sicks, and after-party at TECO Plaza. $45 advance, $50 at door.

7:30 p.m., Tampa Theatre. When I'm 64, British romance about a retired Latin teacher who loses his wife, and then falls for a cab driver.

11 a.m. to 4 p.m., TECO Atrium (702 N Franklin St., Tampa), Tampa Bay Business Guild Expo 2005. More than 70 exhibitors representing gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses, with entertainment by local jazz musician Alan Darcy.

5 p.m., Sunrise Cinema, The Journey, Indian drama about a love affair between two young women.

7 p.m., Tampa Theater, Cote D'Azure, French comedy about what beautiful gay people do on their summer vacation on the Mediterranean.

5 p.m., Tampa Theatre, documentary filmmaking panel discussion and happy hour, with John Catania (The Lady in Question is Charles Busch); Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer (Life in a Box); Samantha Farinella (Left Lane); Travis Matthews (Do I Look Fat?) and Keith Wilson (Lesbian Grandmothers from Mars), moderated by Joseph Cook. Followed by screenings: 6:15 p.m., The Aggressives; 8 p.m., Do I Look Fat? (with More Than Hair Care Products); 9:45 p.m., Life in a Box.

7:30 p.m., Tampa Theatre, Say Uncle. Peter Paige of Queer as Folk wrote, directed and stars (with Kathy Najimy) in this black comedy about a doting godfather who goes into business as a "manny." Paige is expected to attend.

7:30 p.m., Tampa Theatre, The Lady in Question is Charles Busch, examining the career of the actor, author, playwright and Tony Award-winner from his early days in New York's East Village through his climb to fame. Busch and director John Catania are expected to attend.

For more information on films, events and tickets for the 16th annual Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, check the Web site at www.pridefilmfest.com or call 813 879-4220. Or see the movie times listings in this section and daily in the Floridian. Screenings $9 per film or 6 for $49; packages available. Some films sell out; call for availability.

[Last modified October 5, 2005, 10:24:08]