Silver Screen Goes Rainbow
By Chris Carpenter
After a couple of meager years, Long Beach’s 4th annual Q Film Festival, running May 8-10, promises more local premieres of high-profile LGBT movies than before. The fest has also been moved from its former October timeframe to the weekend before Long Beach Pride, which may ensure it the heightened attention and attendance the event deserves.
Sponsored by The Center Long Beach with assistance from Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride, this magazine, and other supporters, screenings will take place at the recently – and beautifully – renovated Art Theatre, 2025 E. 4th Street in Long Beach. Festival proceeds help to fund the Center’s important services to the local LGBT community.
The Art is graciously presenting a free, pre-festival showing of the classic Joan Crawford bio, Mommie Dearest, at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, May 8. Don’t forget to bring your wire hangers and pruning shears! The fest proper will kick off that evening at 6:30 p.m. with the short Let It Reign: Imperial Court, about Long Beach’s famed drag organization, and the pilot episode of “Don’t Go,” a new TV series shot in Long Beach and described as “Melrose Place” meets “The L Word.”
Following the festival’s opening party at 7:45 p.m. Friday night at the adjacent Center Long Beach, the crowd-pleasing Tru Loved will be shown at 9:00 p.m. Written and directed by Stewart Wade, who previously made the popular gay comedy Coffee Date, the high-profile cast of Tru Loved includes Bruce Vilanch, Jane Lynch, Alec Mapa and Lt. Uhura herself, Nichelle Nichols. Wade and some cast members will be present to answer audience members’ questions after the screening.
Saturday’s festival events will begin at 1:00 p.m. and include screenings of Bi the Way, a documentary exploring bisexuality in the U.S., and both women’s and men’s shorts programs. The latter include the Oscar-nominated La Corona as well as the acclaimed films El Primo (The Cousin); Saving the Boom, about Laguna Beach’s long-lived Boom Boom Room; and El Abuelo. The award-winning Were the World Mine, an LGBT musical take on Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” will be shown at 9:00 p.m. on Saturday and will serve as a rousing conclusion to that day’s festival offerings.
In general, film festival organizers tend to cut things short on a festival’s final day, but not so with the Q Film Fest. Sunday, May 10 will bring screenings of A Place to Live, a revealing look at LGBT seniors that won the best documentary award at last summer’s Outfest; The Constant Process, which details the Rev. Susan Russell’s journey as a lesbian Episcopal priest; the Middle Eastern romantic-drama I Can’t Think Straight; and, of course, a closing night party followed by drag Empress Nikki Coldwater presenting the documentary Showgirls, Provincetown, MA.
Having seen several of the movies that will be screened, I can attest to the high quality and cultural significance of this year’s Q Film Festival. The organizers as well as the filmmakers deserve kudos for such a great line-up.
A complete listing of the festival’s films and events can be found at www.centerlb.org. Individual tickets as well as discounted festival passes (a great deal!) may also be purchased through the website.
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
It’s time for the 4th Annual Q Film Festival Fundraiser, benefitting The Center Long Beach! Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans and Queer films brought right into our home town.
Tickets available online with package deals for saving money. Online ticket sales will be handled via will-call, after you’ve purchased them through PayPal’s secure server, print your receipt and bring it with you to the films you’re attending.
“All Film Access Pass”
Includes one admission to all 10 screenings, plus Pink Flamingos at The Art Theatre
$80 (Reg. $112)
“All Festival Access Pass”
Includes one admission to all 10 screenings, 3 Parties plus Pink Flamingos at The Art Theatre
$110 (Reg. $157)
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS $8-12
depending on show and time.
DISCOUNT TICKETS $5
(Students & Adults over 60, must provide ID at will-call for discount. Workshop not included in packages. No discount on Parties/Workshop.)
FRIDAY, MAY 8
6:30 p.m.
DON’T GO – Feature
preceded by world premier, short film LET IT REIGN
Q & A with directors and cast members – facilitated Marie Cartier
Emcee: Carlease Burke
7:45 p.m.
OPENING NIGHT PARTY
at THE CENTER
Entertainment, drinks, hors d’ouevres
9 p.m.
TRU LOVED – Feature
Q & A with director and cast members – facilitated by Robert Cano
11:30 p.m.
PINK FLAMINGOS –
at the Art Theatre
FREE when you buy an All Films Pass or a Weekend Pass! Enjoy the brand new, fully restored 35MM print!
SATURDAY, MAY 9
1 p.m.
WORKSHOP: How to Make Your First Short Film with Camrin Pitts at The Center. Films will be screened on the final night of the festival.
2 p.m.
BI THE WAY – Documentary
Panel discussion with Denise Penn
4 p.m.
FUN IN WOMEN’S SHORTS - Women’s Short Films
Q & A with director and cast members – facilitated by Marie Cartier
Emcee: Sandy Seacrest
5:30 p.m.
SHORTS PARTY at THE CENTER
Mixer with the filmmakers plus entertainment, drinks, hors d’oeuvres.
SATURDAY, MAY 9, cont.
6:30 p.m.
FUN IN MEN’S BRIEFS - Men’s Short Films
Q & A with director and cast – facilitated by Robert Cano & Camrin Pitts
Emcee: Sandy Seacrest
9 p.m.
WERE THE WORLD MINE – Feature, Emcee: Sandy Seacrest
SUNDAY, MAY 10
1:30 p.m.
A PLACE TO LIVE: THE STORY OF TRIANGLE SQUARE – Documentary
3:30 p.m.
FOR MY WIFE – Documentary
Preceded by short film
THE CONSTANT PROCESS
Q & A with directors and cast members – facilitated by Marie Cartier
6 p.m.
I CAN’T THINK STRAIGHT – Feature
Emcee: Lynda Montgomery
7 p.m.
CLOSING NIGHT PARTY
at THE CENTER
Entertainment, drinks, hors d’ouevres
8 p.m.
NIKKI COLDWATER and
SHOWGIRLS, PROVINCETOWN, MA. – Documentary
Emcee: Lynda Montgomery
MONDAY–THURSDAY MAY 11-14
ELEVEN MINUTES –
Directed by Michael Selditch & Robert Tate, R-rated for language.
go to www.arttheatrelongbeach.com for screening times
Documentary about Jay McCarroll, winner of season one of Bravo’s Project Runway.