Lights, Camera, Action! The Long Beach Film Festival

An extraordinary cinematic event is set for this month, as The Gay and Lesbian Center of Greater Long Beach along with Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride proudly present The Long Beach Q Film Festival 2011. The weekend-long event takes place at the historic Art Theater and the neighboring Center Long Beach, both on Long Beach's renowned "Retro Row.""This is a wonderful opportunity to offer the community the opportunity to catch some of the latest work produced by LGBT filmmakers," said Ron Sylvester, the chair of the board of directors at The Center Long Beach.

Long Beach's long-running film festival since 1993, the Q Film Festival annually presents narrative features, documentaries and short films that embody the LGBTQ community. This year's event will feature several area premieres as well some of the most acclaimed features on the 2011 film festival circuit. "Not only will it feature some of the best in content-dramatic, comedic and documentary in both short and long form-it also offers a great way for the community to socialize and gather, "Sylvester said.

Q Film Festival 2011 opens at the Art Theatre the evening of Friday, September 16 and will run through the evening of Sunday, September 18. An Opening Night party takes place between screenings at the Gay and Lesbian Center of Greater Long Beach. Screenings on Saturday, September 17, include a variety of great short films in the "Men in Briefs" and "Women in Shorts" programs. The festival comes to a close on Sunday with a Closing Night party between the final two screenings. All festival parties feature cocktails, libations and live entertainment.

"The committee has worked hard for the past nine months screening and selecting the best that the LGBT community has to offer,"Sylvester explained. Submissions were received from both student and professional filmmakers from around the world. "We're very confident that we'll curate and produce a very informative and enjoyable festival,"he said. The feature films selected offer a wide range of topics, ensuring there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Titles, titles, titles

Screenings include a British comedy-drama, Fit, by celebrated filmmaker and actor Rikki Beadle-Blair (Metrosexuality), about sexual diversity and bullying among a group of high school students; the Los Angeles-area premiere of Judas Kiss, a gay romantic-drama featuring time travel and well-known actor Charlie David (Dante's Cove); the California premiere of the documentary Inspired: Voices Against Prop 8, which spotlights several crusading Long Beach activists; an International Showcase of documentaries to include the French film Bisexual Revolution; the film I Am focuses on LGBTQ life in India; the U.S. premiere of Be A Woman which touches on LGBTQ life in China; an acclaimed, high-energy musical set in the world of Los Angeles drag balls titled Leave It On the Floor; Longhorns, a rambunctious gay tribute to early 1980s comedies such as Porky's; the Los Angeles-area premiere of Photos of Angie, which details events surrounding the real-life murder of a transgender woman; We Were Here, a moving reflection on the impact of the AIDS epidemic's early years in San Francisco; and a crowd-pleasing tribute to singer Dolly Parton by gay, twin brothers called; Hollywood to Dollywood. There will also be selections for both a men's and women's program.

"We're also thrilled and honored that we'll have so many of the filmmakers and cast members to be shown present at the festival for audience discussions and question and answer sessions immediately following the screening,"Sylvester noted.

Additionally, a variety of local performers and luminaries are set to be on hand to host festival events, such as the Opening Night Party at The Center, After Parties at Paradise Bar & Restaurant, as well as brunch at Ambrosia Caf�. Jury awards will be given to worthy films in several categories. There will be numerous opportunities for attendees to meet and mingle with filmmakers, actors and other industry professionals.

Sylvester noted the event is ultimately a fundraiser for the organization. "More than anything else it's a way for the community to have a lot of fun and help raise funds to support the programs at The Center," he explained. The Center serves approximately 21,000 LGBT clients and constituents annually through 23 different programs and services.

The board chair expressed great appreciation to those who plan to attend, as well as some notable sponsors that make the festival possible. "We've been supported tremendously by so many organizations and media sponsors, and we would like to thank them all," he said. The Q Film Festival sponsors include: British Petroleum Oil, Wells House Hospice, Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride, Inc., Hotel Current, Dr. Carrie Rickard, OC Credit Union, as well as Press Telegram, The Rage Monthly Magazine and The California Blade as media sponsors.

"Without these sponsors, as well as the committee volunteers, attendees and filmmakers this would just be impossible to do," Sylvester concluded, noting that producing such an extraordinary event is a year-long effort.

Filmmakers who might be considering submitting work for next year's festival shouldn't hesitate, as sub- missions open for the 2012 QFilm Festival open, just as ushers sweep the aisles at the Art Theatre of this year's popcorn and candy wrappers. For more information about the Q Film Festival and to purchase tickets, visit qfilmslongbeach.com.