QFilm Festival: 20 Years and Still Rolling

In 1993, Long Beach's first LGBTQ film festival was held on the California State University Long Beach campus. This year, the 20th Anniversary Long Beach QFilm Festival will take place Friday, September 6 through Sunday, September 8 at the historic Art Theatre located at 2025 East 4th Street and the neighboring Center Long Beach.

The festival annually presents narrative features, documentaries and short films that embody the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community. Last year's event was the most successful yet, with over 1,200 attendees, a 20 percent increase over the previous year and featured some of the most acclaimed films on the 2012 film festival circuit and several area premieres as well. Student and professional filmmakers submit selections from around the world, with many of them present for audience discussions, as well as cast members from their films, after each screening. Festival events will feature nightly parties and opportunities for attendees to meet and mingle with filmmakers, actors, critics and fellow LGBTQ film lovers.

Actress Lee Meriwether will be a special guest of this year's festival on Saturday, September 7 (see the following page's interview). Three new and unique short film programs included this year, focusing on the experiences and perspectives of drag, queer and people of color. Passes and tickets may be purchased in advance as well as at the door while they last.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

7:00 p.m. REACHING FOR THE MOON
Long Beach premiere - The Art Theatre, followed by Q&A with screenwriter Matthew Chapman.

8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. OPENING NIGHT PARTY
The Center Long Beach

9:30 p.m. G.B.F.
Long Beach premiere - The Art Theatre, followed by Q&A with director Darren Stein and cast members.

11:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. AFTER PARTY
The Center Long Beach

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

12:30 p.m. BIRTHDAY CAKE
West Coast premiere - The Art Theatre, followed by a special appearance by Lee Meriwether and Q&A with filmmakers and other cast members.

1:30 p.m. DRAGTASTIC!
Short Films Program- The Center, featuring "Get Down Glenda," "Alaska is a Drag," "Jollie B. Fierce," "Heklina" and "Silver Stiletto." Followed by Q&A with filmmakers
and cast members.

2:30 p.m. WOMEN IN SHORTS
Short Films Program - The Art Theatre, featuring "Darkness," "Bunny Girl," "Bombshell," "Lez Be Honest," "La Santa," "Dos Almas," "Vecinas" and "Remember to Breathe." Q&A with filmmakers and cast members follows.

3:30 p.m. CORPUS CHRISTI: PLAYING WITH REDEMPTION
Advance Sneak Preview - The Center, followed by audience discussion.

4:45 p.m. MEN IN BRIEFS
Short Films Program - The Art Theatre, featuring "Barry's Bespoke Bakery," "The Commitment," "Straight With You," "Barbie Boy," "24 Hitchhikers," "Grotto," "P.D.A." and "Silver Stiletto." Q&A with filmmakers and cast members follows.

7 p.m. THE PUNK SINGER
California premiere - The Art Theatre

8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. SATURDAY NIGHT PARTY
The Center Long Beach

9:00 p.m. I AM DIVINE
Long Beach premiere - The Art Theatre, followed by Q&A with director Jeffrey Schwarz.

11 p.m. to 1 a.m. AFTER PARTY
The Center Long Beach

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. BRUNCH AT THE CENTER

1:00 p.m. HOMEBOY
Long Beach premiere - The Art Theatre, preceded by short, "Kiss Me," followed by Q&A with filmmakers and participants.

1:30 p.m. HETEROSEXUAL JILL
Long Beach premiere - The Center, followed by Q&A with filmmakers and cast members.

3 p.m. FIRST PERIOD
Long Beach premiere - The Art Theatre, followed by Q&A with filmmakers and cast members.

3:30 p.m. PEOPLE OF COLOR
Short Films Program - The Center, featuring "Kiss Me," "Darkness," "A World for Raul," "O Pacote," "Dos Almas," "La Santa" and "Jollie B. Fierce." Q&A with filmmakers and cast members follows.

5 p.m. INTERIOR. LEATHER BAR.
Long Beach premiere - The Art Theatre, preceded by short Adults Only, followed by Q&A with filmmakers and cast members. (No one under 18 permitted.)

5:30 p.m. QUEER SHORTS
Short Films Program - The Center, featuring "Happy," "What I Love About Being Queer," "Claudio," "Maura y Yo," "Rough Trade," "A Night in the Woods," "Who Am I Happy" and "Deflated." Followed by Q&A with filmmakers and cast members.

7 p.m. WHO'S AFRAID OF VAGINA WOLF? Long Beach premiere - The Art Theatre, followed by Q&A with cast members Guinevere Turner and Drew Droege.

8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. CLOSING NIGHT PARTY
The Center Long Beach

9 p.m. GETTING GO: THE GO DOC PROJECT Long Beach premiere- The Art Theatre

For tickets and more information go to qfilmslongbeach.com