Features

Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

April 15, 2010

Maimi Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

The 12th Annual Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (MGLFF) will be April 23 through May 2, 2010, with over 80 feature and short films from 17 countries with multiple screenings and events taking place at the Regal Cinemas South Beach, Playground Theatre, FIU Biscayne Bay Campus and Tower Theater. The Festival kicks off with the Opening Night Gala presentation of the dark comedy “I Killed My Mother” from 2009 Toronto International Film Festival with 2009 Sundance favorite “LA Mission,” starring Benjamin Bratt, as the Closing Night Gala presentation; both to be held at the prestigious Gusman Center for the Performing Arts.

Maimi Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

Every year, the festival brings the best of LGBT cinemas to Miami film lovers with a multitude of world, North American and Florida premieres. The eclectic film program includes Centerpiece Screenings of the 2010 Slamdance hit, “The Four-Faced Liar” and the new film “Bear Nation” from the director of “Small Town Gay Bar” (2006 MGLFF Juried Award for Best Documentary) fresh from its world premiere at SXSW. Spotlight Screenings include Quentin Lee’s latest film “The People I’ve Slept With” starring Karin Anna Cheung (Better Luck Tomorrow) and Wilson Cruz (Coffee Date), the North American premiere of “El Consul De Sodoma,” a biopic which explores the life of queer poet Jaime Gil De Biedma and the romantic drama, “Hannah Free,” starring Sharon Gless.

MGLFF’s programming slate also features a strong presence of women and Latino/Hispanic focused films, including the East Coast premiere of the dance-fueled comedy “Leading Ladies,” the 2010 Sundance documentary “Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work” and “I Am Love,” starring queer favorite Tilda Swinton. “Contracorriente” (Undertow), winner of the 2010 Sundance Dramatic World Cinema Audience Award and the East Coast premiere of the Brazilian drama “The Famous And The Dead” are just a sampling of strong, Latino themed-films at the festival.

Awards, sponsored by HBO, have always brought additional sparkle to the film festival. Sharon Gless will be honored with the Festival’s 2010 Career Achievement Award before the screening of “Hannah Free” along with Wolfe Releasing, who will receive the 2010 MGLFF Trailblazer Award. In MGLFF’s continued support of filmmakers, Juried and Audience Favorite awards will be revealed at the Closing Night Gala.

The inimitable Miss Coco Peru returns to Miami with her musical revue, “An Evening with Coco Peru,” presented with MGLFF. A wicked tour-de-farce, this special presentation at The Playground Theatre includes prime seating and a meet and greet cocktail reception with the most girlish, funniest and mouthiest diva/icon/comedian in the world.

As filmmakers and guests descend on Miami, the festival will host a multitude of parties, receptions and events to add additional spice to the festivities including the Opening Gala at the Calix Gustav Gallery, the Centerpiece Gala at Bar 721 and the Closing Night Gala at the ultra-chic Cafeina Lounge. For lesbian filmmakers and their fans “The Ladies Who Lunch” event, hosted by Mova Lounge and Piola Restaurants, will be a hot spot and the “Beer & Bears” event at Vlada will satiate the appetites of those who are bear-inclined.