Since the Philadelphia Film Society launched it in 1994, the highly acclaimed Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival has become one of the nation's most prestigious events. The two-week celebration of indie gay film takes place in mid-July (July 10 to July 22, in 2008).
The History of the the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
The festival was started in 1994 as a way to encourage and nuture filmmaking by and about gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and trangsgenders. This is one of several prestigious gay and lesbian film festivals around the world, and it's one of two especially prominent ones held in mid-July (the other being Outfest) in Los Angeles. Since the Philly Gay and Lesbian Film Festival began, thousands of cutting-edge and provocative queer movies have been shown.
2008 Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Highlights
This year's Philly Gay Film Fest, which features honorees Jane Lynch (Artistic Achievement Award) and Alec Mapa (Entertainer of the Year), includes scores of events, beginning with the Opening Night Gala with a screening of Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild, and finishing with the Closing Night Fantasy Gala with a showing of Were the World Mine.. More than 200 feature-length and short movies will be screened throughout the festival, and you can also attend a variety of panels and lectures.
Honorees include actress Jane Lynch, who will receive the Artistic Achievement award for acting; and actor Alec Mapa, entertainer of the year. Among the many festive parties scheduled throughout the festival, consider the special Midnight Cowboy VIP Reception on the 19th floor of the Park Hyatt at Bellevue on Saturday, July 12; and the Party Like a Queer Rock Star!!! concert with Pansy Division on Friday, July 18, at the Trocadero Theatre.
Here's an overview of Philadelphia Gay Film Festival events in 2008, along with the complete online festival program).
Buying Tickets to the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
Tickets for most screenings cost $10 (it's $15 for movies on opening and closing nights). For parties and other events, tickets cost from $35 to $55. You can also buy a Festival 10-Pass for $90, and an All-Access Badge (good for all movies, parties, and events) for $325 (VIP badges cost $525). Tickets to all the Philadelphia Gay Film Festival movies and events are available online or by calling 267-765-9700, extension 4, 10 am to 9 pm.
