Picks by Other LGBT Filmfests

As you know, there are tons of other LGBT film festivals happening around the same time as ImageOut. I want to share with you some of the choices of my programming colleagues for gala screenings and other program highlights just to emphasize how "huge" some of our film choices are that we are offering as regular selections. Films like AN ENGLISHMAN IN NEW YORK which opens three other festivals and is featured as prime screenings in all the other festivals, HANNAH FREE, I CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT, DROOL, and THE BABY FORMULA are prime examples. People should be buying tickets for these films!


Southwest G&L Film Festival (Albuquerque, NM) - Oct. 9 - 15
Opening Night - PATRIK, AGE 1.5 with EATING OUT: ALL YOU CAN EAT screening afterwards
Centerpiece - LITTLE ASHES
Closing Night - STUCK!
THE BABY FORMULA, AND THEN CAME LOLA and AN ENGLISHMAN IN NEW YORK are the featured Saturday films.


Tampa G&L Film Festival - Oct. 8 - 18
Opening Night - AN ENGLISHMAN IN NEW YORK
Gala Centerpiece Films - MAKE THE YULETIDE GAY and THE BABY FORMULA
Closing Night - THE BIG GAY MUSICAL preceded by AND THEN CAME LOLA
Friday and Saturday highlights are HANNAH FREE, HOLLYWOOD, JE T'AIME, DROOL, PATRIK, AGE 1.5, I CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT, and EATING OUT: ALL YOU CAN EAT.


Reel Affirmations LGBT Film Festival (Washington, DC) - Oct. 15 - 24
Opening Night - AN ENGLISHMAN IN NEW YORK
Women's Gala Brunch - I CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT
Closing Night - THE BIG GAY MUSICAL preceded by THE BABY FORMULA
Friday and Saturday night highlights are AND THEN CAME LOLA, PATRIK, AGE 1.5, DROOL, HOLLYWOOD, JE T'AIME, RIVERS WASH OVER ME, and EATING OUT: ALL YOU CAN EAT.


Seattle G&L Film Festival - Oct. 16 - 25
Opening Night - AN ENGLISHMAN IN NEW YORK
Gala Centerpiece Films - THE BIG GAY MUSICAL and DROOL
Closing Night - HANNAH FREE
Friday and Saturday highlights are OUT OF THE BLUE, AND THEN CAME LOLA, HOLLYWOOD, JE T'AIME, I CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT, EATING OUT: ALL YOU CAN EAT, and ZMD: ZOMBIES OF MASS DESTRUCTION.


Pittsburgh L&G Film Festival - Oct. 16 - 25
Opening Night -THE BIG GAY MUSICAL
Closing Night - PATRIK, AGE 1.5
Friday and Saturday highlights are AND THEN CAME LOLA, I CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT, EATING OUT: ALL YOU CAN EAT, DROOL, RIVERS WASH OVER ME, NIGHT FLIERS, and MAKE THE YULETIDE GAY.


Milwaukee LGBT Film Festival - Oct. 15 - 25
Opening Night -PATRIK, AGE 1.5
Closing Night - HOLLYWOOD, JE T'AIME
Friday and Saturday highlights are AN ENGLISHMAN IN NEW YORK, PRODIGAL SONS, AND THEN CAME LOLA, RIVERS WASH OVER ME, and HANNAH FREE.

~MG

Programmer's Picks: Chris Roesch

A Place To Live: The Story of Triangle Square - One of the many excellent documentaries featured in this year's line-up, this film is simply touching and inspiring (who would have thought even 10 years ago that such a facility would be possible?). Queer As Folk fans will be happy to see out actor/activist Robert Gant, who's been involved in the project, interviewed in the film.

Standing-N-Truth: Breaking the Silence - Don't miss this excellent doc examining sexuality and AIDS in the African-American community. It tackles issues including the underlying risks and dangers in the "DL" culture, and the hatred and homophobia being propagated from church pulpits. Definitely looking forward to the Q&A with the director following the film!

- Chris Roesch is a member of the Programming Committee for ImageOut

Programmer's Picks: Jessica Wilkie

The Baby Formula - This very funny and entertaining movie is a great Sunday-after-closing-night pick. Pregnant jokes, weird science, and some truly touching moments about familial support and love make for plain-old good time.

Ferron: Girl On a Road - Before I saw this film, I had no idea who Ferron was other than knowing I had heard her name come up in lesbian "stuff." After seeing this documentary/ performance film during our programming months, I am now a real fan! The artist's music, writing, and passion for life and beauty is inspiring.

- Jessica Wilkie is Co-Chair of the Programming Committee for ImageOut.

Programmer's Picks: Georgia Beers

Not Fade Away - I wasn't expecting a whole lot from this film, but was very pleasantly surprised. The lead actresses are very good, and the subject matter is easy for anybody with parents to relate to. It's touching, well written, and real, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Night Fliers - This is a touching family film for all ages really. It is not an emotionally "easy" movie as it touches on so many universal struggles of youth and finding one's own identity. The performances from these young actors are impressive, and the story line is both engaging and inspiring.

- Georgia Beers is a member of the Programming Committee for ImageOut.

ImageArt Opens this Friday

ImageArt Gallery Opening Reception
Friday, October 2, 6:00-10:00pm
Visual Studies Workshop, 31 Prince Street

ImageArt is the fine arts program of ImageOut, opening with a reception from 6:00-10:00pm on Friday, October 2 at the Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester's "Neighborhood of the Arts."

"Treat yourself and wander among these beautiful pieces from regionally-based LGBT artists who produce some of the best work in our area," said program co-chair Michael Hardy. Many of the items are available for purchase, supporting the artist, the Visual Studies Workshop and ImageOut.

Three $200 Fine Art awards will be chosen by a jury of art experts from our local community of museum curators, university professors, gallery owners and artists.

ImageArt show will run Oct. 3 ~ Oct. 25
Exhibit hours will be:
Saturday & Sunday 2:00~6:00pm
Monday& Tuesday closed
Wednesday~Friday 3:00~7:00pm

ImageArt Poetry Open Mic
Saturday, October 3, 7:00-9:00pm,
Art Auction 9:00-10:00pm
Multi-Use Community Cultural Center (MuCCC), 142 Atlantic Avenue

ImageArt Poetry is an 'open mic' reading. One "Audience Choice" award of $200 will be given.

"The insight and passion of our LGBT poets using their own words and expressions is an experience you shouldn't miss," said ImageArt co-chair Scott LaForce.

Light refreshments will be hosted and for sale at both locations.

Ticket Sales Alert!

Do you have friends who are still procrastinating (cuz I know you all got your tickets already, right?) and have not bought their ImageOut tickets yet? Well you better give them a fair warning as we have reached the "threshold" point for our Opening Night Films and one Spotlight Film. Tickets for these shows will likely sell out within days. So secure your seats and get your tickets now! While you're at it, make sure to check some of our other great films in the lineup. Buy your tickets here.

Homophobia in Wrestling

"Wrestlers get erections."

Well there's an opening line for you! Just wanted to share a nationally syndicated article about one of our festival selections, STRONGHOLD: In the Grip of Wrestling, and its filmmaker, Middleport-native Victor Rook. Proud to have its World Premiere at ImageOut so make sure to check it out at the Festival!

Programmer's Picks: Adam Lubitow

Prodigal Sons - An incredibly powerful and heartbreaking film, Prodigal Sons is without question my favorite of this year's films. I was totally engrossed by the way that director Kimberly Reed's film documents the twists and turns of her journey toward self-acceptance as it collides with her mentally ill brother's feelings of sibling rivalry. Honestly, this film is so unique that I've had trouble describing to people just how good it is. But trust me when I say it's among the best you'll see this year. This film deserves a sell-out audience.

ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction - On the opposite end of the spectrum is this film, which I'm really excited about: a true, no-holds-barred, zombie movie, perfect for the Halloween season. First-time director Kevin Hamedani is obviously a student of George Romero's classic films and as such, he blends the horror with some social commentary that gives the film some added bite (yes, pun intended). ZMD is a hilarious, blood-splattered, eye-gouging horror-comedy that is the best of it's kind since Shaun of the Dead. If there were any justice, the most popular Halloween costume this year would be a weed-wacker and a blood-soaked "I'm With Him" t-shirt.

- Adam Lubitow is a member of the Programming Committee for ImageOut.

Official ImageOut T-Shirts!

You've asked about them when you saw them during the Pride Parade. So we are now making the ImageOut T-Shirts available for purchase! We started taking orders at the Festival Fair a couple of weeks ago. For those who missed it, you can place t-shirt orders during our in-person ticket sales. If you can't make those dates, you can also order them online through our fab printers by clicking here. Shirts are $10 if ordered through ImageOut and will need to be picked up at our office. Those ordered here are shipped to you for an extra fee.

OMG, I have them in all colors. And I already have shoes to match each one! LOL.

In-Person Ticket Sales

This Sunday, Sept. 20, our hardworking ticket committee volunteers will be at our ImageOut office on Goodman Street from 12:30pm to 4:00pm to take your ticket orders in person. You can pick up your tickets right there and then without having to wait for them in the mail! Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted during in-person ticket sales. You can also sign up to become volunteers for the October festival at this time.

For a full schedule of our 2009 in-person ticket sales dates, click here.

Some of the films that are really doing well (and have sold more than half of their available tickets) include AND THEN CAME LOLA, THE BIG GAY MUSICAL, MAKE THE YULETIDE GAY, and EATING OUT: ALL YOU CAN EAT. But other shows are also selling well so make sure you get your tickets before it's too late!

2009 Online Ticket Sales ...

... begin tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 5pm. Make sure to get your tickets early as some of the shows are going to be hot items based on our Festival Fair ticket sales and advance orders from members and volunteers.

I'm excited to see what film will sell out first! All I know is that the Opening Night films are both amazing. And our party at Eros will be a lot of fun. So make sure to grab tickets for those right away.

There are tons of great choices in this year's lineup -- there's truly something for everyone! I'm just afraid some of the really good films will get lost in the mix. So feel free to message us if you have any questions. This is also the year of some of the best documentaries. So make sure you include a few docs in your selection.

One of the highlights of this lineup is our Closing Night film. It's a touching and funny story. And definitely go for the film+party ticket! Our new venue at Tribeca is going to rock this year.

So tell your friends about the festival and make sure to get your tickets early! Check our newly revamped website at www.imageout.org.

ImageOut Website is Now Online!

The ImageOut website is now live with our 2009 lineup and I love our new sleek look! Kudos to our Publications team especially to Matt DeTurck and Eryn Yates who spearheaded the "face lift" and had the patience to work through my "ginormous and gargantuan" list of edits and changes. =) You guys rock!

Last night, we had a great turn out for our Festival Fair and our loyal audiences lined up to get their 2009 tickets. Already proving to be hot sellers are EATING OUT: ALL YOU CAN EAT, our Spotlight Feature MAKE THE YULETIDE GAY, our Opening Night films AND THEN CAME LOLA and THE BIG GAY MUSICAL, and our Closing Night film PATRIK, AGE 1.5. Unless you are one of our generous members and donors, ImageOut tickets won't be available for purchase again until Sept. 16 when our online sales begin.

It was also fun to do our little trailer project last night, taking pictures of willing "victims." I hope you all make the final cut. We'll have to wait and see. Thanks Matt for your hard work behind the camera.

Finally, I love it when people have different (and polarizing) reactions to the films we've shown. Use the comments section to share your thoughts. =)

As always, encourage your friends to check out the ImageOut Website and do check back every now and then as we add more details such as confirmed special guests. I'll see you all very soon!

~MG

Programs Unleashed!!

ImageOut 2009 Program Guides are now available! Pick up your copy today from locations all around Rochester! Get your first look at the full festival lineup and prepare yourself for the first opportunity to buy tickets, at the Festival Fair on Tuesday, September 8th from 6-11pm.

Also be sure to check out our brand-new, redesigned Festival Website when it launches on Tuesday!

Looking for a DREAM BOY?

Very excited about this year's Festival Fair. And of course, I cannot wait for the early reactions from people about our October lineup. I'm pretty sure there are some tickets that will sell briskly. So you have been warned! Don't blame me if some of your dying-to-see films sell out before you could get tickets for them.

I'm also excited to finally being able to screen DREAM BOY for the ImageOut audiences. I saw this film at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2008 and have been trying to get it here. It's such a bittersweet and innocent love story that has so many facets to it. Let's just say that it would have been an ImageOut There! Series contender. Intrigued yet? Don't worry. Neither boy is a zombie nor a cannibal. But the film does cover some unsettling issues. And you have to tell me what you think about the ending. Let's compare notes!

Click here to watch the trailer.

R U a Fruit Fly?

No, it's not another bug movie starring Jeff Goldblum, but it is a movie you shouldn't miss!

For the second straight year (surprisingly, no pun intended), the ImageOut Festival Fair will feature two great (and cheap!) film screenings. These two carefully selected films just couldn't make it into the Final festival lineup for one reason or another, but we wanted to bring them to Rochester anyway.

Fruit Fly shows life the way I wish it really was: a musical! Seriously, I would never miss a day of work or put off doing laundry if I knew large-scale dance numbers and songs about the dozens of different terms for fag hag were possibilities at any moment!

Will you be a fly on the wall at this year's Festival Fair?