John Waters Live and In-Person This Sunday!

Legendary director and raconteur John Waters is bringing his critically acclaimed one-man show, A John Waters Christmas, to Rochester for ONE NIGHT ONLY this Sunday, December 16th! There's still time to get the advance ticket price of $35 by purchasing online from the ImageOut website, or in person at the ImageOut office, Equal=Grounds Coffee House, or OUTlandish Video and Gifts. Tickets will also be sold at the door for $45.

It's the perfect way to kick off your yuletide festivities in filthy, fabulous style!

Program 40: Elliot Loves

Closing out our big 20th Anniversary Festival in classic style, Elliot Loves is a silly, yet touching, romantic comedy about finding that special someone to fill those gaps life leaves behind.

Program 39: My Best Day

This quirky and hilarious underdog of a film, about the importance of family, in whatever form it takes, deserves a huge Rochester audience.

Program 38: Time to Spare (Alle Tijd)

Time to Spare is often funny, often heartwarming, and very touching, as it explores the bonds that hold the family, siblings in particular, together even in the face of great adversity.

Program 37: Turtle Hill, Brooklyn

Turtle Hill, Brooklyn tells a relatable story that will feel familiar to anyone who's been in a long-term relationship, facing the difficult transition from simply dating into a potential lifelong commitment. The film's director, Ryan Gielen will be in attendance.

Program 36: Gayby

Our Closing Night Selection for our 20th Anniversary year is a hilarious and heartfelt comedy about what happens when two best friends decide to create a family together.

Program 35: Facing Mirrors

Featuring the first transgendered character in an Iranian narrative film, Facing Mirrors is an emotional and moving character study.

Program 34: Safe Space

Our Youth Shorts program this year examines queer youth in all their multifaceted glory. Shabbat Dinner director Michael Morgenstern will be in attendance.

Program 33: Married and Counting

Following longtime couple Pat Dwyer and Stephen Mosher's cross-country odyssey as they decide to get married in each and every state that supports and allows gay marriage, Married and Counting is a sweet and personal examination of the state of marriage equality in our country. Pat will be in attendance for a Q&A after the film.

Program 32: Sassy Pants

Things move over to The UofR for our screening of the smart and quirky comedy Sassy Pants, featuring Haley Joel Osment, (The Sixth Sense),Deidrich Bader (The Drew Carey Show), Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad), and Ashley Rikards (MTV's Awkward.).

Program 31: BearCity 2: The Proposal

Get ready for another furry, funny, and sexy romp through the world of plus-sized and hairy gentlemen, and the men who love them! Actor Aaron Tone will be in attendance, then join us later on for an exclusive after-party hosted by The Bachelor Forum, at 670 University Ave.

Program 30: Love or Whatever

Our Friday night comedy lineup kicks off with this hilarious and sweet-natured film about love, sex, heartbreak, and whatever comes in between. Stick around after the film for a Q&A with our special guest, director Rosser Goodman!

Program: Dive, Turn, Work!

Our Comedic Men's Shorts program features talking babies, Judy Garland, and a vigilante drag queen, and that's just for starters.

Program 28: Melting Away (Namess Ba'geshem)

This touching and heartfelt drama about a broken family's attempts to heal and reconnect before it's too late, is a favorite of our Programming Director, Michael Gamilla.

Program 27: Keep the Lights On

This powerful, highly-acclaimed, semi-autobiographical drama about the effect addiction has a gay couple over the course of their 10 year relationship is our Narrative Centerpiece.

Program 26: For 80 Days (80 Egunean)

The most charming film in this year's lineup, For 80 Days is a delightful love story about two school friends who, by chance, reconnect 50 years later.

Program 25: Brief Encounters

Things are feeling a little cruisy in this collection of dramatic men's shorts about the perils (and joys) of hooking up.

Program 24: The Celluloid Closet

Our 2012 Archive Selection, The Celluloid Closet is a groundbreaking documentary about the depiction of LGBT people throughout film history from directors, and 2010 ImageOut ImageMaker Award honorees, Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, based on the book by activist Vito Russo.

Program 23: Quick Licks

Jessica Wilkie has put together a fantastic collection of films for our women's shorts program. Chick Flick director Heather Bennett, as well as Happy Hour: The Chanticleer director Becky Lane will be in attendance to answer your questions after the show.

Program 22: About Cherry

A sexy and sordid tale of lust, power, and greed, About Cherry tells the story of a young teen seduced into the seedy world of adult films. It's also one of our most star-studded films this year, with performances from James Franco, Heather Graham, Dev Patel, and Lily Taylor.

Program 21: Call Me Kuchu

Our Documentary Centerpiece, Call Me Kuchu is a stunning, unforgettable film about the brave souls fighting for gay rights in Uganda in the face of extreme homophobia from their country's government.

Program 20: A Perfect Ending

This romantic and often erotic drama from Rochester-favorite Nicole Conn, about a married women's intense relationship with a high-priced female escort is sure to get audiences' pulses racing.

Program 19: Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean

Featuring fantastic performances and gorgeous black-and-white cinematography, this utterly unique drama provides a alternate, fictionalized take on the life of James Dean before he found fame as a Hollywood icon. One of the film's stars, Dan Glenn and producer Randall Walk will be in attendance.

Program 18: Mosquita Y Mari

This Sundance Festival hit is a genuine tale of friendship, love, and self-discovery will alternately make you laugh and shake your head at two teenaged girls' two steps forward, one step back ascent toward adulthood.

Program 17: Petunia

With super quirky, yet highly relatable characters, great performances, and hilariously unpredictable twists and turns, this comedy about one big, crazy family is sure to be an ImageOut hit! The film's director, Ash Christian, will be in attendance for a q&a after the film.

Program 16: Die Standing Up (Morir de pie)

Although heartbreaking at times, this documentary about activist Irina Leyevska demonstrates the amazing courage people can find they pledge to fight against all odds. It also shows that in the midst of the darkest despair, unexpected change and hope is still possible.

Program 15: Beyond the Walls (Hors les Murs)

This powerful drama about the difficult road faced by a gay couple when one partner faces a prison sentence is anchored with two superb lead performances in the roles of two very flawed, but ultimately sympathetic individuals.

Program 14: Unfit: Ward vs. Ward

This moving documentary will shock and enrage viewers with it's depiction of justice miscarried and the tragic consequences of personal beliefs overriding the principles of law and logic.

Program 13: The Invisible Men

This eye-opening documentary gives us a glimpse into an otherwise unseen aspect of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, through the eyes of gay Palestinian men living illegally in Tel Aviv.

Program 12: Intersexion/Flower City Flicks

Our annual Local Shorts program is headlined by the documentary Intersexion, about intersex persons across the globe, including Rochester resident Jim Costich.

Program 11: Kiss Me (Kyss Mig)

Our Spotlight Feature Kiss Me is a good old-fashioned love story that's still grounded in reality, as two women fall in love despite the fact that one of them is engaged to be married.

Program 10: Yossi (Ha-Sippur Shel Yossi)

Acclaimed filmmaker Eytan Fox's followup to his landmark film Yossi & Jagger is a powerful reminder that whatever life has in store for us, it's never too late to set yourself on a path toward a new beginning.

Program 9: Margarita

This fantastic dramedy about the true meaning of family also explores the complicated realities of immigration policy, social injustice, and differences in class and race.

Program 8: Let My People Go!

This quirky, colorful, and very funny film about one extremely dysfunctional family has something for everyone: gay, straight, goy, or Jew! It's sure to be a real crowd-pleaser.

Program 7: Stud Life

With it's setting in the gritty underbelly of London, complete with illicit drugs and shady gang members, Stud Life is a refreshing change from the standard lesbian romance.

Program 6: The Falls

The Falls is a powerful and thoughtful look into the world of young men trying to be true to themselves, while reconciling their sexuality with their Mormon religion.

Program 5: I Stand Corrected

An amazing, compelling documentary about world-renowned bassist Jennifer Leitham that showcases her considerable talent and tells a story of success and survival, betrayal and compassion, and of the risks one must sometimes take to become who they truly are. We're lucky enough to have Jennfier herself as a special guest, as well as the film's director, Andrea Meyerson.

Program 4: Men To Kiss (Männer zum Knutschen)

Men to Kiss is a hilarious, over-the-top romantic comedy about the worst-case scenario of what could go wrong when you introduce your significant other to your best friend, and they don't get along (to put it mildly). Plus hot German men!

Program 3: Ballroom Rules

Friendly, international, outrageous – it’s everything that dancing should be! Welcome to the world of same-sex ballroom dancing, seen through the lives and struggles of five Australian couples on their way to compete in Dance Sport at the 2010 Gay Games. You’ll love this uplifting and fast-paced story and cheer on the charming dancers as they reach for their dream, truly dancing with the stars.

Program 2: Naked As We Came

A riveting and satisfying drama exploring family secrets, history, and dreams both realized and forgotten. Q&A with writer/director Richard LeMay and actor Benjamin Weaver.

Program 1: Cloudburst

This road trip dramedy stars a tandem of Academy-Award-winning actresses Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker.

Last Chance For In-Person Ticket Sales!

There are only two more opportunities to purchase advance tickets in person: Wednesday, September 26th from 6-8pm and Monday, October 1st, from 6-8pm in the ImageOut office at Village Gate Square, 274 N. Goodman Street. Bldg. A, Suite A203.

If you're a college student, remember to bring valid student ID for an additional two dollars off regular priced tickets!

Online ticket sales will continue until October 4th at 5pm.

Coming to the Cinema tonight?

 

ImageOut is pretty excited to screen a LGBT Superhero film that is perfect for 2012 Rochester Pride's theme. Join us at 7:30 tonight (July 12) at the Cinema for your only chance to see Indonesia's MADAME X on the big screen.

Click here more information.

"X" Marks The Spot For Super-Powered Pride Excitement

7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 12th at the Cinema Theatre
Tickets: $7 in advance / $8 at the door

Even before DC Comics rebooted Alan Scott (aka the original Green Lantern) as a younger, more handsome, and gay version of his Golden Age counterpart, the superhero universe already had a queen in residence. And she hails all the way from Indonesia! This summer, ImageOut celebrates Pride by introducing an unusual, yet perfect, blend of “charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent” to Rochester.

Welcome to the world of Madame X: a pre-op transsexual gifted with magical powers which she uses to combat the forces of hatred and intolerance in this candy-colored, fast-paced action-comedy. An over-the-top cross between comic book superhero and James Bond adventure, Madame X is just as irreverent, hilarious and crazy fun as it sounds.

All Adam wants to do is to celebrate his birthday with his friends. But the violent goons of the National Morality Front have other plans, ambushing the gay disco where Adam and his friends are partying. When all the commotion and glittery dust have settled, Adam’s best friend has been thrown off a truck and killed, while he himself is left for dead. True to most superhero origin stories, a kind, elderly couple find him and nurse him back to health in their dance studio (ok, maybe not most superhero origin stories) deep in the rural countryside. Soon enough, he is being trained in the ancient, mystical dance art of Lenggok and slowly being transformed into Madame X, a fabulous trans superhero clad in a dominatrix-inspired outfit and armed with awesome gadgets to aid in her fight against bigotry.

A fun, vibrant and action-packed entertainment, Madame X is full of eccentric characters, political incorrectness, and camp galore. But behind all the absurdity, Madame X offers a sharp sociopolitical commentary of contemporary society, which is all the more impressive knowing that this film comes from a very conservative and predominantly Muslim country.

Advance sale tickets can be purchased beginning on Friday, June 22 at Equal=Grounds, 750 South Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620 and OUTlandish Video and Gifts, 274 N Goodman Street, Rochester, NY 14607

Kate Clinton Will-Call Tickets

Kate Clinton will definitely FRACK you up tonight! Do not miss the fun and excitement! Will-Call tickets are still available online until 5pm today, Friday.

Hope to see you all at the Hochstein tonight!

For more information on the event, check out our website.

Kate Clinton on WCMF's "The Break Room"

Tune in tomorrow morning (Tuesday, April 3) to WCMF's "The Break Room" with Bill Moran, Tom Mule and "Christian Dan" with Kate Clinton as a special guest. Kate's interview should come on around 9:40am EST.

And if you haven't bought your tickets yet then what are you waiting for? It will be a blast! Click here for more information.

WE WERE HERE Returns to ImageOut on Thursday

If you missed the amazing documentary, WE WERE HERE, when we showed it at the Festival last October (eventually winning the Audience Award for Best Documentary), make sure to take advantage of this rare second chance to see it on the big screen in Rochester once again. ImageOut brings back this popular and poignant documentary about the personal stories of survivors of the early years of AIDS in San Francisco.

This FREE screening is ImageOut's way of celebrating LGBT Health Awareness Month. Come to the Little Theatre 1 on Thursday, March 22 at 6:30pm for this important event. A panel discussion follows the screening.

Volunteers will also be selling tickets in person at the theater lobby for our April 13 Kate Clinton event. Tickets are selling fast so make sure to buy yours soon! And tell your friends to come join you for a fun evening!

Kate Clinton Tickets Now On Sale!

Tickets for our April 13 Kate Clinton event are now on sale! Check out our website to buy your tickets online or for more information on other ticket outlets or the event itself.

This is our big fundraising event for our 20th Anniversary and we need all your help to make this landmark year a huge success. Thanks for your support and please spread the word!

Festival Favorites Screen Next Week

ImageOut is kicking the year off on a high note with a "Best of the Festival" screening of Loose Cannons (Mine vaganti), our 2011 Audience Award winner for Best Independent Narrative Feature.

A hilarious comedy of manners, Loose Cannons revolves around Tommaso, the youngest son of the wealthy Cantone family, proprietors of a successful pasta factory in Lecce, Italy. Tomasso has returned home in the wake of news that his father has finally decided to retire and is prepared to hand over control of the factory to him and his older brother, Antonio. Never desiring to have any part of the family legacy, Tomasso has readied an exit strategy for himself: he’ll come out to the entire family over dinner, ensuring his conservative father will shut him out of the business entirely. But before Tomasso gets a chance to deliver his well-rehearsed speech, Antonio throws a wrench into the works by dropping a bombshell of his own, revealing to the family that he’s gay. In an instant, Tomasso’s worst nightmare comes true as he is made the new factory boss. Chaos (and many laughs) ensue as the reluctantly dutiful son tries everything in his power to get out of his familial responsibilities.

Loose Cannons will be preceded by I Don’t Want To Go Back Alone (Eu Não Quero Voltar Sozinho), this year’s Audience Award winner for Best Independent Short Film. Probably the sweetest and most charming short we’ve ever shown, I Don’t Want To Go Back Alone is a tender love story about Leonardo, a blind school boy who falls for the new boy in class, failing to realize that his closest friend, Giovana, has long been harboring feelings for him.

If you missed our Closing Night presentation of Loose Cannons or I Don’t Want To Go Back Alone when it screened as part of our men’s shorts program, Happy Endings, now is your chance to enjoy them as they were meant to be seen. Bring along a friend or two and share the best of what ImageOut has to offer.

I Don’t Want To Go Back Alone and Loose Cannons will screen on February 23 at 6:30 at the Cinema Theater. Tickets are $8 and will be on sale at the door.