Opening night a success for LGBT Film Festival
- October 16, 2014
- / Joe Vinson
- / community-dashboard
About 150 people turned out for the opening night of the third annual Pensacola LGBT Film Festival, which screens films of particular relevance to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The free festival continues through Saturday with a different theme and venue each day.
“It’s a great way to reach out to a broader community and bring visibility to the LGBT community here,” said Joshua Jones, vice-president of the film festival. “It’s a very positive, family-friendly event, and I think that’s important.”
Wednesday’s theme was “Coming of Age,” with a variety of short films related to LGBT youth. The screened selections included “Empty Sky,” “Sinaptica,” “Sandrine,” “I Don’t Want to Go Back Alone,” “Darkness” and “Brace.”
In past years, the festival’s opening night has been held at the University of West Florida in partnership with the UWF Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA).
[caption id="attachment_6772" align="alignright" width="300"]
Jones[/caption]
“This year it’s homecoming, so there wasn’t anything available,” said Jones. “But GSA still brought a large crowd out.”
The Museum of Commerce in Historic Pensacola Village served as Wednesday’s venue instead, and the museum’s retro Americana ambiance was bolstered by the complimentary servings of fresh popcorn and cotton candy.
Thursday’s event will be held at the Palafox House and have the theme “Aging and the LGBT Community.” The films to be screened are “Mamis” and “Gen Silent,” the latter a documentary following six seniors who must navigate a healthcare system with limited options for LGBT individuals.
“I’m really excited about this one,” said Sara Latshaw, president and co-founder of the film festival. “It’s a really important subject that often gets ignored.”
“These activists come out and fight the fight for LGBT equality, and when they’re old they end up having to go back into the closet in order to get proper healthcare,” she said. “That’s something we need to look at locally and on a broader level.”
Keeping with the theme, there will also be a Q&A session with Covenant Hospice and the Council on Aging.
Friday’s event will take place at the Pensacola Cultural Center and will coincide with Gallery Night. Seven short films will be screened: “Into the Streets,” “Mum,” “The Cost of Gender,” “Amias,” “Miniatures,” “Orbitas” and “The Heart’s Mouth.”
“It’s just an awesome lineup, not to be missed,” said Latshaw.
The festival will conclude on Saturday at The Yard with the theme “Crossing Cultures.” Three short films will be screened (“Bella,” “Off a Cliff” and “The Queen”) followed by a documentary, “The Turkish Boat,” about members of the Turkish Muslim community in Amsterdam who participate in the city’s Gay Pride parade.
“I’m glad that we can bring these films,” said Jones. “If it weren’t for this festival, these films would not be seen in Pensacola.”
He noted that the large turnout was a good sign that the film festival, which recently received 501(c)3 non-profit status, continues to grow and gain support, and he hopes that next year they’ll be able to add more educational events or even bring directors to Pensacola to speak about their films.
“We’ll see how it goes,” he said.
Jones[/caption]
“This year it’s homecoming, so there wasn’t anything available,” said Jones. “But GSA still brought a large crowd out.”
The Museum of Commerce in Historic Pensacola Village served as Wednesday’s venue instead, and the museum’s retro Americana ambiance was bolstered by the complimentary servings of fresh popcorn and cotton candy.
Thursday’s event will be held at the Palafox House and have the theme “Aging and the LGBT Community.” The films to be screened are “Mamis” and “Gen Silent,” the latter a documentary following six seniors who must navigate a healthcare system with limited options for LGBT individuals.
“I’m really excited about this one,” said Sara Latshaw, president and co-founder of the film festival. “It’s a really important subject that often gets ignored.”
“These activists come out and fight the fight for LGBT equality, and when they’re old they end up having to go back into the closet in order to get proper healthcare,” she said. “That’s something we need to look at locally and on a broader level.”
Keeping with the theme, there will also be a Q&A session with Covenant Hospice and the Council on Aging.
Friday’s event will take place at the Pensacola Cultural Center and will coincide with Gallery Night. Seven short films will be screened: “Into the Streets,” “Mum,” “The Cost of Gender,” “Amias,” “Miniatures,” “Orbitas” and “The Heart’s Mouth.”
“It’s just an awesome lineup, not to be missed,” said Latshaw.
The festival will conclude on Saturday at The Yard with the theme “Crossing Cultures.” Three short films will be screened (“Bella,” “Off a Cliff” and “The Queen”) followed by a documentary, “The Turkish Boat,” about members of the Turkish Muslim community in Amsterdam who participate in the city’s Gay Pride parade.
“I’m glad that we can bring these films,” said Jones. “If it weren’t for this festival, these films would not be seen in Pensacola.”
He noted that the large turnout was a good sign that the film festival, which recently received 501(c)3 non-profit status, continues to grow and gain support, and he hopes that next year they’ll be able to add more educational events or even bring directors to Pensacola to speak about their films.
“We’ll see how it goes,” he said.
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