The Carolina Theatre of Durham Announces 15th Annual North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Set for August 12-15

Comedian Bruce Vilanch takes the stage on Friday, August 13
Opening Night Film: Elena Undone
Men's Centerpiece Film: Violet Tendencies
Women's Centerpiece Film: The Four-Faced Liar
North Carolina Sneak Preview: Flight of the Cardinal, filmed in NC
Closing Night Film: BearCity

Durham, N.C. - The Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. has announced the film schedule for THE 15th ANNUAL NORTH CAROLINA GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL (NCGLFF).  The four-day festival is dedicated to showcasing films that reflect the many voices of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. The festival will be held August 12 to 15 at the historic Carolina Theatre located in downtown Durham. Award-winning comedy writer Bruce Vilanch will perform at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, August 13. The Official 2010 NCGLFF Plaza Party takes place at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 14 with partial proceeds benefiting the LGBT Center of Raleigh.  A VIP Reception and party for filmmakers, sponsors and NCGLFF donors takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 13 in the Connie Moses Ballroom. The party is produced by the Mark Day Company.

Tickets for the festival 10-Pass, Bruce Vilanch and the Plaza Party 2010 go on sale at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 12. The Festival 10-pass is $75, $63 for Star Members. Tickets for Bruce Vilanch are $37, $27 and $22 for Star Members. Tickets for the Plaza Party are $10 in advance and $13 at the door. For information on the VIP Reception and party call the box office at 919-560-3030. Purchase tickets online at www. carolinatheatre.org and www.ncglff.org or call the box office at 919-560-3030 or toll free 1-888-241-8162. Tickets for individual films are $9 and $7.50 for Star Members and go on sale at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 28. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 pm and one hour prior to the first screening of the day, and on weekends from 1:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Since its inception in 1995, the NCGLFF has become the second largest gay and lesbian film festival in the Southeast, attracting as many as 10,000 patrons yearly. Now celebrating its 15th anniversary, NCGLFF is one of North Carolina's most celebrated, eagerly anticipated and highly visible cinematic events. This year's festival will feature a diverse array of new films, including shorts, documentaries and feature films that provide a glimpse into the many faces of gay and lesbian life worldwide.

The 2010 festival will present 73 feature and short films from the USA, Canada, Argentina, India, Israel, France, New Zealand and Peru/Columbia. Director Robert Gaston will present an exclusive North Carolina sneak peek of his new film, Flight of the Cardinal, which was filmed entirely in North Carolina. Other films include, Role/Play, the fifth feature film from writer/director Rob Williams (Make the Yuletide Gay, 3-Day Weekend, Back Soon, and Long Term Relationship) to premiere at the festival and Howl, is a genre-bending look at the young Allen Ginsberg and the making of his ground-breaking beat poem "Howl," by Academy Award-winning documentarians Rob Epstein (The Times of Harvey Milk, Celluloid Closet) and Jeffrey Friedman. It includes vivid and luminous animation by Ginsberg collaborator Eric Drooker that captures the essence of the poem. Edie and Thea: A Very Long Engagement, a documentary from the makers of The Brandon Teena Story, is another powerful and moving documentary telling the story of Edie and Thea, two women who met in the early 1960s and shared their lives and their love for the next 42 years. Gen Silent from director Stu Maddox, director of Bob and Jack's 52-Year Adventure, is a moving documentary about elderly LGBT people who go back into the closest to survive in the healthcare system. Maddox will lead a special audience discussion after the screening.

Short film programs are a mainstay of the festival and, this year there are three programs for women, including "I'll Give You an Answer in the Morning," featuring women's drama shorts, "Losing My Cherry," a program of comedy shorts, and "She's Finally Found Me," featuring women's mixed shorts.  There are four programs of men's mixed shorts including "Ain't No Doubt About It, I'm Gay!," "Everybody Is Having Sex...But Ryan,"  "The Wolf With the Red Roses" and "Mother Nature Does the Rest." "Mainstay" is a program of five transgender shorts.

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
EXCLUSIVE NORTH CAROLINA SNEAK PREVIEW: Flight of the Cardinal

A mystery-thriller offering edge-of-your-seat suspense, Flight of the Cardinal was filmed entirely in NC by Robert Gaston, director of 2 Minutes Later.  Young Beetle Hobbs wants out of his small town and sees his ticket in Grady Wilson. Set in the desolate Smoky Mountains, Grady has recently left the big city to become the proprietor of a resort lodge. When Beetle joins Grady's staff, he gives new meaning to the adage 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer'.

WORLD PREMIERE! Heels
In 2005, writer-director Ricky Reidling presented his first feature film, Boystown, at NCGLFF.  Now he's back with his second film, Heels a gay romantic comedy set within the world of modern cabaret dancers.

MEN'S OPENING NIGHT: Undertow (Contracorriente)

Set on the stunning coast of Peru, this bittersweet Sundance award-winner portrays all members of a bisexual love triangle.

WOMEN'S OPENING NIGHT: Elena Undone

Elena Undone is an intense love story from the writer/director of Claire of the Moon.  A friendship between Peyton, an out lesbian writer, and Elena, the wife of an anti-gay pastor, who has never experienced true love, transforms swiftly from a one-sided crush into a torrid extramarital affair. As their relationship evolves, Elena confronts the choice of leaving her husband, or ending her involvement with Peyton to save her already unraveling and unrewarding marriage and return to a drab and automated life.

MEN'S CENTERPIECE FILM: Violet Tendencies
Violet Tendencies stars 80s child star Mindy Cohn (Natalie from Facts of Life). Violet is single, thirty-something, full-figured gal who has a seemingly wonderful life. Yet Violet wants to find love. Though she is constantly hanging around hunky, gorgeous men, none are interested in her. You see, Violet is a fag hag.  At the insistence of a coworker, she decides to ditch the gays in search of her own heterosexual Mr. Right!

WOMEN'S CENTERPIECE FILM:  The Four-Faced Liar
In The Four Faced Liar, a romantic comedy, childhood sweethearts Greg and Molly meet Bridget and her best friend Trip at a bar called The Four-Faced Liar in New York City's Greenwich Village.  Molly and Bridget begin an affair, leading to a fight between Molly and Greg.  Then, Molly must choose between her long time vanilla boyfriend and the passionate Bridget.

CLOSING NIGHT FILM:  BearCity
BearCity, a light-hearted comedic romp about a subset of gay culture that seldom gets the cinematic spotlight - a preference for the bushy look - is the men's closing night film.

NCGLFF is sponsored by Accent Hardwood Flooring, American Audio Video, American Express, Ameriprise Financial, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, The King's Daughters Inn, Modern Gentle Dentistry, Independent Weekly, LGBT Center of Raleigh, Replacements, Ltd., Q-notes, Tony Hall & Associates, Wells Fargo Financial Advisors, LLC and Whole Foods Market.

More information about the films and festival can be found at www.ncglfff.org. Screeners, images and press credentials are available. Please contact Aaron Bare at (919) 560-3040, ext. 224 or aaron [at] carolinatheatre [dot] org. Press credential requests must be submitted by Thursday, August 5 at 5 p.m. 

Festival Line-Up
U.S. Feature Films

BearCity (Director: Douglas Langway)
Bloomington (Director: Fernanda Cardoso)
Elena Undone (Director: Nicole Conn)
Flight of the Cardinal (Director: Robert Gaston)
The Four Faced Liar (Director: Jacob Chase)
Heels (World Premiere) (Director: Ricky Reidling)
Howl (Directors: Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman)
Is It Just Me? (Director: JC Calciano)
Lost in the Crowd (Director Susi Graf)
My Normal (Director: Irving Schwartz)
Purple Sea (Director: Donatella Maiorca)
Role/Play (Director: Rob Williams)
Violet Tendencies (Director: Casper Andreas)
We Have to Stop Now (Director: Robyn Dettman)
You Should Meet My Son (Director: Keith Hartman)

International Feature Films
Eyes Wide Open (Israel) (Director: Haim Tabakman)
El Nino Pez (Argentina) (Director: Lucia Puenzo)
Out of the Blue (France) (Director: Yigal Bursztyn)
Undertow (Contracorriente) (Peru/Columbia) Director Javier Fuentes-Leon

Documentary Features

Edie and Thea: A Very Long Engagement (Directors: Susan Muska & Greta Olafsdottir)
Lost in the Crowd (Director: Susi Graf)
Gen Silent (Director: Stu Maddox)

WOMEN'S SHORTS PROGRAMS

LOSING MY CHERRY
Public Relations (USA, Director Gianna Sobol)
My Lesbian Friend (Canada, Director: Sarah Rotella)
Cried Suicide (USA, Director: Lauren Palmigiano)
Fish Fillet (USA, Director: Hae Ran Kim)
Son of the Preacher (Canada, Director: Jasmine Gervais)
Tools 4 Fools (USA, Director: Kate A. Brandt)
Losing My Cherry (USA, Director: Silvia Gallini)

I'LL GIVE YOU AN ANSWER IN THE MORNING
How the Grinch Stole My Heart! (And My Favorite Sweatshirt...) (Canada: Gabrielle Zilka)
Dancing to Happiness (USA, Director: Barbara Seiler)
The Bedwetter (USA, Director: Michelle Boyaner)
Blue Covers (USA, Director: Indira Allegra)
510 Meters Above Sea Level (Switzerland, Director: Kerstin Polte)
Little Mutinies (USA, Director: Angie Powers & Elizabeth Stark)

SHE'S FINALLY FOUND ME
Dyke Dollar (USA, Director: Laura Terruso)
Hens and Chicks (USA, Director: Becky Lane)
You Move Me (USA, Director: Gina Hirsch)
U-Haul Rap Video (USA, director Bob Koherr)
Tech Support (USA, Director: Erik Gernand)
Hell on Wheels Gang Girls Forever (USA, Director: Katrina Del Mar)

MEN'S SHORTS PROGRAMS

EVERYBODY IS HAVING SEX...BUT RYAN
Rubdown (USA, Director: Dennis Hensley)
Waiting 4 Goliath (Canada, Director: Cal Garingan)
Little BFFs (USA, Director:  Glenn Gaylord)
Go Go Reject (USA, Director: Michael J. Saul)
Everybody is Having Sex...But Ryan (USA, Director: Brian Pelletier)
You Can't Curry Love (USA/UK/India, Director: Reid Waterer)
Deaf Relay: At Your Service:  (USA, Directors Jeanette Castillo & Diane Wilkins)

MOTHER NATURE DOES THE REST

Second Guessing Grandma (USA, Director: Bob Giraldi)
Mothers (USA, Director: B.J. Winfrey)
Lost Hills, California (USA, Director: Waide Riddle)
Gay Baby (USA, Director: Kevin Kelly)
Judgment Day (USA, Director: Daniel Hoerner)
Mother of the Year (USA, Director: Adrienne Zi)

THE WOLF WITH THE RED ROSES
Little Love (USA, Director: Quentin Lee)
Closure (Director: Jeremy O'Keefe)
After (Canada, Director: Mark Pariselli)
The Armoire (Canada, Director:  Jamie Travis)
Last Call (USA, Director: Nick Corporon)
Remission (USA, Director: Greg Ivan Smith)
The Window (USA, Directors: Philippe Gosselin & Ronald Regina)

AIN'T NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, I'M GAY!

Communication (New Zealand, Directors: Christopher Banks and Andy Jalfon)
It's in the Genes (USA, Directors: Don Burnett & Ryan Shaffer)
Who Would You? (USA, Director: Todd Eric Valcourt)
306 (USA, Director: Elliot London)
He She We (USA, (USA, Director: William Branden Blinn)
Triple Standard (USA, Director: William Branden Blinn)
Gayby (USA, Director: Jonathan Lisecki)

TRANSGENGER SHORTS PROGRAM
MAINSTAY

Remember Me in Red (USA, Director:  Hector Ceballos)
Kaden Later (USA, Director: Harriett Storm)
Door Prize (USA, Director:  Zsa Zsa Gershick)
Amateur (USA, Director: Daniel Trevino)
Mainstay (USA, Director: Elliot Montague)

THE 15th ANNUAL NORTH CAROLINA GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL (NCGLFF) takes place August 12 to 15 at the historic Carolina Theatre located in downtown Durham. Comedian Bruce Vilanch will perform at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, August 13.  Tickets for Bruce Vilanch and festival 10-Passes go on sale at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 12.  Individual tickets go on sale at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 28.  Tickets for Bruce Vilanch are $37, $27 and $22 for Star Members. Festival 10-Passes are $75 and $63 for Star Members.  Individual tickets are $9 and $7.50 for Star Members. Tickets are available by calling the box office at 919-560-3030 toll free 1-888-241-8162. Tickets and 10-Passes will also be available on line at www.carolinatheatre.org and www.ncglff.org.  Tickets can be purchased at the box office located at 309 W. Morgan Street in Durham. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 pm and one hour prior to the first screening of the day, and on weekends from 1:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

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                                                    About Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc.

Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. (CTD) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which manages the City of Durham-owned Carolina Theatre complex at 309 W. Morgan Street, Durham. The organization is dedicated to presenting vibrant, thought-provoking film and live performances that contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of downtown Durham and the Triangle.

The Carolina Theatre
309 W. Morgan Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3040
Tickets: (919) 560-3030
carolinatheatre.org