FilmOut 2014
May 30 through June 1 at North Park Theater, 2891 University Ave., San Diego, 92104
Opening Film: "Boy Meets Girl," Friday 7:30 p.m.
Closing Film: "John Apple Jack," Sunday 7 p.m.
ANCHOR INTRO: FilmOut, San Diego’s LGBT Film Festival, kicks off its 16th year this Friday. KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando speaks with the festival’s programmer about what to expect. FILMOUT (ba).wav 1:16 =========================== Filmout programmer Michael McQuiggan says this year’s festival has been pared down to an intense 3-day event. MICHAEL MCQUIGGAN: So I had to be real selective. We received over 350 submissions and I kind of had to streamline the festival down to 25 films. So the 25 films that were selected are kind of the best of the best. One of the best in McQuiggan’s opinion is Gerontophillia about a young man who takes a summer job at a nursing home and discovers he’s attracted to seniors. CLIP That’s me, I was in rather good shape, don’t you think?… I guess so, I like the way you look now… what medication are you on? MICHAEL MCQUIGGAN: And I have never seen anything like it, and it’s directed by Bruce LaBruce who kind of, his films are kind of in your face, although this is more subdued than his past work. Other films range from the opening night romantic comedy Boy meets Girl to the documentary Folsom Forever about a San Francisco neighborhood street fair that grew into an iconic kink and fetish event. Although some films may seem aimed at a narrow demographic, McQuiggan says FilmOut is reaching an ever broadening audience. MICHAEL MCQUIGGAN: That’s only because we’ve kind of exploded on social media and since we do these monthly films and quarterly marathons that’s brought in a whole different demographic so I am seeing new people at every festival. FilmOut runs this Friday through Sunday at the North park Theater. Beth Accomando, KPBS News.
FilmOut, San Diego’s LGBT Film Festival, kicks off its 16th year this Friday.
Filmout programmer Michael McQuiggan says, "This year I decided to streamline the festival down to just three days so I had to be real selective. We received over 350 submissions and I kind of had to streamline the festival down to 25 films. So the 25 films that were selected are kind of the best of the best."
One of the best in McQuiggan’s opinion is Canada's "Gerontophillia" about a 18-year-old Lake (Pier-Gabriel Lajoie) who takes a summer job at a nursing home and discovers he’s attracted to seniors.
"He kind of falls for this elderly gentleman and it’s about their relationship," McQuiggan says, "I have never seen anything like it, and it’s directed by Bruce LaBruce and his films are kind of in your face, although this is more subdued than his past work so I think that’s one of my favorites."
Other films range from the opening night romantic comedy "Boy meets Girl" to the documentary "Folsom Forever" about a San Francisco neighborhood street fair that grew into an iconic kink and fetish event. According to the website for "Folsom Forever": "If you thought San Francisco's Folsom Street Fair was just about leather and kink, 'Folsom Forever' will give you a whole lot more to think about. This new documentary by Mike Skiff bares the social, political, charitable and cultural implications of the world’s most notorious bacchanal."
Although a film like "Folsom Forever" may seem geared toward a niche audience, McQuiggan says FilmOut as a whole is reaching an ever-broadening audience.
"We are definitely reaching a more broad audience," McQuiggan explains, "and that’s only because we’ve kind of exploded on social media and since we do these monthly films and quarterly marathons that’s brought in a whole different demographic so I am seeing new people at every festival. So this year I expect it to be even more well attended than it was last year because the social media for us in the last year has really exploded."
You can follow FilmOut through social media on Facebook and Twitter. Kudos to programmer McQuiggan for also being key to the broadening of FilmOut's audience by expanding the definition of what audiences can expect from a LGBT film festival and program. By programming a diverse array of films from around the globe and across all genres, McQuiggan helps advance the organization's mission "to enlighten, educate, and entertain the communities of San Diego County & beyond through the exhibition of LGBT-themed films. FilmOut San Diego seeks to recognize, promote, celebrate and support the important diverse artistic contributions LGBT filmmakers make to our community."
If you haven't attended before, I urge you to give the festival a look. If you have gone before then you already know what kind of cinematic treats to expect.
