The Third Annual Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, scheduled for April 27-May 6, 2001, is currently accepting film and video submissions. It is held in the historic South Beach district known for its international-themed nightlife and its vibrant gay community.
The Festival is looking for work of all genres, lengths and formats, including dramatic, documentary and experimental works, by, about and of interest to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) communities. The deadline for submissions is December 15, 2000, for a $25 entry fee. Late submissions will be accepted by January 12, 2001, for a $35 entry fee.
"The third edition of the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival will continue to reflect the multi-cultural diversity of both the GLBT community and the South Florida region as a whole," said Festival Director Robert Rosenberg. "The inclusion of the widest array of works, including a variety of genres, formats, languages and subject matter, will again make our Festival a cutting-edge event."
Last April, the six-day festival drew 7,000 movie-goers to its South Beach locations, selling out most screenings. Films were either World, U.S., East Coast, or South Florida premieres, and the Festival continued in its international vein, screening films from Germany, Sweden, England, Spain, Mexico and Miami. This year's Festival is increasing in size, length and scope and is expected to draw over 10,000 attendees.
"Entering our third year, we can safely say that the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival is the largest gay cultural event in South Florida," Rosenberg explained. "Not only that, film professionals from all over the world are beginning to take notice of the Festival as a high-quality, serious industry destination that is a pleasure to attend."
Because of the Festival's global focus, international submissions are strongly encouraged, but must be available with English subtitles for exhibition purposes. The Festival is placing special emphasis on works by U.S. Hispanic, Latin American and Spanish filmmakers. Alternative and new media, such as video installations, media-based performance and CD-ROMs, are also being sought. In general, the Festival will accept only works that will be available as South Florida premieres. Awards will be given in a number of categories.
Rosenberg, a long-time arts programmer and filmmaker whose credits include the Emmy Award-winning classic gay documentary Before Stonewall, heads up a program committee of lesbian and gay filmmakers and media professionals who will make all final selections for the Festival. In addition to submissions, the programmers will solicit specific works at their discretion.
An official submission form and detailed guidelines can be requested by contacting the Festival office at 1521 Alton Road, #147, Miami Beach, FL, 33139, or by calling the Festival at 305 534.9924, by fax at 305 535.2377, or by e-mail at festprogram@the-beach.net. The form can also be downloaded from the website at http://www.mglff.com.
Major sponsors of the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival include the Burstein Family Foundation, Bacardi Martini USA, the City of Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council, Dade Human Rights Foundation, Rene T. Rodriguez, Kent Karlock and Park Court Holdings. In addition this year, a newly-appointed honorary board supporting the Festival financially and with expertise includes Jerry Chasen, of the law firm Crockett & Chasen; Desmond Child, popular music composer and producer; Dr. Larry Feldman; Dwina Gibb, writer and philanthropist; Joseph Haley, businessman; Marc Levin, Indian Creek Hotel; Mayda Perez & Simone Mayer, real.life.basic; Dr. Karen Raben & Andrea Pernick, and well-known filmmaker and photographer Bruce Weber and Nan Bush.
For more information about the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, email the Festival at festprogram@the-beach.net, visit the website at miamigaylesbianfilmfestival.com or call (305) 534.9924.
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