Top Film Industry and Media Professionals Discuss Gays and Lesbians in Film: How Theyíre Portrayed, Whether Their Audiences Accept Them, How to Get Their Films Distributed

Movie audiences are not allowed to talk at the movies. But at the Third Annual Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, audiences are encouraged to speak up during one of the five panel discussions and one clips-talk during the 10-day Festival.

A series of thought-provoking topics that cover the spectrum of independent filmmaking, will include, among others, a global perspective on the world of Latin filmmaking, as well as how independent films get made and how the way mainstream media portrays gay people. Festivalgoers will get the chance to converse about the films shown and the issues they bring to light with visiting filmmakers, actors, distributors, authors, scholars, critics, and screenwriters. The panels, which are free and open to the public, is another way for the Festival to fulfill its role as a community cultural institution.

One special program is ìLethal Lesbiansî, (Sunday, April 29, 11am) a clips-talk hosted by National Public Radio commentator and Advocate journalist, B. Ruby Rich. Rich, who coined the now classic term "The New Queer Cinemaî will examine, through film and commentary, the 1990s phenomenon of women in the movies who team up for murder and mayhem.

ìInternational screenwriters and filmmakers, distributors, producers, actors and critics, will all be converging on Miami Beach for the Festival. Itís such a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in the film industry to take advantage of what we are offering,î said Rosenberg. ìWe want the community to spend time with them, to talk with them and to learn from them... it will almost be like taking a university level course in independent filmmaking,î

Panel discussions include:

Friday, April 27, at 5pm ï ìFun in the Dark: Where are the Audiences for Gay and Lesbian Films?î Representatives from three U.S. distributors of independent films, along with two gay film directors, will discuss the reasons behind the under performance of gay and lesbian films at the mainstream box office. With moderator Marcus Hu, President of Strand Releasing (Plata quemada, Iron Ladies, Latin Boys Go To Hell);Ý Mike Thomas of Jour de FÍte Films (Boys to Men, Relax...Itís Just Sex); and Sande Zeig, President of Artistic License (The Girl); and directors Thomas Bezucha (Big Eden) and Lane Janger (Just One Time).

Saturday, April 28, at 12pm ï ìMainstream Gaze: A Panel Discussionî The pros and cons of the way lesbians and gay men are portrayed in the mainstream media in a Will and Grace era, will be the topic tackled by a group of film and television critics, producers and academics. Panelists include moderator B. Ruby Rich, long-time film critic and commentator for The Advocate and National Public Radio; actor Alexis Arquette from Last Exit to Brooklyn, Pulp Fiction, and this yearís Audit; Steve Capsuto, author of the book Alternate Channels, which traces the history of lesbian and gay images in broadcasting; actor Guillermo Diaz from Stonewall and this yearís Just One Time;Ý Martha Gever, professor of media and cultural studies at Florida Atlantic University and co-editor of Queer Looks: Perspectives on Lesbian and Gay Film and Video; and Dennis Turner, screenwriter for the classic TV show Dynasty and the television film The Rock Hudson Story.

Sunday, April 29, at 3pm ï ìLethal Lesbians,î presented by B. Ruby Rich In a program combining film clips and commentary, B. Ruby Rich, one of the most important lesbian and feminist film critics working today, will be discussing the 1990s phenomenon of women in the movies who team up for murder and mayhem (maybe they're lovers, maybe not).ÝÝÝÝ Rich, who coined the now classic term "The New Queer Cinema,î has been a contributor to The Village Voice, Sight and Sound, OUT and Mirabella, and has a regularly appearing column in The Advocate.ÝÝÝÝ ìLethal Lesbiansî is the second half of the Sunday ìLadies Who Lunchî program; complete afternoon package of History Lessons (11am), ìLethal Lesbians,î (3pm) and lunch (Ladies Who Lunch): $30. ìLethal Lesbiansî 3pm screening only: $10.

Monday, April 30, at 5pm ï ìAlternate Channels: A Screening and Discussionî Author and lecturer Steven Capsuto takes a very gay look at TV, from the dawn of the medium through the present day. This panel is co-sponsored by the Louis Wolfson II Media History Center, South Floridaís moving image archive.

Thursday, May 3, at 5pm ï ìPantalla Abierta: Gay and Lesbian Latin Filmmakingî

From Spain, Latin America and to the United States, filmmakers and critics discuss the state of Latin gay and lesbian films today, moderated by Juan Mendez, long-time movie critic in both Spanish and English and former Film Editor for Latina magazine. Panelists include Desi del Valle, director of Framelineís lesbian and gay film distribution program and star of Desiís Looking for a New Girl; AndrÈ Fischer, director of the Brazilian gay and lesbian film festival; Mary Guzm·n, filmmaker and director of Desiís Looking for a New Girl; Juan Luis Iborra, director of this yearís Spanish film Km.0, and previous Festival award-winner for Amor de hombre; and Marcelo PiÒeyro, the renowned Argentine director of this yearís Plata quemada.

Friday, May 4, at 5pm ï ìBy Any Means Necessary: Producing Gay and Lesbian Feature Filmsî With moderator Frances NegrÛn, South Florida-based filmmaker and writer; Shari Carpenter, director of Kaliís Vibe; Cheryl Dunye, director of Stranger Inside and The Watermelon Woman;Ý Ilan Duran Cohen, director of The Confusion of Genders; and Christopher Livingston, director of Hit and Runway, audiences are invited to delve deeper into the artistic and business ends of making movies.

All panels are free and open to the public. ìLethal Lesbiansî film clips and commentary with B. Ruby Rich is the second half of the Sunday, April 29 ìLadies Who Lunchî program; complete afternoon package of History Lessons (11am), ìLethal Lesbians,î (3pm) and lunch (Ladies Who Lunch): $30. ìLethal Lesbiansî 3pm screening only: $10.

Tickets are $10 for regular screenings and $25 opening and closing night. All parties and special events have additional costs; panels are free.

Purchasing Tickets Through the Festival Office, tickets may be purchased in advance by mail with check, money order or credit card, or by fax, e-mail or phone order with credit card only. For a ticket order form, contact the Festival Office, by phone: 305 534.9924, by e-mail: festivalinfo@the-beach.net or be visiting the Festival's website: www.mglff.com. (Advance ticket orders purchased through the Festival office by mail will not be accepted AFTER APRIL 20.)

Tickets may also be purchased in advance at the Colony Theater box office, 1040 Lincoln Road on Miami Beach during the hours of noon and 5pm, Tuesday through Saturday, cash only, beginning April 1. Tickets will also be on sale for all screenings and events during the Festival from April 26 through May 5 starting one hour prior to the first screening of the day.

Through TicketMaster, tickets will be available beginning April 1 through TicketMaster outlet locations, on their website at www.ticketmaster.com or TicketMaster phone charge by calling 305-358-5885 or 954-523-3309.

For more information, visit the Festival's website: www.miamigaylesbianfilm or contact the Festival at 305.534.9924 or by e-mail at festivalinfo@the-beach.net.