Welcome to the 6th annual Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival

Welcome to the 6^th Annual Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.

Browny the gay bird. At a time when more queer films are getting commercial distribution than ever before, we know you’ve already had the opportunity to see some great movies this year. Before Night Falls, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and The Deep End all enjoyed long theatrical runs, as did Big Eden, the Opening Night film of the 2000 festival.

But we also know that the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival provides you with experiences you won’t find anywhere else: the chance to see queer film with a queer audience; the opportunity to meet filmmakers and talk to them about their work; and access to dozens and dozens of films that would never play Seattle if we didn’t bring them here.

In light of this, we'd like to make a suggestion: see something new this year, something you might not ordinarily see. Maybe you think you hate experimental film – why not give History Lessons a chance? Or maybe you’re bored to tears by documentaries – we guarantee that won’t be the case with Trembling Before G-D. Go see a film about a part of the community that you don’t know much about -- it's a stellar year for tranny films (Trans Am, Chicas Por Sentimiento, Bombay Eunuch). And we’ve got nearly a dozen wonderful shorts programs this year on subjects ranging from queer pride in South Africa (The Justice Files) to the homosexual tendencies of our furry friends (Wild Kingdom) – there’s something you probably won’t see in the multiplex.

Another aspect of this year’s programming that we’d like to draw your attention to is the great selection of films for the ladies. We are thrilled to be opening the festival with a women’s film for the first time in the festival's history. Narrative feature films about gay men still dramatically outnumber those about women, which makes Julie Johnson – a story about two working class New Jersey housewives starring Lili Taylor and Courtney Love – that much more remarkable. Also, be sure to catch Cheryl Dunye's much-anticipated second feature Stranger Inside and butch buddy movie By Hook or By Crook,

As many of you know firsthand, it’s been a bleak year economically, and as a non-profit arts organization, these conditions have a powerful effect on us. We would like to take a moment to thank our sponsors – especially those who have been with us for years -- who came through for us in whatever way they could. We are particularly excited to have the support of Vulcan Inc. – both financially and through the use of their wonderful venue, the Seattle Cinerama Theatre.

As it becomes clear to us how precarious corporate support can be, we look to you, the individuals who make up our community, to show your support for this festival. If you haven’t yet become a member of Three Dollar Bill Cinema, we hope that you’ll do so soon.

One thing that doesn't change from year to year is the extraordinary dedication of our staff and volunteers. As the festival grows, we are more and more dependent on the talent and generosity of these remarkable people. Thanks, too, to the board members who work tirelessly on behalf of this organization. We really couldn't do it without you!

Have a great festival!

Kirsten Schaffer

Justine Barda

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