Translations: The Seattle Transgender Film Festival Wraps
Audience Awards Announced after Festival’s Most Successful Run

Translations: The Seattle Transgender Film Festival wrapped up a groundbreaking four-day run on May 16 with record attendance—up 25% over 2009.  The opening night film, RIOT ACTS, screened to a sold out house and the after party featured captivating live music by director Madsen Minax and Adhamh Roland.

Six directors from across the United States and Canada visited Translations and festival programmers from as far away as The Netherlands also attended.
“I’m thrilled with the enthusiasm and positive response we’ve received from the audiences at this year’s festival,” said Jason Plourde, Programming Director for Three Dollar Bill Cinema.  “I love seeing how Translations has grown over the past five years and how much the community has embraced this festival.”
Translations is one of only a handful of transgender film festivals in the world.
Three Dollar Bill Cinema is proud to announce the following Audience Awards:

Best Feature Film:  FOREVER’S GONNA START TONIGHT

Best Short Film:  REMEMBER ME IN RED

Cresdan Maite was a festival programmer: “Transgender film has changed and grown over the last five years.  Filmmakers are developing their stories more. Documentaries are shifting from simple transition stories into larger explorations of our lives as people. This is exciting progress.”
Translations featured 11 programs over four days, May 13-16.

Thank you to everyone who supported the 5th annual Translations: The Seattle Transgender Film Festival!

Record attendance, visiting filmmakers, and great performances at our Opening Night party made this Translations Film Festival the biggest and best yet.
Special thanks to our sponsors: The Pride Foundation, City Catering, The Stranger, Spring Hill Suites, Capitol Hill Seattle Blog, & Seattle Gay News.

2010 is just around the corner and we have many events already planned. Mark your calendars now!
March 7: Annual Academy Awards Party presented with Gay City Health Project
March 26: 3rd Annual Dinner Auction: Pretty in Pink
May 13-16: 5th Translations: The Seattle Transgender Film Festival
October 15-24: 15th Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film festival

More events to come including Three Dollar Bill Outdoor Cinema and a special Mother’s Day screening. Make sure you are our fan on facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/threedollarbillcinema ) and follow us on twitter ( http://twitter.com/3dollarbillcine ) to stay up to date on our events.

Vote for Three Dollar Bill Cinema and we could win $25,000! Chase is donating $5 million to local charities and your vote helps decide where it goes!

2009 Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival Juried Awards

BEST FEATURE FILM: The Man Who Loved Yngve
Directed by Stian Kristiansen
An unexpectedly delightful film, THE MAN WHO LOVED YNGVE tells a compelling and beautifully cinematic coming-of-age story which captures the cynicism and innocence of self-discovery. Amazing performances and solid storytelling allow Stian Kristiansen to direct a memorable and fully engaging film. 

FEATURE FILM HONORABLE MENTION:  I Can’t Think Straight
Directed by Shamim Sarif
As a genre, I CAN’T THINK STRAIGHT, is film that needs to be recognized for its complex story and politics. Filmmaker Shamim Sarif is a remarkable storyteller that will continue to push the boundaries of world and social issues.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM: Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement
Directed by Gréta Olafsdóttir and Susan Muska
A timeless and timely love story that transcends being gay and is truly universal. This deeply intimate portrait of two charming, intelligent women and their life together engages the audience to consider the nature of love, commitment, and the definition of marriage. A movie that touched our hearts and brought the entire audience to tears.

BEST SHORT FILM: Diana
Directed by Aleem Khan
For a powerful and expressive portrayal of alienation based on complex identity. This film uniquely tackles all of the multiple challenges—cultural identity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and family relationships—in a single character.

SHORT FILM HONOURABLE MENTION: Claiming the Title
Directed by Jonathan Joiner and Robert H. Martin
For shedding light on an important part of our combined historical struggle against blatant discrimination. For reminding us that progress is not about winning or losing but about taking courageous, continual, incremental steps.

MOST INNOVATIVE SHORT: The Apple
Directed by Emilie Jouvet
For transcending our expectations of queer cinema. THE APPLE was a visual feast that showed us the sensuality of the forbidden.

2009 Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival Audience Awards

Favorite Narrative Feature: PRAYERS FOR BOBBY, directed by Russell Mulcahy

Favorite Documentary: EDIE & THEA: A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT, directed by Gréta Olafsdóttir and Susan Muska

Favorite Local Film: WAXIE MOON, directed by Wes Hurley

Favorite Short:  CLAIMING THE TITLE, directed by Jonathan Joiner and Robert H. Martin

Favorite Boys Short: DIRTY MAGAZINES, directed by Jay J. Levy

Favorite Girls Short: ONE NIGHT, directed by Laura Jean Cronin