Newspapers / Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.) / July 22, 2000, edition 1 / Page 15
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Q-Notes ▼ July 22, 2000 T PAGE 15 Dance Literature Fashion Female impersonation Internet Fifth annual NC Gay and Lesbian Film Festival coming in August by Amy Barefoot Special to Q-Notes DURHAM, NC—-The 2000 North Caro lina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival celebrates its fifth anniversary August 10-13 at the his toric Carolina Theatre in downtown Durham. With more than 4400 in attendance last year, the 1999 North Carolina Gay and Les bian Film Festival became the most attended film festival to date at the Carolina Theatre, and is consistently used as a model for film fes tivals around the country that are just getting started. Each year attendance has increased by 1000 or more and this year’s festival is expected to continue in that direction. Volunteers from the local community formecLthe programming committee to select films for this year’s festival. The North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival began at the Carolina Theatre in 1995 in association with NC Pride ’95 — which was held at the Durham Civic Center. A group of Pride volunteers approached the Carolina The atre about running a series of films on NC Pride ’95 weekend. Pride’s activities and film series at the the atre did not escape the notice of more conser vative members in the community. The local chapter of a conservative group organized op position to the film screenings that resulted in Durham City officials and its district attorney previewing the films. The theater stood firm as a non-profit serv ing all segments of the community population and the films were found not to be offensive or “pornographic.” The film series ran as planned and included Salmonberries, The Sum of Us, Dyke Dramas, and Boys’Shorts: The New Queer Cinema. The publicity surrounding the controversy helped spread the word so that attendance and support for the films was substantial. The suc cess also brought together volunteers from the GLBT community and the Carolina Theatre staff to develop the first full festival. Planned for the summer of 1996, rhe first full-fledged North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival was a rousing success with the Triangle’s gay and lesbian community, attract ing more than 1000 attendees. Eight full-length features and two short films were shown that year. Filmmakers Barbara Hammer {TenderFic tions) and Sonja de Vries {Gay Cuba) were guests, and discussed the making of their films. •The 1997 filVn festival featured 10 full- length films, several short films, and a photo exhibit; “Love Makes A Family.” The festival attracted more than 2000 attendees with five of the screenings selling out. The 1998 North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival utilized all three theaters at the Carolina for the first time, showing 21 differ ent films. Another first was a live performance as part of the scheduled events. Comedian Rob Nash performed his one-man show 2 Steps to A More Dysfunctional Family on Saturday night. A dozen feature films were shown. Three of the films — Stolen Moments, I Think I Do, and It’s In The Water — ran after the festival as part of the Carolina’s regular film schedule. This festi val was able to book many films that were shown that year at gay and lesbian film festi vals in much larger cities: Relax...It’sJustSexvias the opening night film at the 1998 Los Ange les Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (OUTFEST), and was the closing night film at the 1998 San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (FRAMELINE). The ability to book first-rate, first-run films indicated that the North Caro lina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival had created a national name for itself In 1999, the festival expanded to four days, beginning on a Thursday evening and conclud ing on a Sunday evening. The festival had an international theme and presented twice the number of screenings as 1998. Some of the films represented at the festival were from Spain, Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom. Again, many of the films had appeared at other ■ major gay and lesbian film festivals. Comedian Marga Gomez presented her one- woman show following what has become known as the traditional gala reception. On Saturday and Sunday, the community resource room more than tripled the number of partici pating organizations displaying information from 13 to 42. The 2000 North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival will feature the following films: Aimee and Jaguar; Bedrooms and Hallways; Beefcake; Birthday Time; Boy Next Door; Chut ney Popcorn; Creature; Criminal Lovers; Crush; The Deal; Dykerat; Johnny Gray Eyes; Journey To A Hate-Free Millennium; Just One Time; A Luv Tale; No Direct Flights Between New York and Marseille; Open Bodies; Paragraph 175; Pink Narcissus; Psycho Beach Party; Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple In All The World; Set Me Free; Shame No More: Coping With Heterosexu ality; Show Me Love; Sitcom; The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me; Traditional Family Vampires."W Out on the road again: The more I travel the better person I become by Randy Siegel Special to Q-Notes Upon my divorce, I wondered if I would, ever travel again. Finding another compatible travel companion seemed an insurmountable task. Traveling with my ex was one of the things I missed most about my marriage. We were a well-oiled traveling machine. I drove. She navi gated. Together, we planned, explored, and en tertained each other during long layovers. We took wonderful trips. France, Greece, England, Canada and the American West were just a few of our ports of call. We could rough it or lavish in the lap of luxury. Either way, we were happi est when we traveled. Right after my divorce, I found it simpler to travel alone than to find a suitable traveling companion. These solitary ventures became personal retreats providing much-needed time to read and reflect. Some of the biggest deci sions I have made in my life were made while traveling solo. While traveling alone in Fort Lauderdale, I decided to leave my job of'lO- years and take some time off On another trip, I decided to move to the mountains. Traveling alone does not have to mean va cationing alone. A fun way for a single to vaca tion like a double is to find a fellow traveler who can become a “vacation husband.” While visiting South Beach two years ago, I met Noel, a cute Frenchman. Upon meeting, he explained that while he planned to leave for the Keys the following day, he could be persuaded to stay if he met someone interesting. We spent the next four days together. On another trip to Palm Springs, I met Ray from L.A. Again, we shared a wonderful vacation together. Gradually, I be gan to meet others interested in travel. It takes more than a common interest in travel, however, to make a compatible travel companion. A friend much younger than I re cently invited me to Paris over the holiday. While the invitation was tempting, our vary ing alarm clocks were cause for alarm. I am up at dawn, and he rarely awakes before noon. I declined his offer. In addition to similar sched ules, common goals are also helpful when trav eling with friends. If one person seeks relax ation and the other adventure, problems can emerge. When traveling in tandem, I learned to watch for “travel tremors,” issues that if not properly managed can erupt into full-scale earthquakes. The most common travel trem ors are meals and money. Few things are worse than traveling with someone who eats only cer tain foods or is rigid about the time they eat. I found flexibility is key to successful travel, and trying new foods is part of the adventure. Al ways going Dutch or keeping a mental balance sheet to ensure expenses are equitable keeps money from becoming a resentment when trav eling with a friend. Keeping a kitty for com mon expenses also works well when traveling in groups. Traveling with a boy- or girlfriend brings into play another set of dynamics. While we may think we know someone, rarely do we re ally know him or her until we have traveled together. Several years ago, I went oversees with a man I had been dating. Even though we were in one of the most romantic spots in the world, never had I felt so alone. He was so consumed with travel logistics that he could not be present. Even though we had dated for six months prior to the trip, I had never seen this side of him before. Whether traveling with friends or a lover, scheduling time for independent activities is important. Time alone permits each to visit attractions exclusive to his or her interests and gives both much-needed solitude. I have also found it useful to bring a deck of cards or other game. During layovers, plane delays and train trips, games help pass time. Games also provide entertainment at night. Toward the end of a wonderful trip to Morocco, North W Gay& Carolina 1 Lesbian Film Festival a friend and I spent a pleasant evening in the open courtyard of our hotel sipping wine and playing gin. We were grateful for a night at «L ” home. Six years after my divorce, I am traveling as much as I ever did. Sometimes I travel with others, other times alone. Either way, the more I travel the better traveler I become. ▼ [World-traveler Randy Siegel is an Asheville, NC-based writer and speaker who specializes in the challenges of coming out later in life. He can be reached through this publication or RASWriter@aoLcom.] What Gan The Charlotte Business Guild Do For YouP Network with Other Gay and Lesbian Professionals Build Your Business Form New Friendships Be an Active Member of the Community Find Business Resources Participate in Community Activities and Fundraisers Become a Role Model Learn Valuable Information from Interesting Speakers Guests Are Welcome st All Business Guild Meetin0s Fifth Anniversary Bedrooms and Hallways Journey to a Hate Free Millennium A Luv Taie Also Showing: The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me • The Deal • Set Me Free • But I'm a Cheerleader • Psycho Beach Party Rick & Steve, the Happiest Gay Couple in All the World • Pink Narcissus • Twisted • Just One Time • Aim6e & Jaguar Criminal Lovers • Paragraph 175 • Chutney Popcorn • Johnnie Greyeyes • Fun in Men's Shorts (Short Subjects) 309 West Morgan Street ®'*’*‘*‘*'® showtimes appearing in the July 26th issue of the Independent Weekly Downtown Durham • 919-560-3030 www.carolinatheatre.org , _ Tickets on sale at the box office Juiy 24th sponsored by: comeconS INDEPENDEST ReplacementsItd. Every Wednesday Informal Social 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Hartigan’s, 601 Cedar Street (behind Ericeson Stadium) Next Monthly Meeting Saturday, August 12 FIcnIc at Lake ^le 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm An afternoon of sunning, socializing, swimming, boating, games, and food Serving (he Gay And Lesbian Community Since 1982 For more inlormaUon or reservations, call n041565-5075, or small businossguild@yahoo.com
Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.)
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July 22, 2000, edition 1
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