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It’s a wrap for another Long Beach QFest Festival

As usual, I had a most terrific time at Long Beach QFilm Festival over the weekend seeing seven movies, moderating the Q&A for one of them, and mixing with old friends and new friends at the various parties.

It was the 20th anniversary for the event which takes place at the Art Theatre and The Center Long Beach located right next door.

More than 1,500 people attended the three-day event with lines around the block for such films as I Am Divine and The Punk Singer.

I was bowled over by the opening night drama Reaching for the Moon which went on to win Best Feature and the Best Director for Bruno Barreto. So well deserved! See this movie!

My other favorite movie of the festival was the hilarious comedy First Period. Oh my God. Just laughed through the whole darn thing. It was written by Brandon Alexander III who brilliantly plays a high school girl about to turn sweet sixteen – what a riot.

I wish all kinds of good things for this movie which, somehow, was passed over by Outfest. It’s a scream and won Alexander the QFest’s Special Jury Award for Emerging Talent.

Another highlight for me was Birthday Cake written, directed by and co-starring the amazing Chad Darnell. Loved his short Groom’s Cake and this feature length sequel is wonderful. Jane Badler has a screen chewing bit and I was so moved by Helen Shaver who plays Chad’s mom. Then there is hunky Rib Willis who is wonderful and a real fun role for the great Lee Meriwhether who is a hoot as a grandma without a censor.

I also watched the Men’s Shorts program, the comedy G.B.F., the documentaries Homeboys and Corpus Christi: Redemption and the intriguing short Adults Only by Heath Daniels that screened before Interior. Leather Bar.

Saw I Am Divine at Outfest so didn’t watch it again but it is so damed good that it’s no surprise it won QFest’s Best Documentary prize.

Other award winners:

Best Documentary-Short: Straight With You
Best Screenplay-Feature: Anna Margarita Albelo & Michael Urban, Who’s Afraid of Vagina Wolf?
Best Screenplay-Short: Alejandro Reyes & Marcial Rios Salcido, Claudio, Maura Y Yo.
Best Dramatic Short: A World For Raul
Best Comedy Short: Lez Be Honest
Best Director-Short: Denis McArdle, Barry’s Bespoke Bakery
Special Jury Award for Cinematography: Dos Almas


FILE UNDER: Film Festivals

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