Why does North Carolina need a Gay & Lesbian Film Festival?
As mainstream and queer culture continue to merge, gay and lesbian film festivals are becoming a common staple throughout the country. The NCGLFF sends a national signal that North Carolina supports as well as nourishes a thriving LGBT community.
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This is my first time at the festival, why should I attend?
The North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film FestivalSM is the most extensive festival of its kind in the State. The NCGLFF offers a one-time chance to see gay and lesbian films that are being screened for the first-and often only time in North Carolina.
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Do I have to worry about right wing extremists protesting outside of the event?
Apart from the controversy surrounding the 1995 film series, no anti-gay organization has sent representatives to protest the NCGLFF in the following eight years. The Carolina Theatre is a city-owned facility and advance permission must be granted for any organization to have a presence at the site. Any organization that creates a public presence at the festival without pre-approved permission can be legally removed from the Theatre.
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What is the attendance of the NCGLFF?
Attendance for the past two years has been 10,000. Standard practice amongst film festivals is to count attendance as the number of tickets printed. It 's difficult to determine how many different individuals are in actual attendance because many people attend more than one film.
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What are the dates of the festival?
Wednesday through Sunday, August 6-10, 2003. Yes, we have indeed added an extra day.
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How many different films are screening at the festival? How many played last year?
Ninety-eight (98) films in 2003. There were 102 films last year.
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All right, there are 98 films. How many different programs?
Those 98 films will be screened in varying combinations amongst sixty-eight (68) programs. If you add the eight (8) programs occurring during Sneak Peeks, we are at seventy-six (76) programs. There were fifty-four (54) programs in 2002.
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Is the current film schedule subject to change?
No. There are no plans to change the film schedule. All films have been booked and confirmed. We try everything in our power to adhere to the schedule that has been created, but unforeseen circumstances occasionally arise.
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What is Sneak Peeks?
Several films, which couldn’t fit into the schedule for more than one screening, are being shown as part of our regular film programming on Monday and Tuesday prior to the festival. These films are screened in Cinema One and Fletcher Hall.
Download a printable PDF version of the Sneak
Peek schedule  .
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What’s happening in Cinema Two during the Sneak Peeks?
One of our regularly scheduled films from the previous weekend will screen in Cinema Two during Sneak Peeks. It ends on Tuesday night. Whatever film was playing in Cinema One that previous weekend ends on Sunday.
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Why are we starting on a Wednesday night? Why not on Thursday as before?
Too many great films. We’re expanding the festival to capitalize on our programs rather than bury titles.
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What’s gonna be this year’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch?
Friends and Family on Saturday night is a good candidate. However with so many potential filmmakers attending their screenings on Sunday afternoon, we suspect that all of the Sunday programs have a good chance to sell well (probably not in advance) due to the filmmakers walking around the crowds and distributing postcards.
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What are other “Big Films” in the festival?
It’s always hit-and-miss, but in addition to the aforementioned film and based on past performances/instincts, the big films will be Tipping the Velvet, Secondary High, 9 Dead Gay Guys, Girl King, Between Two Women, PS Your Cat is Dead, Suddenly, Eden’s Curve and Eli Parker’s Getting Married? There’s also quite an impressive listing of previous festival credentials listed on each individual film synopses.
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If Friends and Family and others are such big films, why are some screening just once during the festival?
The distributors say so. We are bound by their decision as to the number of times and in which theatre we can screen each film. Film studios determine the number of times we can screen a particular film. The programming committee has little influence on their decision-making process.
In cases where multiple screenings were indeed allowed but couldn't be fit into the schedule, we instead programmed those films for Sneak Peeks. In other words, if we are permitted to screen the film more than once, we are. If some of your favorite films are screening just once during the fest, it's because of terms agreed-upon between the NCGLFF and distributor.
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If there are so many great films, why are The Trip, The Embalmer and Melissa Etheridge screening so many times in Cinema Two?
Cinema Two only accommodates 76 seats and is limited to projecting just 35mm film. The number of available seats during four-six screenings (304-456 seats) of these films is still considerably less than one screening in the 1000 seat Fletcher Hall. These three films are being screened in Cinema Two specifically because they fit the 35mm projection requirement.
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What are the Emerging Film Awards?
The Emerging Film Awards are nominated and selected by the NCGLFF Programming Committee. Apart from general artistic excellence, eligibility is limited to films that have not, at the time of consideration, secured a domestic theatrical distributor. The purpose of the award is to recognize films and filmmakers who do indeed need the recognition to attract a distributor. If the film has secured a theatrical distributor, we feel that such recognition has all ready been awarded. We do not currently offer an audience driven award, but that may be a consideration for the future.
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What are the 2003 Emerging Film Award winners?
There is a list of winners on the NCGLFF
Awards page.
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Will there be an official award ceremony like they have at Cannes, and if so can I buy tickets?
Although the NCGLFF gives prizes for the Emerging Film Awards, there is not an official awards ceremony. In cases where a winning filmmaker will be in attendance, we will make a short on-stage presentation of the trophy. A ticket to an award-winning film is the only entrance fee you will have to pay.
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Will there be an Après-Fest?
Yes. The Après-Fest occurs in Cinemas One and Two on the following Monday-Thursday after the fest. The two (2) films being held-over for the Après-Fest are The Embalmer and The Trip.
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How many filmmakers and guest speakers are scheduled for the festival? Can more be added?
There is a complete list of all films for which directors or artists have expressed in interest to attend, although none are confirmed at this time. We’ve made every effort to ask filmmakers in advance if they’re coming, but anyone could show up unannounced. The website will be updated as soon as possible to let people know.
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Will I see any Hollywood celebrities at this festival?
The NCGLFF encourages filmmakers and artists to attend the festival. Many screenings will include introductions and Q&A by directors and cast members. Although it’s unlikely to see a Hollywood celebrity, you never know who’ll show up.
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How do I get on the programming committee?
Please volunteer for a minimum of one (1) year on any other Festival committee such as Marketing, Fundraising, Patron Services or Community Outreach. Once you've become familiarized with the demands of time and energy that a Festival entails, you are eligible to join the Film Programming Committee in the following year.
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How can I become a sponsor of the NCGLFF?
Please contact the Development Office at 919-560-3040 x 225. We have a wide variety of ways for individuals and corporations to support the festival.
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