What are the dates of the festival?

Thursday through Sunday, August 11-14, 2005. Tickets go on sale July 18 at 11:00 a.m.

Is the current film schedule subject to change?

No. This is as solid as it gets. Barring that a filmmaker or distributor does not pull their film, (which is doubtful) the schedule is set.

How many different films are screening at the festival? How many played in years past?

Sixty-three (63) films in 2005. Ninety-four (94) films in 2004. There were ninety-eight (98) films in 2003. There were 102 films in 2002. The number is misleading as there are more than 40 feature films in this year’s festival as compared to 20 or less in years past.

All right, there are 63 films. How many different programs?

Those 63 films will be screened in varying combinations amongst fifty-three (53) programs. Programs are the viewing opportunities/time slots that are available. In 2004, there were sixty-nine (69) programs. There were sixty-eight (68) programs in 2003.

What’s the demographic breakdown of those 63 films?

31 shorts and features for men.
30 shorts and features for women.
2 features for Transgendered populations.

What’re the 2005 Emerging Film Award winners?

Best Men’s Short: On The Low
Best Men’s Feature: Hate Crime
Best Women’s Short: Tina Paulina: Living on Hope Street

(There is NOT a Best Women’s Feature in 2005 due to lack of eligible entries.)

Click here for more information.

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, the NCGLFF is not a competitive festival and 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.

Who nominates the films for award contention...some hoity toity committee or the viewing public?

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.

Is there a "Live Event" in Fletcher this year?

Yes, comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer performs at 8:00 p.m., Thursday, August 11, 2005.

Will there be an APRES-FEST?

Yes. The APRES-FEST occurs in Cinemas One and Two on the following Monday-Thursday after the fest. The three (3) films being held-over for the Apres-fest are UNVEILED, SHOW ME and THREE DANCING SLAVES.

Will there be a Sneak Peeks this year?

No. The fest begins on Thursday and ends on Sunday. APRES-FEST occurs on the following Monday-Thursday.

When is the Fundraising Reception?

Friday, August 12, 2005 from 8-10pm at the Durham Marriott at the Civic Center.

What’s gonna be this year’s Eating Out?

Summer Storm, Guys and Balls, Girl Play, The D Word are good candidates. However with so many potential filmmakers attending their screenings on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, I suspect that all of the weekend programs have a good chance to sell well (probably not in advance) due to the filmmakers walking around the crowds and distributing postcards.

Any ideas for other "Big Films" for the festival?

It’s always hit-and-miss, but based on my instincts, the big films will be TRANGENERATION, BOYSTOWN, BEVERLY KILLS, NAKED FAME, EXPOSED, HELLBENT, SAVING FACE, MYSTERIOUS SKIN, THE RECEPTION, SHOW ME and the Men and Women’s Comedy Shorts Programs. There’s also quite an impressive listing of previous festival credentials listed on each individual film synopses.

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.

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.

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 A-Lister celebrity, you never know who’ll show up.

How many people attend the NCGLFF?

Attendance for the past three 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.

How do I volunteer?

Information on volunteering to help with the Festival can be found on the Volunteer page.

How do I sponsor a film or the festival?

Sponsorship information can be found on the Sponsorship page.

Can my organization distribute literature at the festival?

A community room will be provided for organizations to distribute literature. Interested organizations should complete the Community Resource Area Registration Form.

Why do certain films repeat so often (Show Me, Three Dancing Slaves, Unveiled), while we only have a chance to some films (Ethan Green) once?

Space and contractual agreements are the answers to that question. Cinema Two only seats around 70 people during the course of one screening versus the 1000 people who can be seated during a Fletcher Hall screening. Honestly, sometimes film costs prohibit us from providing more than one screening to the viewing public. Some distributors/filmmakers make a binding contract that allows us to only show their film once because of pending theatrical distribution. Others make an agreement that we do show it multiple times as part of our weekly theatrical release. The three movies in Cinema Two that are held over during the Après-Fest are prime examples.