FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2007
2007 Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival Opens with The Walker Starring Woody Harrelson and Lily Tomlin
Festival Runs October 12-21, 2007
SEATTLE, WA – The Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival returns for its 12th run October 12-21, 2007. Produced by Three Dollar Bill Cinema and offering the best in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender film and video, the festival presents more than 75 programs with over 150 narrative features, documentaries, local films and shorts at numerous venues including the Cinerama Theatre, the Harvard Exit Theatre and Northwest Film Forum.
This year's festival opens with the West Coast premiere of The Walker, an intriguing and witty murder mystery set amongst Washington D.C.'s social elite played by an award-winning cast including Woody Harrelson, Lily Tomlin, Kristen Scott Thomas and Lauren Bacall. A festive opening night gala will immediately follow the film at the Naval Reserve Building. "We are so excited to screen The Walker," says Rachael Brister, Executive Director of Three Dollar Bill Cinema. "Like last year's Shortbus, we are opening with a distinctive, high caliber film that will have audiences talking throughout the festival."
The festival's International Centerpiece, The Witnesses starring Emmanuel Beart anchors an impressive slate of European films including works from France, Spain, Italy and Germany. The Witnesses will be screened during a free sneak preview at the Northwest Film Forum on Tuesday, September 25. Limited preview passes are available to the public via the festival website, www.2007.seattlequeerfilm.org
Other festival highlights include various presentations that explore the past, present and future of gay television, such as a premiere episode of the new Logo series Exes & Ohs and the documentary Further Off the Straight & Narrow, followed by a panel discussion with network and show representatives.
The work of veteran television and film character actor Jane Lynch, who visits Seattle October 19-20 to receive the 2007 Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign, will be the focus of An Evening with Jane Lynch. A recurring actor on Showtime's The L Word, Lynch has appeared in numerous gay and lesbian shorts and features, but is also well-known for her side-splitting turn as the lesbian dog trainer Christy Cummings of Christopher Guest’s Best in Show and for her appearance in The 40 Year Old Virgin.
The ever-popular cinematic Sing Along is back with a screening of the fabulously 80's Olivia Newton John musical, Xanadu hosted by Peaches Christ. "Our annual Sing Along movie is an example of how we use the context of the film festival to put a queer twist on a mainstream film," explains Jason Plourde, Programming Director for Three Dollar Bill Cinema. "We feel sure that Xanadu is going to pack the house with an audience ready to have a good time, whether gay or not."
Further showcasing the vibrant connection between film and music is the festival’s closing night film, Itty Bitty Titty Committee directed by Jamie Babbit and featuring songs from Pacific Northwest favorites Sleater-Kinney, Bikini Kill and Le Tigre. The film’s visual punk-rock aesthetic serves up a vibrant backdrop for performances by Carly Pope and Leslie Grossman of the underground favorite Popular.
The Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival and Three Dollar Bill Cinema, the 2006 Greater Seattle Business Association’s Non-Profit of the Year, have garnered national recognition for showcasing extraordinary and award-winning work from around the world. More importantly, the festival provides a venue in the local Seattle cultural scene, inspiring community members to express their creativity through film and video.
"We’re committed to showcasing work made by LGBT filmmakers from our community," says Plourde. "This year’s festival includes three feature films and several short films made locally. We’re building a foundation for future LGBT filmmaking in Seattle with our Super 8 program that exposes artists to the filmmaking process and our free Screenwriting Essentials workshop designed to encourage writers and help improve stories in development."
"Three Dollar Bill Cinema is growing. We have doubled our year-round programming including the critical community initiative of fiscal sponsorship," stresses Brister. "We currently have six diverse projects under our wing and are thrilled to be able to support and mentor local filmmaking in this way."
Festival passes and single event tickets go on sale September 25 via ticketwindowonline.com, by phone at (206) 325-6500 and at all Ticket/Ticket outlets.
The 2007 Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival is supported by presenting sponsors Esurance and Cinerama; presenting media sponsors Planet Out and Gay.com; and corporate sponsors Glee (gay.lesbian. and everyone else), Vulcan Real Estate, Tylenol PM, Orbitz, Alaska Airlines and the W Hotel Seattle.
For a complete list of sponsors and community partners, along with general information about the festival, visit www.2007.seattlequeerfilm.org. For general information by phone, call 206-323-4274.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: High-resolution images from the films and interviews with Three Dollar Bill staff and selected film talent are available upon request.
ABOUT THREE DOLLAR BILL CINEMA
Three Dollar Bill Cinema provides access to films by, for, and about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and their families, creating a forum for LGBT filmmakers to share and discuss their work with audiences. By producing the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, curating themed screenings and presenting other programs in partnership with local arts, cultural, and service delivery organizations, Three Dollar Bill Cinema enriches, strengthens, and connects diverse communities in the Greater Seattle area.
www.seattlequeerfilm.org
Phone number: 206-323-4274
CONTACT:
Brenda J. Walker, Rebel Content
Phone number: 206-393-8036
Email: pr at seattlequeerfilm d0t org