LGBT Film Festival Back for 2nd Year

One of the things that makes Louisville such an amazing city is it’s rich diversity.  Walking down Bardstown Road in the Highlands you see people from all walks of life mingling together in a web of socio- economic, racial, and preferential differences.  It is hard for many to believe that a city in the middle of Kentucky can be so open-minded, artistically driven, and full of talent.  Of course, like any big city, there are those people who spoil the overall attitude, but on the whole, Louisville is a progressive town.  This weekend is proof that we are all moving forward in that we are happy to be hosting the LGBT Film Festival.  

For the second year in a row the Louisville will be hosting the Festival August 16th through August 19th.  Last year, the festival was held at the Clifton Center, but it has since outgrown it’s old home and moved to the University of Louisville campus. Over 100 Films were screened for this years festival, ensuring that the films picked for the three day festival will not disappoint the viewers. 

 The festival will include 48 films that somehow incorporate being or being affected by being gay, transgender, bisexual, or lesbian. This year’s festival has several special guests, including country music singer Chely Wright.  Wright appears in “Wish Me Away,” a documentary about her coming out as a lesbian in 2010. Wright will also stay for a question and answer session after the screening of the film on Sunday at 2pm.  Wright has been open in the past about her struggles with coming out as a gay woman and the hardships she has faced because of it.  The documentary is sure to be a raw and candid look into her life that many people will be able to relate to.

Wright is not the only star that is coming to the festival, Natalie West stars in the feature film “Nate and Margaret” and will be at the festival answering questions along with her co-star Tyler Ross, after the screening.  West is most well known for her role as Crystal Anderson-Connor on Roseanne. 

There will be six, two-hour sessions a day of films at the festival this weekend for a total of 18 sessions. The LGBT Film Festival has grown incredibly since last year, and the audience is responding extremely positively according to LGBT officers. 

There will be a kick-off party for those interested, Thursday the16th from 7pm-11pm at Red Barn which is located on the University of Louisville campus.  The party is Prohibition themed, so 1920’s costumes are recommended and jazz music and old fashioneds can be expected.   Weekend passes to the films and Question and answer sessions are $30 dollars or $15 for students. There are a limited number of VIP tickets left that can get you in to a meet and greet with Chely Wright that is happening Saturday at 7:30pm.  For more information go to louisvillelgbtfilmfest.com or their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Louisville-LGBT-Film-Festival.