Thursday, March 9, 2006

Wingspan FilmFest: Focus on diversity

Tucson Citizen

With "Brokeback Mountain" and "Transamerica" offering major exposure, organizers of this weekend's Wingspan FilmFest say the time is ripe to present movies that focus on the diversity of experiences of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

"We see that goal as more important than ever: To create a space where LGBT people and our straight allies can come together to view diverse representations of ourselves outside of the mainstream, explore our similarities and our differences, build community and celebrate our lives," festival spokeswoman Elizabeth Burden says.

In its 11th year, the festival organized by Tucson's gay and lesbian resource center is viewed as southern Arizona's showcase for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender films.

Independent films have a rich history in the festival, and tomorrow's opening night at The Loft Cinema kicks off with three: "Call me Malcolm," "Mom" and "OpenCam."

Admission is free (although donations are suggested) to the 5 p.m. screening of "Call me Malcolm," a documentary about a female-to-male transsexual.

"Mom," a comedy about an aspiring TV reporter and her tattoo-artist wannabe cameraperson, screens at 7, followed at 9 by "OpenCam," a thriller about a serial killer. The movies' directors, Erin Greenwell and Robert Gaston, will answer questions from audiences after the films and attend a reception in-between the screenings. Tickets for the screenings/reception are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

Besides being a showcase for indie movies, the festival also emphasizes short films.

"The short film is to the full-length film what the short story is to a full-fledged novel: more focused, more intense, more concise," Burden says. Among the highlights, she says, are the self-discovery shorts grouped in Journeys, including "Mia's Journal" by emerging Tucson filmmaker Angela Soto.

TOMORROW

5 p.m. - "Call Me Malcolm" (Joe Parlegrecco, 2005, U.S., 90 minutes, documentary/trans-themed). A female-to-male transsexual who, after years of estrangement from his family, his friends, his church, and even himself, learns the word "transgender" and began to investigate the necessary steps for his own self-actualization

7 p.m. - "Mom" (Erin Greenwell, 2005, U.S./Mexico, 90 minutes, feature /lesbian-themed). This comedy follows the adventures of Kelly, a market researcher with aspirations of being a TV news field reporter, and Linda, a butch, talkative cameraperson who has aspirations of becoming a tattoo artist.

9 p.m. - "OpenCam" (Robert Gaston, 2005, USA, 106 minutes, feature/gay-themed). In this suspense/thriller, a serial killer is lurking online, creating a dark chase of fear and survival. As the murderer maneuvers in closer to Manny, an edgy and controversial young artist, it's up to Detective Hamilton to stay one step ahead of a killer's twisted plan.

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