Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Announces Film Schedule

The Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (MGLFF) commemorates its Sweet 16 this year by celebrating 16 years of fierce and fabulous LGBT cinema. As one of the first major LGBT film festivals of the calendar year, MGLFF sets the tone for the entire LGBT film festival circuit and this year will prove to be no exception, said Mark Gilbert, interim executive director and chairman of the board for the MGLFF. This year's theme - "How Sweet It Is" - is a nostalgic nod to the great Jackie Gleason who used to broadcast his popular variety show from Miami Beach. MGLFF will run May 2 to 11 at venues throughout Miami Beach and Miami.

"For our 16th year, we've assembled an amazing schedule of world premieres, an international premiere, U.S. premieres and Southeast premieres," Gilbert said. "We've got filmmakers and actors flying in from around the world to meet our audiences and talk about their craft. Our parties will be over-the-top affairs as only Miami knows how to throw a party. Sixteen is going to be stellar for the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival."

The 16th Annual Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival will feature 64 films from 20 different countries, including feature-length movies and short films that chronicle the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. Included in the line-up will be four world premieres, one international premiere, two North American premieres, two U.S. premieres, three East Coast premieres, and several Southeast premieres.

The Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival is presented by HBO, HBO Latin America and Miami-Dade County. For more information, to view film trailers, or to purchase tickets or memberships and to see the full schedule visit www.mglff.com.

Highlights from the festival will include:

OPENING NIGHT FEATURE
"The Way He Looks" ("Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho")
Friday May 2, 2014; 8:00 PM - Colony Theater
Director: Daniel Ribeiro
Runtime: 95 minutes
Brazil 2014
Portuguese with English Subtitles
North American Premiere

"The Way He Looks" is based on the award-winning short "I Don't Want To Go Back Alone." Leonardo is a blind teenager dealing with an overprotective mother while trying to live a more independent life. To the disappointment of his best friend, Giovana, he plans to go on an exchange program abroad. When Gabriel, a cute new student in town, arrives at their classroom, new feelings blossom in Leonardo making him question his plans. This sweet, charming, engaging coming-of-age story is truly a gem for audience members of all ages.
Community Partner; Safe Schools South Florida

"BFFs" - WOMEN'S SPOTLIGHT
Saturday May 3, 2014; 7:00 PM - Colony Theater
Director: Andrew Putschoegl
Runtime: 90 minutes
USA 2014

After receiving a gift of a getaway weekend at a couples' retreat, BFFs Samantha and Kat go through the motions of repairing their relationship and in doing so, discover that they might just be more than BFFs. Always remaining full of heart, "BFFs" never strays into clich�, successfully satisfying and surprising us by the time the credits roll. Funny and touching in equal measure "BFFs" is clever and witty and full of comedy gold.
Community Partner; SAVE Foundation

"To Be Takei" - DOCUMENTARY SPOTLIGHT FILM
Sunday May 4, 2014; 5:45 PM - O Cinema, Miami Shores
Director: Jennifer M. Kroot
Runtime: 90 minutes
USA 2014
Florida Premiere

Over seven decades, actor and activist George Takei boldly journeyed from a WWII internment camp, to the helm of the starship Enterprise, to the daily news feeds of five million Facebook fans where he and husband, Brad have become the poster couple for marriage equality and highlighting the dangers of homophobia. Join George and Brad on this star's playful and profound trek for life, liberty, and love as Takei proves time and again why his presence in popular culture remains as fresh and necessary as ever.
Community Partner; FIU MPAs LGBTQ Initiatives Office

"The David Dance" - MEN'S SPOTLIGHT FILM
Tuesday May 6, 2014; 6:30 PM - O Cinema, Miami Shores
Director: Don Scime
Runtime: 108 minutes
USA 2014
East Coast Premiere

Away from the microphone, David is soft spoken, shy and unsure of himself. However, as his on-air alias "Danger Dave," the host of "Gay Talk." He's poised, witty, and every listener's best friend! His sister, Kate, is a thrice-divorced banker. Though successful, the siblings suffer from a secret, yet vast, sense of inadequacy. Kate fills her void through an adoption; David gawkily romances his coworker; then, life one day throws him a lemon. Past and present intertwine to tell the story of a man learning to love and accept himself,
Community Partner; Unity Coalition

"My Straight Son" - CENTERPIECE FEATURE
Wednesday May 7, 2014; 8:30 PM - O Cinema, Miami Shores
Director: Miguel Ferrari
Runtime: 110 minutes
Venezuela, 2013,
Spanish with English Subtitles

Diego, a young and successful photographer, lives in the glamorous but shallow and excessive world of fashion. A tragic accident turns his world upside down; his partner Fabrizio is now in a coma. Unexpectedly, and right at this inopportune time, Diego's estranged son Armando shows up. Now, both of them have to adapt to each other: Armando to the unknown, homosexual world of his father, and Diego to the closed attitude of his teenage son. "My Straight Son" is dramedy that will both touch and amuse.

"Such Good People" - SPOTLIGHT FILM FOR ALL
Friday May 9, 2014; 9:15 PM - Colony Theatre
Director: Stewart Wade
Runtime: 97 minutes
USA 2014
World Premiere

A contemporary screwball comedy about a young gay couple, Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty") & Randy Harrison ("Queer As Folk"), who discover a secret room filled with cash while house-sitting for wealthy friends... who die while out of the country doing missionary work for the children of Bhutan. Our characters want what everybody wants: success, family and a fabulous house in L.A. But first they've got to work through many issues: greed, jealousy, real estate, sibling rivalry, greyhounds, labradoodles, porpoises, a million dollars, and the aforementioned orphans of Bhutan.
Community Partner; Gay Men's Chorus

"South Beach on Heels" - MADE IN MIAMI SPOTLIGHT
Friday May 9, 2014; 9:45 PM - Miami Beach Botanical Garden
Director: Dmitry Zhitov
Runtime: 80 minutes
USA 2014
World Premiere

While drag shows exist everywhere from the small seedy dive bars of Middle America to the elaborate shows in Vegas, each community has performers, entertainers and artists that maintain a strong sense of family, and in Miami, this is no different. Ever wonder about the stories of real people who live behind the bigger than life personas of their drag alter-egos? Well "South Beach on Heels" takes you backstage, front stage, behind the scenes and in the scene of the drag community, right here in our town.
Community Partner; Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade

"Cupcakes" ("Bananot") - CLOSING NIGHT FEATURE
Saturday May 10th, 2014; 8:00 PM - Colony Theatre
Director: Eytan Fox
Runtime: 90 minutes
Israel 2013
Hebrew & French and English with English Subtitles
Florida Premiere

Beloved Israeli auteur, Eytan Fox ("Walk on Water," "Yossi & Jagger") returns with a sweet, bubbly and downright delicious concoction that will appeal to the entire LGBT community. When a group of tightknit friends (including a gay man and a lesbian) accidentally enter a Eurovision-style musical contest, their endearing tune is picked to represent Israel. Thrust into a world of glamour and high expectations, the friends struggle to navigate around the sharp elbows of the pop music business, along the way getting into plenty of hilarious hijinks.
Community Partner; National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

Tickets
Festival Members have an exclusive advanced purchase period from April 4 - 17. General public tickets will go on sale April 18. Tickets may be purchased 24-hours-a-day online or by phone Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at (305) 751-6305.

Ticket prices range from $7 to $12.

For more information on the films and parties at the 16th Annual Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, visit www.mglff.com.