Reel Q Celebrates It’s 28th Year

The Pittsburgh Lesbian and Gay Film Society (PLGFS) will present the 28th Annual Pittsburgh International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, October 11-19. Featuring 10 days of high-quality entertainment, the festival is an annual celebration of LGBT writers, directors, actors and their work. Each year in October, movie-goers from the tri-state area are treated to a wide array of programming including feature films, shorts, and videos from the hottest national and international LGBT filmmakers of our time.

Started in 1982, the Lesbian and Gay Film Series was a project of Pittsburgh’s Gay Community Center. In 1985, the Film Series became a separate event, formed its own Board of Directors, and launched the first film festival in 1986 with the cooperation of Pittsburgh Filmmakers. In 2006, the organization expanded its efforts to make it a year round program and changed the legal name of the organization to Pittsburgh Lesbian and Gay Film Society (PLGFS). In 2012, the PLFGS renamed the film festival “Reel Q, The Pittsburgh International LGBT Film Festival” to encompass the more inclusive community.

All films will be screened at the Harris Theatre, 809 Liberty Avenue, downtown Pittsburgh.

Diva Passes ($125), Opening Night ($25 for one film & party or $30 for both films & party), Closing Night ($15), and books of either 6 ($45) or 10 ($70) ticket can be purchased in advance. New this year is that individual tickets ($9) can also be purchased online or the day of at the box office. Student tickets are $6 with school ID. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Banner Coin Exchange in Downtown Pittsburgh or at plgfs.org.

This brilliant, vibrant 2013 Brazilian film imagines a little-known time in the life of American poet Elizabeth Bishop (1911-1979), who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1956.

After receiving a substantial college traveling fellowship, Elizabeth opts to circumnavigate South America by boat. But her two week stay is extended as she develops an intense relationship with noted female architect Lota de Macedo Soares who sees to it that she has time to write, is pampered and treated as a celebrity by society. But Elizabeth’s alcoholism threatens to surface, as does the resentment of a college friend who also loves Lota.

Miranda Otto of “The Lord of the Rings” film trilogy plays the lead, with additional roles filled by Treat Williams (TV’s “Everwood”) and Brazilian telenovela star Glória Pires. 118 minutes

Featuring extensive interviews, this loving 2013 documentary paints an intimate portrait of one of the most famous drag artists in the world.

Appearing under the stage name Divine, actor and singer Harris Glenn Milstead (1945-1988) became a star playing mostly female roles in movies and plays including the original 1988 film “Hairspray.” This film scripts Divine’s triumphant ascent as the ultimate underdog story, revealing how he transformed himself from a bullied fat kid in working-class Baltimore to a larger-than-life celebrity. 85 minutes

Two young couples in New York — one black and gay, one white and heterosexual — find themselves intertwined as they create new relationship norms, explore sexual identity and redefine monogamy in this 2013 American film.

Annie is an upwardly mobile professional educator dating a seemingly drifting musician named Stan. Trying to break up with him as painlessly as possible, Annie pretends to date her female co-worker. Heartbroken Stan quickly attempts to get over Annie by hooking up with a man who just started having an open relationship with his long-term boyfriend.

A chance encounter between the couples on a train platform forces them all to reevaluate their ideas of fidelity and redefine relationship norms. 87 minutes

This smart and funny 2013 American film delves into the complications a professional woman faces as she approaches middle age.

Forty-year-old filmmaker Anna is preparing to shoot a lesbian version of the groundbreaking 1962 play “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” and its brilliantly bitter tale of a marriage collapsing. But with her birthday around the corner, Anna is determined to change her life by losing twenty pounds and get a girlfriend — but things don’t necessarily happen in quite the way she plans.

The sexy and witty cast includes writer/director Anna Margarita Albelo in the title role, Carrie Preston of TV’s “True Blood,” Guinevere Turner from the popular 1994 film “Go Fish,” Janina Gavankar of TV’s “The L Word” — and a fun cameo by someone who may or may not be international star Chloe Sevigny. 83 minutes

Openly gay filmmaker Travis Mathews collaborated with actor/director James Franco (who movie lovers will remember from the 2008 bio-pic “Milk”) to recreate lost scenes from one of the most controversial LGBT films ever made.

That film is 1980’s sexually explicit “Cruising,” which starred Al Pacino as an undercover policeman investigating a serial killer who is targeting gay men,in particular those associated with the New York’s Sadomasochism scene. Many people protested what they considered homophobic depictions. The result of Matthews and Franco’s efforts is the 2013 documentary, which reveals its participants’ reservations and excitement and creating the quasidoc about Hollywood, censorship and sexual mores. 93 minutes

Filmmaker Michelle Ehlen wrote, directed, and stars in this 2013 American film, a satirical pseudoromantic comedy and sequel to the award winning 2007 movie “Butch Jamie.”

“Butch Jamie” starred Ehlen as a struggling butch lesbian actress who gets cast as a man in a film and develops a complicated relationship with Jill, another actress. Now Jamie tries to find inspiration in her leading role on the “best mockumentary about cat-actors that the world has ever seen.” It doesn’t help that one of her exes, Lola, also works on the film, taking care of the feline stars. Then comes the return of Jill — now an incredibly neurotic, newly selfidentified “ex-lesbian” who is having some blockage on her pathway to heterosexuality.

The film is filled with dry, deadpan humor, plenty of love triangles — and lots of cats. 80 minutes

This 2013 Taiwanese film is an impeccably charming romantic comedy with a cast of sweet characters and fairytale-like dream sequences.

The story centers on Weichung, an apparently happy husband and father who has a successful career and a secret — he’s gay.

His flamboyant old friend Stephen has noticed the melancholic look in Weichung’s eyes, as does the sexy young flight attendant attracted to him.

But just as he considers embracing the truth, his meddling mother-in-law has other plans. 104 minutes

This intelligent and emotional 2013 Israeli film considers how a peaceful life can be upended with the written words of a stranger.

Set in 1989 Tel Aviv, Boaz is a linguistics student committed to his loving girlfriend, Noa. But soon Boaz is questioning his life when he begins receiving a series of obsessive love letters from another man. They expose the inner world of their author, who is deeply closeted — and knows plenty about him, including Boaz’s past attraction to other men.

The lead is played by the incredibly sexy male model Yoav Reuveni, who has appeared in ads for Armani and is making his acting debut. 82 minutes

90 minutes

93 minutes

Writer and director Del Shores — best known for the 1999 cult hit movie “Sordid Lives” — has adapted his hilarious and heartbreaking play into this terrific 2013 film.

The movie follows four gay Texas Christians as they struggle to reconcile their faith with their sexuality as they evolve from confused boys to struggling adolescents and eventually angry, damaged adults.

Filmed in front of a live audience, the cast includes drag star Willam Belli from TV’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and Emmy Award winning actor Leslie Jordan of the hit sitcom “Will & Grace.” 135
minutes

98 minutes

The classic action flick takes on new dimensions in this thrilling 2013 American film — a buddy comedy/adventure in which the buddies are gay.

Aspiring actor Danny has been taking a class for private investigators in preparation for an upcoming role. As part of his research, Danny begins to tail his ex-boyfriend Pip, a rich party boy who lives in the guest house owned by his boozy, pill-popping mother. When Pip attends a sex party with some of Hollywood’s gay power players and ends up getting robbed by a mysterious and vengeful duo, the bickering exes decide to solve the case themselves because nobody involved in the scandal wants the police sniffing around.

Filled with fun banter, the leads are played by Marc Samuel of TV’s “General Hospital” and Brian McArdle, who makes his screen debut. 103 minutes

This compelling and inspirational 2013 documentary film traces the extraordinary journey of activist, journalist, poet and author Alice Walker from sharecropper’s daughter to winning the Pulitzer Prize for the daring 1982 novel “The Color Purple.”

Courting controversy through her life choices, the bisexual Walker discusses her romances with
white men and women as well as her personal and professional accomplishments against a period of progress, violence and upheaval.

Among the celebrities sharing their insights are Steven Spielberg, Yoko Ono, Sapphire, Gloria Steinem, Jewelle Gomez, Quincy Jones and Peter Guber. 84 minutes

This moving and sexy 2013 German film delves into the far-reaching effects of a passionate love affair between two police cadets.

Marc, a young officer with a pregnant girlfriend named Bettina, finds himself drawn to his rebellious and studly roommate Kay as they are put through their paces during training. As they share joints, forbidden swims, and runs in the forest, a palpable chemistry arises between them leading to a full-blown yet turbulent romance.

Soon rumors begin to spread as Bettina becomes more suspicious of Marc’s many unexplained absences. 100 minutes

Transgender comedian Ian Harvie is the focus of this lighthearted yet self-aware 2013 documentary film.

Filled with clips of Ian’s stage shows (and his inclusive, relatable humor), the film explores everything from acquiring male privilege to navigating gendered bathroom politics. 75 minutes

Destiny and life’s choices are at the heart of this engaging 2012 Canadian film.

Aspiring film writer Ryan Star is having a hard time deciding what university to go to and is fearful to leave the comforts and predictability of high school and her life thus far. As she wrestles with her options, the film takes viewers on a journey into three possible — and very different — futures. In each alternate reality Ryan is confronted with all that life has to offer: love, loss, sex, heartbreak, family conflict, career and marriage.

Throughout it all, Ryan faces excruciatingly difficult decisions. 113 minutes

Social warfare takes on a rainbow of complications in this hilarious 2013 film.

At trendy North Gateway High School, the latest must-have accessory is a gay best friend and a trio of competitive-clique-prom queen hopefuls seek out just the right one. That may well be cute young Brent who’d love the attention — except that his shy pal Tanner becomes the choice after he’s accidentally outed to his classmates.

The terrific cast includes Sasha Pieterse (cable TV’s “Pretty Little Liars”), Natasha Lyonne (“But I’m A Cheerleader”) and Emmy Award winning actress Megan Mullally of the hit sitcom “Will & Grace.” 94 minutes