Reel Affirmations: The Nation's LGBT Film Festival 2008

Two young men compare notes on kissing the same woman.

On May 11, 2007 Loraine Barr wrote an essay for the "My Turn" section in Newsweek magazine. It took Loraine three days to mail the essay, but it had taken her eighty-eight years to write - she was coming out of the closet and publicly declaring herself a lesbian. Inspired by her courage, Olivia Cruise Line invited Loraine to join them. Come along as she dives head first into the dyke scene and joins 1,800 women on a lesbian-only Olivia cruise! Hear from other lesbians relating to Loraine's with stories of their own journeys and Loraine personal history and thoughts. This touchingly honest documentary addresses the issues of lesbians raising children, living openly as a lesbian couple and coming out to one's family - after 88 Years in the Closet.

Women's Closing Night Film Upper-class Margaret, mourning her father's recent death and her former lover's marriage - to her brother. Looking for diversion, ventures out of her protective world to become a "Lady Visitor" at a bleak women's prison, Millbank. When she finds herself irresistibly drawn to Selina, an attractive young convict who channels spirits and the souls of the dead. She's also serving a long sentence after being convicted for murder, but she claims the murder was the work of one particularly strong and malicious spirit called Peter Quick. . After an initial curiosity and attraction, their relationship builds slowly through Margaret's many visits, and her reservations begin to melt away. She becomes obsessed with her mysterious friend, and the pair begins to bristle under the watchful eyes of the prison guards, particularly the head matron, who suspects that the two women are "sweet on" each other. Outside of Millbank, Margaret falls deeper and deeper under Selina's spell and begins to investigate Selina's murky history. Her family and friends tolerate her bizarre new interests to a point, but everyone would prefer that she marry and settle down as soon as possible. Margaret, who is as much imprisoned by her gender and class as the mysterious Selina is by her bars and chains, soon discovers a world of secrets and shadows, heightened passions, and the allure of the supernatural. Based on the mystery romance novel by Sarah Waters, Affinity is more than a gloriously crafted period piece - it's at once a love story and a not-so-fond look back at the shackles of the Victorian era. View the Trailer

Hide your sons and fathers - the raunchy crew of Another Gay Movie is back! And this time, Andy, Nico, Jarod and Griff are in sun-drenched Lauderdale, completing in the Gays Gone Wild contest, hosted by RuPaul and Lady Bunny. Bouncing between wet-package contests, quickies and slip-and-slide shuffleboard (in one of the funniest audio/visual gags EVER), the boys compete to see who can have the most sex. Of course, nothing comes easy for our oh-so easy boys, and there's a bevy of obstacles: giant genital crabs, distracting golden-shower sequences, the bitchy Jaspers, a lovesick sea nymph, and a prosletyzing Perez Hilton in a surprisingly key role. What makes a great gay spoof? Lots of nudity - got it! Cute boys - got it! Sick humor - got it! Visual gags, politically incorrect humor and a willingness to shock - yes, yes, and yes! Don't miss Todd Stephen's latest full-frontal assault on your senses - you'll laugh all the way to confession. But make sure to check for Perez before you enter!

Follow the lives of a group of young people living in Tel Aviv in this upbeat comedy of contemporary frolicking. Tagged as "the first Israeli queer romantic sexy comedy" Antarctica is a genre-blending romp through the foibles and follies of gay siblings Shirley and Omer. Omer is approaching his thirtieth birthday, yet still dreamily immersing himself in books at the local library, and half-heartedly trying to find himself - and the man of his dreams. A series of disastrous blind dates hasn't exactly helped, but Omer continues on his quest. Shirley is a little younger, a lot more harried, and has already nabbed her dream woman, Michal, owner of the hippest café in town (and Shirley's boss). But the thought of settling down scares Shirley, who wonders if she's ready to give up her long-held plan of traveling to Antarctica. As the siblings sort through their feelings and prepare for adulthood, friends and relatives chime in with their advice and problems of their own. Directed in the style of Robert Altman, Antarctica features a quickly shifting cast of characters including buttoned up businessman by day and sex maniac by night Boaz, the shy Danny, and Miki, Omer's slutty friend. Throw in a journalist, an author (and alleged alien abductee) and you have the makings of one very bold and daring movie! This masterfully directed gem commands your attention from the first hyper-sexually-charged frame to the audacious finale - always challenging the viewer and never wavering into contrivance or formulaic storytelling.

In Anyone and Everyone, parents across the US discuss their reaction to learning that a son or daughter is gay. After learning that her son Jared was gay, poet Susan Polis Scultz became determined to find a way to help other parents and their children deal with the resulting fear and uncertainty that families often experience. Research soon turned up these sobering statistics: Over 25% of children who come out to their parents are forced out of their homes 40% of gay teens attempt suicide, compared to approximately 10 percent of their heterosexual peers More than 90% of gay teens regularly hear anti-LGBT comments at school; nearly 85% report that faculty or staff never intervene in such instances In Anyone and Everyone, Shutz interviews parents from all walks of life as they wrestle with questions of faith, reactions of other family members, and the fears of church and community members. These deeply personal reflections create a thread of acceptance and love that ultimately, many of the families embrace, leading to wider circles of knowledge and understanding. A must-see film - Anyone and Everyone is both heart-wrenching and heartwarming at the same time.

Ask Not is a rare and compelling exploration of the effects of the US military's "Don't ask, Don't tell" policy. The film exposes the tangled political battles that led to the discriminatory law and examines the societal shifts that have occurred since its passage in 1993. Current and veteran gay soldiers reveal how "don't ask, don't tell" affects them during their tours of duty, as they struggle to maintain a double life, uncertain of whom they can trust. The film also explores how gay veterans and youth organizers are turning to forms of personal activism to overturn the policy. From a national speaking tour of conservative universities to protests at military recruitment offices, these public events question how the U.S. military can claim to represent democracy and freedom while denying one segment of the population the right to serve. Another part of the film shows young would-be recruits going on a "right to serve" tour to various military offices, where they attempt to enlist (on camera) but are then rejected when they reveal they are gay or lesbian. Many of the military representatives are kind and sympathetic to their mission, but simply have to uphold the law and deny them entry. Ask Not is made in an honest and forthright manner, presenting the facts - with startling statistics to back them up - and hopeful glimpses from other countries (Ireland, England, Israel, etc.) that have lifted their bans on gays in the military with favorable results. A film that should be required watching for every American voter! After the screening, please join us for a panel discussion, led by members of SLDN, on gays in the military, the recent congressional hearings and next steps to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

What is fellatio? A precocious 9-year old is determined to get answers from her babysitters – a gay couple not exactly prepared to answer the question.