Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival 2008

Two years after designer Jay McCarroll’s big win on the first season of Project Runway, filmmakers Michael Selditch and Rob Tate go backstage to chronicle the year-long journey of “the next great American designer” preparing for his first independent show at New York’s Fashion Week. Why, everyone wants to know, is it taking him so long to show his first collection? Documenting the design and production of a line of clothing from sketch to sales, this entertaining exposé weaves together the drama, humor, stress, and contradictions implicit in turning out high-fashion on a low budget (not to mention getting friends to sew dresses, make shoes, style hair, design jewelry, deliver invitations, and provide publicity—all for free). A bitchy but resilient McCarroll pours sweat and tears into his life’s passion as numerous disasters threaten his moment in the spotlight—a show lasting eleven minutes. The high stakes of proving himself contrast with the absurdity of the fashion world, challenging our notions of art and industry, innovation and conformity, fame and talent, salesmanship and success.

Kick off the Halloween season and wrap up the festival’s 13th year with Elvira, the spookiest gay icon of them all, appearing in person to celebrate the 20th anniversary of ELVIRA, MISTRESS OF THE DARK. The unforgettable character of Elvira was created by actress Cassandra Peterson with the help of her gay best friend, makeup artist and costume designer Robert Redding. After making her debut in 1981 as host of “Movie Macabre” on KHJ-TV in Los Angeles, Elvira went on to appear in over 50 films and television shows. A tireless promoter of gay rights and AIDS awareness, Elvira has appeared in gay pride parades around the world and donated proceeds from her appearances to queer-friendly causes. In her creepy and comical feature film debut, Elvira plays a struggling TV hostess who dreams of finding fame and fortune as a Las Vegas showgirl. When a long-lost aunt’s inheritance takes her to the uptight town of Falwell, Massachusetts, sexy and spooky Elvira becomes an odd outsider struggling for acceptance, a position that any queer person can likely relate to. Featuring lighthearted jabs at conservative fundamentalism, ELVIRA, MISTRESS OF THE DARK is a hilarious horror parody that’s not afraid to poke fun at just about everything, including itself. Before the movie, underground drag phenomenon Peaches Christ joins Elvira for a fun and revealing onstage interview. When these two over-the-top, underdressed gals get to gossiping, nothing’s too shocking and everything goes. Closing Night Gala: The Black Cat Ball Close your festival experience properly with a spooktacular ball featuring sumptuous food, beverages, a bevy of your newfound festival-going friends, and DJ El Toro, who will be spinning a web of tunes. Pan Pacific Hotel Seattle 2125 Terry Avenue Your film ticket (or Festival/Party Pass) includes the gala.

Infamous televangelist Jerry Falwell once said that he would rather have his school, Liberty University, burn to the ground than have gays on campus. Liberty University is just one of 200 colleges and universities in the U.S. that practice religion-based discrimination, using policies banning homosexuality. So in 2006, a group of three dozen young Christians-—some of whom had been expelled from college for being gay—-founded the Equality Ride in the hopes of starting a dialogue with students at these schools. EQUALITY U chronicles their cross-country bus tour that ultimately visited 19 schools, spanning the country from Virginia to California to Minnesota. Some schools met the protesters with heckling, arrests, and even locked doors. But other institutions welcomed the debate. “I realized that it wasn’t God that was rejecting me, it was one of his children,” one student is later able to admit. Even with 10,000 students reached on the tour, the fight is just beginning.

A hilarious “promo” for a company that claims to be able to “de-homo.”

A fabulous phat playdate in an Astroturf world full of trannies, dykes, and queers—and 3 dildos.

Bring the entire family to the library for a free program of fun, educational television shows made especially for kids in LGBT families and their friends. These shows reflect the many facets of what a family can be—and you’ll have great time watching! BUDDY G: MY TWO MOMS AND ME Margaux Towne-Colley, director; 2007; US; 12 min. BUDDY G: MY TWO MOMS AND ME is a computer-animated television series, featuring a child with lesbian parents. Buddy G has a knack for getting into crazy backyard adventures, and he learns about acceptance, justice, equality, and love through the daily trials and tribulations of being a kid. DOTTIE’S MAGIC POCKETS Andrea Maxwell, director; 2007; US; 50 min. DOTTIE’S MAGIC POCKETS is the first kids’ show that features gay and lesbian families—and it’s fun for everyone! Each zany episode is filled with catchy songs and cute cartoons, like the purplish-pink Princess and her two dads. Dottie helps all children understand and appreciate nontraditional families. Total Running Time: 62 min.

Young Karsten has the perfect summer plan: a trip to Spain with his friends, flitting from beach to beach, surrounded by beautiful young men. He will leave his horoscope writing job—-and his parents—-far behind. Unfortunately for Karsten, his overbearing father has a very different idea. A clothing salesman secretly nearing bankruptcy, Karsten’s father saddles him with the job of driving him around on his route. This, however, only puts further strain on the already tense relationship between Karsten’s parents. Karsten has a long summer ahead of him.... But things become more interesting when a handsome stranger strikes up a flirtation with Karsten—and more complicated when he realizes his new beau is his father’s arch-nemesis in the cutthroat world of fashion. A quirky and colorful ride through the German countryside, FASHION VICTIMS uses humor and charm to spin this yarn of romance and finance. Who knew the world of fashion sales could be so cutting? ASL Interpreting before the film.

Christopher is a fabulously witty storyteller – but one day, he gets some unwelcome feedback.

When do you say “enough is enough”—and how do you then face the future? Gregg Gour, a 48-year-old gay man who has been fighting HIV for more than half his life, decided to go off his meds and let life run its course. Gregg embarked on a momentous road trip to say goodbye to relatives and friends and end his life with no regrets. His decision was not easily understood and accepted, especially by his family. A FINISHED LIFE: THE GOODBYE & NO REGRETS TOUR delivers an unforgettable, heart-wrenching, and poignant documentary that chronicles the story of a brave man whose determination not only conquered the fear of death but also made it easier to let go of living—for himself and those who shared his life.