The Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival is produced annually by Three Dollar Bill Cinema. While its primary focus is the festival itself, Three Dollar Bill Cinema also produces screenings, programs and movie series’ throughout the year. It is a non-profit organization, “providing access to queer cinema, a forum for the exchange of ideas, and a venue for queer filmmakers to show their work,” according to its website.

Programming director Jason Plourde explained that the idea of having the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival was first conceived by a few people in 1995, particularly Skylar Fein, one of the original founders who later became the first festival director. Inspired by other local film festivals, like the Seattle International Film Festival, the gay community decided it really needed its own festival.

“Basically they did a couple of events, some short films,” Plourde said. “They also did some short screenings that helped raise money. Just to see if there was an interest.

Since the first Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival nearly a decade ago, the festival has grown amazingly. It is now the largest homosexual film festival in the Pacific Northwest. The number of staff members and volunteers has increased, as has the audience.

Brad Lai, a communication senior at Seattle University, has great experiences at the festival. He has volunteered for the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival since 2000.

This year he is an assistant press coordinator, responsible for the press screenings, including keeping the screeners for the media outlet on-track and arranging press interviews with the guests.

“It keeps my life busy, but I really enjoy doing it. I’ve met a lot of good friends during the film festivals throughout the years. I’ve also learned first-hand communication skills by hanging out with the movie-goers,” he said.

As a movie lover, Brad has enjoyed many good movies at the film festival. As the film festival nears, he is getting prepared for this event again. Yet perhaps the film festival provides something more than just films.

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the film festival this year is extended to 10 days, spanning two weekends. About 150 films will be shown within 70 programs at eight different venues, including Cinerama Theatre, Harvard Exit Theatre and the Broadway Performance Hall.

The festival is also screening three films for only three dollars. “Beautiful Thing” will be the first film screened. “The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love” is a lesbian romantic film also celebrating its 10th anniversary, and “Vanpool” features a script reading of a queer sitcom. Also, on the opening and closing nights, there will be gala parties following the films shown at Cinerama.

“The Seventies” and “Addressing Gender” are two highlights among the many films  in the festival this year. “The Seventies” includes films about or made during the decade. For example, “Gay Sex in the ‘70s” depicts what it was like to be gay in the New York area in the 1970s. “Addressing Gender” features movies dealing with queer gender issues such as challenging norms and identity transitions.

Sacha Maxim, a sophomore pre-law and women’s studies major at Seattle University, is the president of the Triangle Club, a club aiming to empower and educate gay, lesbian, bisexual, transexual, transgender, intersex and straight allies on campus.

The club is now working on getting some free tickets for SU students to join the festival. The group is also planning on going to some of the films together.

“There are many things that make a film queer. I think there is the context we put the film in. That automatically makes the film queer,” he explained.

According to Rachael Brister, festival director, the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival has outreach programs that work with the broader community. It also has a lot of media coverage in mainstream papers to reach a large audience.

“The primary goal is for people to have a good experience, to come see these films. I hope people will like these films and want to come back to the film festival.  I want people to see something new and unique. That means something,” said Plourde.

The Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) is another queer group on the SU campus, which plays a role in bridging the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual community and straight allies together.

Michael Mage, president of the GSA and a junior fine arts/digital design major, thinks the festival provides a great opportunity for people to go out into the world and enrich their experience.

“To the gay community, a lot of it [the film festival] is the celebration in terms of who we are and our struggles. Many movies are very poetic and deep, and really convey and help people understand what queer culture is all about,” said Mage.

“When it focuses on a particular group of people, it’s really important, given its visibility. I think it’s valuable and a great addition to the gay community,” he added.

“For the straight culture, I think it’s to their advantage in terms of saying: look at this rich and vibrant city that we have and ultimately we accept everyone,” said Mage.

The Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival is from Oct. 14 to next Sunday, Oct. 23. Out of 150 options, you can choose to watch films from all over the world.

This is cache, read story here