Posted by editor@vimooz.com on August 15, 2008 under Asian Film Festival of Dallas, Oakland International LGBT Film Festival, Sarajevo international Film Festival | 
The comedy film, Ping Pong Playa, opened this year’s Asian Film Festival of Dallas last night. The festival runs through April 21st. | Asian Film Festival of Dallas
The Sarajevo Film Festival opens today with Bosnian director Aida Begic’s film “Snow” | The 14th Sarajevo Film Festival
The 6th Annual Oakland Black LGBT Film Festival opened on Thursday with a showing of the Diana Ross classic “Mahagony” followed by the indie film “Blueprint.” The festival runs through Sunday, 8/17. All films will be held at the Parkway Theater. |Oakland Black LGBT Film Festival
Tags: Aida Begic, Asian Film Festival of Dallas, Blueprint, Bosnian, Diana Ross, indie film, Mahagony, Oakland Black LGBT Film Festival, Parkway Theater, Ping Pong Playa, Sarajevo Film Festival, Snow
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on August 4, 2008 under Oakland International LGBT Film Festival, Uncategorized |
It was six years ago when festival producers Debra Wilson and Joe Hawkins decided to do what many thought was not possible - create a film festival dedicated to showcasing films about the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people of African descent.
“I felt compelled to produce this festival after I learned from Debra (who is also a filmmaker) that there was only one Black LGBT film festival in the world at that time.” Hawkins said. But after doing some research, he said that it was clear that the closest thing to a Black LGBT film festival that existed in America were the film screenings that sometimes took place in hotels during Black Gay Pride celebrations around the country.
Festival co-producer Debra Wilson said, “When we held our first screening in 2003 at the Parkway Theater, there was a line down the street, I was a little shocked, but I knew that we were filling a void.” Hawkins said that even the one other film festival that existed when the Oakland festival began six years ago, has resorted to offering free screenings on a very small scale.
Oakland is home to some of the world’s most notable black gay and lesbian film-makers to include the late Marlon Riggs (Tongues Untied & Ethnic Notions) and more recently award winning directors Debra Wilson (Butch Mystique & Jumpin’ The Broom) and Maurice Jamal (Dirty Laundry & Ski-Trip) who’s films have also been shown on MTV-Logo. Another unique characteristic of Oakland is that it is home to the largest population of African and African-American LGBT people in Northern California, according to a recent survey by the International Federation of Black Prides. Read more of this article »
Tags: african american, AIDS, bisexual, black, Butch Mystique, California, Club Anton, Debra Wilson, Dirty Laundry, documentary, esbian, Ethnic Notions, Gay, gay club, HIV, Julian Breece, Jumpin’ The Broom, Logo, Marlon Riggs, Maurice Jamal, Northern California, oakland, Oakland International LGBT Film Festival, Parkway Theater, Ski-Trip, Tongues Untied, transgender, Vibe Lounge, Young & Evil