The 24th annual ImageOut Film Festival, New York State’s largest LGBT film festival 2016 program lineup is underway, running Oct.6 to 16. Featured will be 75 films from 22 countries screened over 11 days, as well as 40 programs. The two Rochester venues hosting the screenings are The Little Theatre and Dryden Theatre at George Eastman Museum.
With annual attendance of more than 10,000, ImageOut continues to draw diverse audiences regionally and beyond. To pre-screen and secure the best available films, ImageOut members attend several festivals throughout the year, including Sundance, Cannes, and Berlin.
“As far as I’m concerned, this is the most courageous program I’ve ever put together.” said Michael Gamilla, ImageOut programming director. The festival will feature opening and closing parties as well as public discussions with guest artists affiliated with this year’s films.
Ticket prices range from $7 to $15, with $2 in-person discounts for young adults age 24 and younger and seniors age 65 and older. In addition, films that are part of the Next Generation Film Series are free to anyone under the age of 21. New this year tickets for the festival can be purchased online all the way through the festival at imageout.org. More news and insights can be found on the festival blog at imageout.blogspot.com/
Movie Highlights
Taking our Narrative Centerpiece spot this year is the British road trip dramedy Burn Burn Burn starring Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith of TV’s Downton Abbey) traveling with her lesbian best friend to scatter the ashes of a third friend all over the UK.
So many people have been asking about the documentary Strike A Pose featuring Madonna’s former male backup dancers from her Blond Ambition Tour. You’ll be happy to know that we are highlighting it as our Documentary Centerpiece.
Perhaps the sexiest films in the Festival, Lazy Eye, about two reuniting hunky former lovers, and Summertime, about two beautiful liberal women facing small-mindedness in rural France, are our Spotlight Features.
Do not be misled by our Closing Night title Pushing Dead which is actually a quirky dark-ish comedy with something important to say. It stars familiar faces like James Roday, Danny Glover, Khandi Alexander, and Robin Weigert. It’s a must-see considering that it has limited festival participation right now.
I’d also like to think of this year’s programming as ballsy not only because we don’t shy away from films with darker themes (Demimonde from Hungary) but also because there’s a lot more non-porn male frontal nudity in the lineup.
It’s a welcome trend, if you ask me.
Speaking of nudity, the ImageOut There! films this year are a fine combination of sex and young love. They are not to be missed.
Events and Festival Parties
The 2016 ImageOut Opening Night Celebrations from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6 at Skylark, 40 S. Union, Rochester,
ImageOut’s Closing Night Party on Saturday, Oct. 18 will be at George Eastman House, 900 East Ave., Rochester, immediately following the closing night screening of Pushing Dead at the Dryden Theatre.
About the 24th ImageOut Film Festival
ImageOut is New York State’s largest LGBT Film Festival. The 2016 ImageOut Film Festival will run for 11 days Oct. 6 to 16 and will include a mixture of narrative features, documentaries, and short films shown in three Rochester venues. ImageOut informs, entertains, educates, and enriches filmgoers through the exhibition of film and videos by, and about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. ImageOut encourages LGBT filmmakers, who, as a group, are rarely seen in mainstream media. It is an opportunity to record and preserve the stories and histories of LGBT lives and to foster collaborations and conversations to break down social and cultural barriers concerning lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
Accessibility
ImageOut remains committed to keeping the Festival accessible. Single ticket prices, prior to young adult or senior discount, will range from $7 to $15.
Discounts for In-Person Ticket Purchases: a $2 discount is available to individuals over the age of 65 or under 25 for most films shown during the Festival.
The Next Generation Series, featuring films for and about LGBT young people, is free to anyone under 21.
Quick-Response (QR) codes give festivalgoers access to ImageOut’s Mobile website. This website will have the entire program lineup, film descriptions, trailers, and other information to help those on the move take advantage of all the festival has to offer. Look for QR codes in the ImageOut printed program as well as at festival venues.
INFORMATION
General Public Contact Information for ImageOut
(585) 271-2640
office@ImageOut.org
ImageOut.org
Blogs: imageout.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @imageout
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImageOut