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In "Transamerica," Felicity Huffman, right, portrays transgender woman Bree (formerly Stanley), who is surprised to learn that during college she fathered a son, played by Kevin Zegers.Festival takes pride in movies
Royal Oak theater brings gay, lesbian films to Metro Detroit for weeklong event.
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ROYAL OAK -- Ann Heler remembers when it wasn't possible to enjoy a gay or lesbian film in a regular theater in southeast Michigan.
But in the last 10 years, that mold has been broken.
"It is wonderful to see this," said Heler, 63. "It's just how it should be."
Heler, the former president of Friends and Neighbors (FANS) of Ferndale, an organization for gay, lesbian and transgender residents, is looking forward to the Reel Pride Michigan Film Festival Oct. 21-28 at the Main Art Theatre in Royal Oak.
The event, which is expected to draw a crowd of more than 5,000 tri-county residents to view 50 independent films, is put on by the Triangle Foundation of Detroit. The Triangle Foundation, a nonprofit organization formed to promote equality and to secure freedom from violence, intimidation and discrimination for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in Michigan, took over the festival four years ago.
"The gay and lesbian film festival was in this area for years and it just sort of stopped happening. We felt that the need was there to continue the great tradition," said Stephanie Newman, festival producer and events coordinator for Triangle Foundation. "I see the event as more than just an opportunity to see film. It is an important part of the gay community and feeling that sense of community with other gay and lesbian people as well as their straight allies."
As producer, Newman along with a 12-member committee begin previewing up to 500 film submissions about a year ahead of time to prepare for the festival. This year's films come from places including Germany, California and Pakistan and include themes dealing with gay families, superheroes, transgender individuals, horror, love stories and hate crimes.
"This year, we've had more submissions than ever before," Newman said. "I think that gay film has become more mainstreamed and individuals are more accepting of it," she said. "Not just gay people watch gay movies. A lot of people love independent films, and that's what it is all about."
Tommy Stovall is the producer/director of "Hate Crime," a film about religious hate crimes and prejudice. The film will serve as the centerpiece of a brunch event and panel discussion Oct. 23.
"It really brings to the forefront of people's minds random acts of violence -- it is a really important topic," said Stovall, of Sedona, Ariz., who spent a little over a year writing and producing the 104-minute film. "I wanted people to be enlightened."
The weeklong festival will include an opening and closing gala, after parties, panel discussions with directors and actors and 22 screening times with short and feature films.
The festival serves as a fund-raiser for the foundation's victim service work and brings in about $20,000 annually.
"The financial support we gain is very important to funding the year-round work that we do," said Jeffrey Montgomery, executive director of the Triangle Foundation. "It's a pretty critical part of our programming, especially in terms of the direct services we can provide to people."
Montgomery said the festival is a good community building tool.
"This is a great sampling of what is going on in GLBT film," he said. "People who come are showing support for the community at large and what Triangle does."
John McFarlen, co-owner of Memphis Smoke on Main in downtown Royal Oak, said the film festival creates a surge in the restaurant's business.
"It's fantastic," he said. "We anticipate a pretty good draw from this. When they have those big events, it really impacts our business."
Heler said the festival appeals to a wide range of age groups, sexual preferences and includes many topics of interest.
"Not all of the movies are for people under 30," she said. "Everybody goes to these movies. There is a mix of gay and straight."
You can reach Christine Ferretti at (313) 222-2032 or cferretti@detnews.com.
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