LGBTQ+

CHICAGO – Another Chicago creator has a World Premiere. Alyssa Thordarson, who makes her director debut with Michael Glover Smith, will present the short “Paper Planes” at the AfterImage Film Fest (Fox Valley, Illinois) on April 15, 2023.

AUSTIN, TX – It’s ironic that the film “Queendom” played the SXSW Film & TV Festival right down the street from the Texas legislature, which is leading the charge in American for the dissolution of LGBTQ+ rights and specifically drag queens. This story is from Russia, which at one time was held up as the opposite to where American should be.

CHICAGO – Ten years ago, an Independent film was released in Chicago, co-written and co-directed by Richard Knight Jr., an entertainment fixture in the Windy City. “Scrooge & Marley” offered a bit more than the previous versions of the familiar “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, it was the first to filter the story through same sex coupling and LGBTQ+ themes. A new staged version of the film, complete with the featured songs, will be presented at Chicago’s Center on Halsted on December 12th, 2022, at 7pm. It’s a FREE event, register for tickets by clicking SCROOGE & MARLEY.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “The Inspection,” a based-on-his-own-life memoir film by writer/director Elegance Bratton on his experiences in Marine Corps boot camp, in theaters on November 23rd.

CHICAGO – The journey of Elegance Bratton took him from homelessness to the U.S. Marine Corps to to his first film … all based on his life. “The Inspection” is about Ellis (Jeremy Pope). a gay black youth who decides he has one last shot at a chance to get off the streets … if he can survive Marine boot camp.

CHICAGO – The 40th edition of the REELING International LBGTQ+ Film Festival ended its in-person run on September 30th. Until the end of the festival on October 6th, 2022, a number of films will be available for online viewing. For information, click REELING40 ONLINE. NOTE: Some films have territory restrictions for viewing, check before downloading.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on September 29th, 2022, reviewing “Bros,” a mainstream studio LBGTQ+ romantic comedy, with all cast members who are queer portrayed by LBGTQ+ actors. In theaters now.

CHICAGO – The spiritual film “Two Eyes” is in the spotlight at the REELING40 LGBTQ+ International Film Festival on Thursday, September 29th, 2022 (7p). Producer Steve Kozlowski will appear on behalf of the film, click TWO EYES for info and tickets.

CHICAGO – With drag in its spotlight, but relationships at its core, the comedy “Chrissy Judy” screens on the first weekend of Chicago’s iconic REELING40 LGBTQ+ International Film Festival on Sunday, September 23rd, 2022 (6:30p). Writer/director Todd Flaherty will appear on behalf of the film, click CHRISSY JUDY for info and tickets.

CHICAGO – Mention the name Colin Higgins and it might draw a blank. But mention the film “Harold and Maude” (1971) and any cinema room will light up with passion. Higgins took his Grad Thesis screenplay from his late 1960s USC days and created (with director Hal Ashby) a legitimate 1970s classic. This film, and many other fan favorites, are in the documentary The Life and Films of Colin Higgins” … directed by Nicholas Eliopoulos. Click COLIN for info and tickets.