Vacation Cultures: Film Fests for Alterni-gays

Above Image: Still from the film Cthulu (courtesy Verzaubert)

L.A.'s OutFest, New York's NewFest and San Francisco's FrameLine are usually considered the top three of big U.S. international gay and lesbian film festivals, but they're certainly not the only ones. Especially, that is, if you'd like to plan a trip around some more daring queer art and film -- or festival parties!

Starting today in New York, for example, is the CineKink Film Festival, which is exactly what it sounds like. Many have bemoaned the Big Apple's apparent erasure of seediness by former Mayor Giuliani's 1990s clean-up campaigns, but CineKink might prove otherwise. Now in it's sixth year, it runs through March 1st at Anthology Film Archives on the Lower East Side and covers "from documentary to drama, camp comedy to hot porn - and everything in between."

If you miss it, check out MIXNYC next fall when this experimental LGBT film festival returns, showcasing not only outside submissions but some of the films that comes out of the youth workshops it supports.

San Francisco, too, is getting another alternative LGBT arts and film festival late this summer. Relocating its 'Queer Music and Arts Revolution' from Olympia, WA, the Homo-A-GoGo Festival will invade the bay area's SOMArts Cultural Center from August 13-16th (hear about said revolution below).

While in San Francisco, also check out the Harvey Milk tour of the city to round out the man Sean Penn represented and try one of our favorite hotels, the Parker Guest House.

Not to be outdone for risqué queer culture by upstart American festivals, Berlin's Teddy Awards (awarded to the best LGBT films in the Berniale film festival) may have just finished up for the year, but is followed immediately by the Verzaubert international LGBT film festival from March 18-25th, which awards the coveted "Rosebud Award"at the venerable Kino Theater.

Above Image: Still from the film Cthulu (courtesy Verzaubert)

L.A.'s OutFest, New York's NewFest and San Francisco's FrameLine are usually considered the top three of big U.S. international gay and lesbian film festivals, but they're certainly not the only ones. Especially, that is, if you'd like to plan a trip around some more daring queer art and film -- or festival parties!

Starting today in New York, for example, is the CineKink Film Festival, which is exactly what it sounds like. Many have bemoaned the Big Apple's apparent erasure of seediness by former Mayor Giuliani's 1990s clean-up campaigns, but CineKink might prove otherwise. Now in it's sixth year, it runs through March 1st at Anthology Film Archives on the Lower East Side and covers "from documentary to drama, camp comedy to hot porn - and everything in between."

If you miss it, check out MIXNYC next fall when this experimental LGBT film festival returns, showcasing not only outside submissions but some of the films that comes out of the youth workshops it supports.

San Francisco, too, is getting another alternative LGBT arts and film festival late this summer. Relocating its 'Queer Music and Arts Revolution' from Olympia, WA, the Homo-A-GoGo Festival will invade the bay area's SOMArts Cultural Center from August 13-16th (hear about said revolution below).

While in San Francisco, also check out the Harvey Milk tour of the city to round out the man Sean Penn represented and try one of our favorite hotels, the Parker Guest House.

Not to be outdone for risqué queer culture by upstart American festivals, Berlin's Teddy Awards (awarded to the best LGBT films in the Berniale film festival) may have just finished up for the year, but is followed immediately by the Verzaubert international LGBT film festival from March 18-25th, which awards the coveted "Rosebud Award"at the venerable Kino Theater.