Connecting people

The Southwest Gay and Lesbian Film Festival has been at the forefront in presenting gay and lesbian cinema in New Mexico. This year is no different. Well, there’s the celebration of the festival reaching its 10-year anniversary.

“It’s been an amazing journey, and we’ve continued to grow each year,” says Roberto Appicciafoco, the festival director. “We’ve gone from 60 films last year to more than 90 films this year and we’ve also bumped up the festival to 10 days instead of the usual seven.”

The festival will take place at various locations during its run from today through Oct. 7.

	Tenth Annual Southwest Gay & Lesbian Film Festival WHEN: Today through Thursday, Oct. 7 WHERE: The Guild Cinema (3405 E. Central), National Hispanic Cultural Center Bank of America Theatre (1701 Fourth SW) and Southwest Film Center (lower level of the UNM Student Union, Room 1003) HOW MUCH: $10 general, $8 Closet Cinema members. Four-movie punch card $35, eight-movie punch card $65. $100 full film festival pass for all events and screenings. Tickets at Self Serve, 3904-B E. Central. Call 265-5815 or 243-1870 or visit www. closetcinema.org

Appicciafoco says that the films that will be screened are some of the best available.

“We had more than 500 submissions for the festival,” he explains. “Our panel has been screening the films and ultimately locked in our schedule just a couple weeks ago.”

One of the last movies to be booked was Belgian screenwriter David Lambert’s film “Beyond the Walls.” The film follows Paulo, played by Matila Malliarakis, who falls for bartender Ilir, played by Guillaume Gouix, and their ensuing relationship.

Appicciafoco says that the film recently premiered in Cannes, where it was well-received.

“I watched this movie and it left me speechless,” he says. “I couldn’t move after watching it because it was so powerful.”

Also on schedule is Thom Fitzgerald’s “Cloudburst,” starring Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker. The two Oscar winners star as Stella and Dot, an aging couple who escape from a nursing home in Maine and drive to Nova Scotia on a quest to be legally married.

Stella and Dot have been together for 31 years and have faithfully accompanied one another through life’s ups and downs. Now in their 70s, Stella is going deaf and Dot is legally blind. Dot’s prudish granddaughter, Molly, played by Kristin Booth, decides the best place for Dot is a nursing home that will provide all the necessities.

This forces Stella and Dot to make a bold decision: They will leave their hometown and make their way to Canada, where same-sex marriage is legal.

En route to Canada, they pick up a young hitchhiker, Prentice, played by Ryan Doucette, who is a small-town boy turned modern dancer. He is returning to Nova Scotia to visit his dying mother but ends up learning about family from the couple.

“This film deals with issues that are currently relevant for gay and lesbian couples,” Appicciafoco explains. “We’ve always kept an eye on what Thom is working on, and this one is expected to bring in the crowds.”

And closing the festival will be “Gayby,” which is written by Jonathan Lisecki.

Appicciafoco says the film premiered as a short film the very first year of the festival and Lisecki found the funding to make it into a full-length feature.

“This is one of the coolest stories from the festival,” he says. “There aren’t many times that a short will actually be made into a feature film. We’re so proud this happened, and that’s why the film is closing our festivities.”

Appicciafoco says that the festival added a “Queer Youth United” section to its film shorts and wants the community to come together because there is no other event like this in the state.

“We have 10 percent of our visitors from out of state,” he says. “The goal for the festival is to provide films that are thought-provoking and educate. We want the films to bring something different to people’s lives and find a connection.”