Editor

Thanks to enthusiastic audiences, the 20th Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Film Festival was a great success. Held on June 1-9 at Cinestudio in Hartford, we had over 2,500 attendees from all over Connecticut and beyond who gathered for an event that was truly exceptional! Our audience enjoyed a variety of extraordinary programming-including short films, powerful documentaries and exciting feature films-- all unique to our Festival. In addition, we hosted three directors (Casper Andreas, Gene Graham and Chris Diani) who spoke about their work which was featured at the Festival. It was an impressive occasion of film, culture, community and lots of fun for everyone who attended.

We are pleased to announce the winners of this year's festival for outstanding films:

Best Feature - Audience Award
1st Place - Boy Culture (Dir: Q. Allan Brocka)
2nd Place - Another Woman (Une autre femme) (Dir: Jerome Foulon)
3rd Place - Eating out 2: Sloppy Seconds (Dir: Phillip J Bartell)

Best Documentary - Audience Award
1st Place - Freeheld (Dir: Cynthia Wade)
2nd Place - Bob and Jack's 52-Year Adventure (Dir: Stu Maddux)
3rd Place - Transparent (Dir: Jules Rosskam)

Best Short - Jury Award
1st Place - Private Life (Dir: Abbe Robinson)
2nd Place - Family Reunion (Gódir Gestir) (Dir: Ísold Uggadóttir)
3rd Place - A Trip to Prague (Dir: Neil Needleman)

This has been an exciting year for Out Film CT. We presented a very successful benefit screening of Outlaugh! for the Hartford Gay & Lesbian Health Collective on Feb. 7th. We also presented 50 Ways of Saying Fabulous at the 14th True Colors Conference. All this was capped by the being named the Outstanding Film Project by the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism. This award recognized our outstanding achievement and lasting contributions to the Arts, History, Film and Tourism Fields in Connecticut.

The Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Film Festival is a unique cultural institution, now in its 20th year, that continues to grow and gain wide recognition around the state, country as well as internationally. We are fortunate to have such strong support so that we can continue our mission to present outstanding LGBT film to an ever-growing audience.

In November 2008, we continue our collaboration with the Trinity College gay-straight student organization, EROS (Encouraging Respect of all Sexualities), to present the 9th EROS Film Festival. This event held every fall brings more queer films to Hartford with an emphasis on youth, history and classic films.

The dates for the 21st CT Gay & Lesbian Film Festival are announced for May 30 - June 7, 2008.