FROM A NEWS RELEASE
Chicago, IL - Reeling 2009, the second-oldest LGBT film festival in the world, will run November 5th through the 15th, showcasing innovative gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender films from around the globe. Reeling will take place at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema ( 2828 N. Clark St. ) , Film Row Cinema ( Columbia College, 1104 S. Wabash Ave. ) , Music Box Theatre ( 3733 N. Southport Ave. ) , and the Festival's home base at Chicago Filmmakers ( 5243 N. Clark St. ) . Additional venues will be confirmed at a later date.
As always, Reeling continues to push boundaries and keep the festival's programming fresh and culturally rich by presenting work from worldwide perspectives and in genres ranging from light-hearted comedy to introspective experimental. Our mission is to recognize the important artistic and socially relevant contributions LGBT filmmakers have made to our culture and to counteract stereotyping with valid, meaningful, and diverse portrayals of LGBT people.
To keep you light on your feet, this year's Opening Night Film will be The Big Gay Musical, which features a cast of incredible Broadway talent. From award-winning director Casper Andreas comes a musical that will please both show tune queens and serious filmgoers alike, capturing the conventions of musical theatre to propel a story of acceptance, discovery, friendship, and love.
We are also thrilled to present this year's star-studded Closing Night Film, director Evgeny Afineevsky's Oy Vey! My Son is Gay!! Shirley Hirsch ( My Big Fat Greek Wedding's Lainie Kazan ) wants her son, Nelson, to settle down with a nice, Jewish girl. When he shows up to a family wedding with his rainbow yarmulke-wearing boyfriend instead, Shirley and her husband, Martin, try every method possible to deal with the news that their beloved son is a "faygelah"...all with hilarious results. Other cast members include Bruce Vilanch, veteran actor Saul Rubinek, Carmen Electra, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy's Jai Rodriguez and Vincent Pastore from The Sopranos.
Our Documentary Centerpiece film---Fish Out of Water, directed by local filmmaker Ky Dickens---uses animation and community and scholarly interviews to explore the Bible verses used to condemn homosexuals. John Young's Rivers Wash Over Me is our Dramatic Centerpiece film, a compelling drama about the ordeals of a sensitive, gay teen sent to live with distant family in Alabama.
Further confirmed titles include American Primitive, directed by Gwen Wynne; Chef's Special, directed by Nacho G. Velilla; City of Borders, directed by Yun Suh; Drool, directed by Nancy Kissam; Eating Out: All you Can Eat, directed by Glenn Gaylord; Fig Trees, directed by John Greyson; Make the Yuletide Gay, directed by Rob Williams; Night Fliers, directed by Sara Lynne; Pornography: A Thriller, directed by David Kittredge; Shank, directed by Simon Pearce; and director Steve Balderson's Stuck! Additionally, Reeling is planning a number of special events in conjunction with the films, keeping the party going long after the credits have stopped rolling.
Reeling 2009 is proud to announce the return of Showtime and Comcast as presenting sponsors. Other sponsors will be confirmed at a later date. The Festival's complete line-up will be announced the week of September 28th. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning in October. More information on the Festival will be available at reeling@chicagofilmmakers.org and www.reelingfilmfestival.org .
