FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: TJ Murphy, Director of Programming
films@reelq.org
Reel Q 2019 signals big move, terrific lineup
Reel Q’s 34th annual LGBTQ+ Film Festival is back with a bang in a hip new location at Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville, Oct. 3-12th. The provocative line-up for 2019 offers twice as many films as last year, featuring 25 feature films, and over 60 short films, like our opening night feature “Papi Chulo,” Matt Bomer’s massivly mismatched buddy movie; or “Dykes, Camera, Action,” a documentary crash course on the history of lesbian cinema; and festival award winners from around the world. Plus plenty of parties to celebrate this glow-up in location and roster.
This year the festival offers ten days of full-length features, including: “An Almost Ordinary Summer,” which has been called “La Cage aux Folles” meets “Mama Mia”; “The Shiny Shrimps,” a comedy about the real-life gay polo team that became a box office hit in France and launched a national dialogue on homophobia in sports; the sexually explicit “Sauvage/Wild” on male hustling in modern Paris; “Billie and Emma,” a charming, romance between two adolescent girls set in the 1990s Philipinnes; “Scream, Queen” and “Nightmare on Elm Street 2,” a double bill that includes a cocktail between films and pairs a documentary on the film that tragically ended one gay actor’s career and the actual — now camp — horror film itself; a special 20th anniversary screening of the classic gay rom-com “Trick”; “Changing the Game,” a timely documentary about trans athletes doing just that; and out closing night film, the inspiring documentary “Gay Chorus Deep South” with Pittsburgh’s own Renaissance Choir performing afterward. And don’t miss joining in on the “Fun in Our Short Shorts” with equally exciting shorts programs sprinkled throughout the week, including “Teen Dreams” a program created for the next generation featuring shorts from around the world, with a special premiere screening of a local documentary about the infamous Blue Moon Bar, this program is Pay-What-Makes-You-Happy to all attendees under 21!
In the spirit of fostering community and discussion over, well, spirits, Reel Q 2019 is throwing a parade of parties. Opening Night (Oct. 3) celebrates the festival kick-off at
Row House after the“Papi Chulo” screening with special guests and, did we mention spirits? Saturday matinee hour (Oct. 5) is for the youth with Drag Queen Story Hour with local bookstore White Whale; then a light brunch followed by teen shorts (“Teen Dreams”) for the “gaybies.” The festivities continue Saturday night for a WLW party with iCandy before “Good Kisser.” The first weekend wraps up Sunday with Transtastic Shorts and networking with local organizations at Lawrenceville staple Blue Moon following the film. But wait, the events continue throughout the week! Join Reel Q after “Where Justice Ends” (Oct. 9) for a panel discussion with the director led by the founder of SistersPGH, Ciora Thomas. Closing night offers a one of a kind treat with the powerful award winning documentray “Gay Chrous Deep South” and features a performance from our very own Reniassance City Choir following the film.
That’s just part of Reel Q’s 2019 LGBTQ film festival, which runs Oct. 3-12th at the festival’s new location, Row House Cinema, 4115 Butler Street.
Tickets are $15 for opening and closing night. $10 general admission for all other films, and $7 student discounts. Our double feature of “Screen, Queen/Nightmare on Elm St 2” is $15, and “Teen Dreams” is pay-what-makes-you-happy for anyone under 21!
Reel Q’s full schedule of films and events and ticket prices are available online at the official Reel Q website (www.reelq.org)
About the Pittsburgh Lesbian & Gay Film Society (aka Reel Q) The Pittsburgh Lesbian and Gay Film Society’s primary goal is to organize and manage year-round cinema that serves and celebrates the creative nonconformity of local LGBTQ+ communities through the presentation of diverse feature films, artspaces, lectures, parties, and panel discussions. We servce lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer community (LGBTQ+) and LGBTQ-supportive persons.
