Durham Herald Sun
Gay & Lesbian Film Festival announces August lineup
07.07.10 – 09:20 pm
From staff reports
DURHAM — Comedy writer Bruce Vilanch will perform at the 15th annual North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, to be at the Carolina Theatre Aug. 12-15.
Vilanch is best known as the joke and gag writer for the Oscars, the Tonys, the Grammys and other awards shows. His life and often requested skills as a joke writer were the subject of a 1999 documentary titled “Get Bruce!” Vilanch was an entertainment writer for the Chicago Tribune, an assignment that put him in touch with Bette Midler, who in 1970 hired him to write jokes for her.
He continues to write for Midler. He also has contributed material to comedians Lily Tomlin, Joan Rivers and others. His extensive writing credits include the television shows “Donnie and Marie,” “The Brady Bunch Hour,” and Dolly Parton‘s variety show “Dolly.” He played the role of Edna Turnblad in the touring show of the Broadway production of “Hairspray.”
Vilanch will perform at the festival at 9:30 p.m. Aug. 13.
The four-day festival is dedicated to screening films that reflect the many voices of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. The 2010 festival will present 73 feature and short films from the United States, Canada, Argentina, India, Israel, France, New Zealand, Peru and Colombia.
In other festival highlights, director Robert Gaston will present an exclusive North Carolina sneak peek of his new film, “Flight of the Cardinal,” filmed entirely in North Carolina.
“Howl” is a documentary about the late poet Allen Ginsberg and the making of his ground-breaking Beat Generation poem of the same name. It was produced and filmed by Academy Award-winning documentarians Rob Epstein (“The Times of Harvey Milk“) and Jeffrey Friedman. It includes animation by Ginsberg collaborator Eric Drooker that captures the essence of the poem.
“Edie and Thea: A Very Long Engagement,” a documentary from the makers of “The Brandon Teena Story,” tells the story of two women who met in the early 1960s and shared their lives and their love for the next 42 years. “Gen Silent,” from director Stu Maddox, director of “Bob and Jack’s 52-Year Adventure,” is a documentary about elderly LGBT people who go back into the closet to survive in the health care system. Maddox will lead an audience discussion after the screening.
The festival will have three short film programs for women, four programs of men’s shorts, and a program of five transgender shorts.
The 2010 festival Plaza Party takes place at 8 p.m. Aug. 14 with partial proceeds benefiting the LGBT Center of Raleigh. A VIP Reception and party for filmmakers, sponsors and festival donors takes place at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 13 in the Connie Moses Ballroom.
Tickets for the festival 10-Pass, Bruce Vilanch and the Plaza Party 2010 go on sale at 11 a.m. Monday. The Festival 10-pass is $75, $63 for Star Members. Tickets for Vilanch are $37, $27 and $22 for Star Members. Tickets for the Plaza Party are $10 in advance and $13 at the door.
For information on the VIP Reception and party, call the box office at 560-3030. Tickets may be purchased online at www. carolinatheatre.org and www.ncglff.org or call the box office at 919-560-3030 or toll free at 1-888-241-8162.
Tickets for individual films are $9 and $7.50 for Star Members and go on sale at 11 a.m. July 28.
For more information and a complete list of films, visit www.ncglfff.org.
