When we were young children in the backseat of our parents car on a long, seemingly endless drive, the life outside would go by so fast, signs, places and people would blur in passing. Today, change occurs at dizzying speeds, streaking past, and that which does not change can be left behind and forgotten.

As the Portland Lesbian and Gay Film Festival reaches its seventh milestone year on its own road trip, we’d like to pause for a short rest and enjoy and reflect on what multiplicity of wonders our communities reflect. This year’s Festival offers over 32 programs and over 65 films from around the world, varying voices, joy and pain, that reflect our experiences on this journey.

This rainbow of stories is demonstrated in our selection of documentaries such as Brother Outsider: The Life Of Bayard Rustin, Don’t Worry, It’ll Probably Pass, Radical Harmonies, and Ruthie & Connie: In Every Room. These works present the rich diversity of stories, past and present, that affirm and reveal.

Looking back on our journey, we are presenting two pioneering narrative-driven men’s 70’s erotica, El Paso Wrecking Corp. and L.A. Tool & Die. These films presented some of the first queer-positive images of an otherwise bleak decade, albeit, in an unusual idiom. Director Joe Gage is scheduled to attend.

Many other quality films serve not to only educate, but entertain! Hilarious camp romps like Girls Will Be Girls, Die Mommie Die, 9 Dead Gay Guys, Merci Docteur Rey (with Dianne Wiest), and Laughing Matters, will make you laugh until your sides hurt.

This year we are proud to offer a special free screening of the highly-acclaimed British period drama, Tipping The Velvet, on Thursday, October 9th at the Guild Theatre. The dramas continue over at Cinema 21 with films destined to be Festival favs such as Close To Leo, The Event, Gasoline, and our closing night films Prey For Rock & Roll (starring Gina Gershon) and A.K.A.

Wow! This year proves to be an amazing eleven days that examine the full breadth of our journeys with a fascinating and most enjoyable mix of laugher and tears. Please join us for the trip of your life.