From the pandemic bubble of the Artistic Director
It’s been a fun first month as Artistic Director! We’ve had a heartfelt and steamy screening of CICADA, which I am so glad Jim Brunzell programmed for us as his final gift to the organization. We also participated in Film Festival Day’s screening of UNAPOLOGETIC, with 20+ festivals around the country. The film focused on two Queer Black activists in the Chicago Black Lives Matter movement.
A few days before the inauguration it was a great reminder that change is possible if we continue to push. On his first day in office our new president issued a sweeping executive order making it clear that gay and transgender people are protected against discrimination in schools, health care, the workplace and other realms of American. This broad interpretation of Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga. overrules a narrow version the Trump administration tried to slip in on its way out the door.
Biden also made history by nominating Pennsylvania health expert Dr. Rachel Levine to be assistant secretary of Health and Human Services which could make her the first openly transgender federal official to win Senate confirmation. In the past she was confirmed unanimously by the GOP-lead Pennsylvania Senate. On Monday of his first full week, Biden reversed Trump’s ban on transgender men and women serving in the military. It finally feels like we’ve won the fight that was so brilliantly captured in TRANSMILITARY, aGLIFF selection 2018. Why not celebrate by rewatching the film streaming free on Amazon Prime.
In other news, Queerty has released their annual awards and you an make quite a difference voting for aGLIFF alumni (and have some fun saying ‘Girl, Bye’ to JK Rowling). Each year, The Queerties recognizes the best in LGBTQ culture and media with your votes deciding the winners. And for those of you stuck inside desperate to defeat 10 minutes, you can vote every day until Feb 16.
Here are some aGLIFF alumni to support:
DIGITAL SERIES: Platonic
INDIE MOVIE: And Then We Danced, Breaking Fast
PERFORMANCE – DIGITAL SERIES: Summer Spiro, Platonic
PERFORMANCE - FILM: Haaz Sleiman, Breaking Fast
DOCUMENTARY: Disclosure, Circus of Books
Vote here: https://www.queerty.com/Queerties2021/
We’ve got some fun things planned for February and March and believe it or not, we are already talking about Prism 34! Feel like volunteering? It takes a village to produce a festival. We are currently looking to fill committee and volunteer positions so that we can continue to offer a top-notch festival experience for Austin’s LGBTQ+ film lovers. Want more info? https://www.agliff.org/volunteers
Power and Light,
Bears Rebecca Fonte, Artistic Director
