by Stephen Mintz and the Reel Pride Festival commitee

No matter which side of the aisle one’s political affiliations lean (or fall), there isn’t a person alive who likes to tolerate hypocrisy when it comes to elected officials’ actions. That is the exact subject of the maddening opening night film for Fresno Reel Pride, director Kirby Dick’s docu-reveal Outrage. In the film, Dick (This Film Is Not Yet Rated – the excellent exposé of the MPAA ratings system) acts as investigative journalist, finding politicians who have legislated against equal rights for gays and lesbians, while secretly gay themselves (yes, Larry Craig is in this film…but so is former Mayor Ed Koch!).

In the Festival’s closing night film, Edie and Thea: A Very Long Engagement, Edie met Thea nearly 60 years ago, the love at first sight turning into a comedic and delightful dance of two souls, shown on a screen in the form of old home movies while the two octogenarians watch and reflect on their hysterical history, sharing jibes and commentary filled with sass and soul all these years later. Ultimately a film about equal rights, these women were participants from Stonewall to recent events in gay marriage…and cast members will join the two directors of the film on-stage just for Reel Pride audience members.

Other films at this year’s Reel Pride Festival:

And Then Came Lola, a fast-paced, colorful fun-filled lesbian romantic-comedy in the fragmented style of Run Lola Run, featuring the tempestuous journey of commitment-phobic photographer Lola.

THE BIG GAY MUSICAL! is a musically told story of gay love, lust and heartbreak in a new take on Genesis with Adam and Steve.

Ferron: Girl on Road, celebrates women’s music icon Ferron, documenting Ferron’s 2008 Vancouver concert where she reunites with her band and hits the road after a ten-year absence.

Get Happy, a coming-of-age musical extravaganza about Mark Payne, who became a singer, clothing designer, and stage performer alongside Bob Hope and Milton Berle, all before puberty. Now one of the most sought-after makeup artists in Hollywood, a plethora of childhood footage documents Mark’s trek to the top.

Fruit Fly, H.P. Mendoza’s directorial debut, is a sparkling musical love letter to San Francisco featuring a girl who loves to hang out with her gay boy buddies, goes to the gay clubs, dances with her boys until the wee hours and sends them off to their tricks with a kiss on the cheek. But don’t call her a “fag hag”—she’s a “Fruit Fly.”
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Fresno Reel Pride runs from Sept 16-20 at the Tower Theatre and Starline Lounge in Fresno. See www.reelpride.com for tickets and schedule information.
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Stephen Mintz is the Program Director for Reel Pride. He can be reached at programming@reelpride.com.