The Tampa Bay International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Florida’s longest-running LGBTQ+ film festival, will return for its 34th celebration in two parts.
The first will be a Tampa edition on Oct. 5-8, opening at the Tampa Theatre before moving to AMC Westshore. TIGLFF’s St. Pete edition will follow Jan. 25-28, 2024. Read Watermark’s in-depth coverage about this year’s festival here and view the full schedule below.
OPENING NIGHT, THURSDAY, OCT. 5
“THE MATTACHINE FAMILY”
Tampa Theatre | 7 p.m. | 98 Mins. Oscar (Juan Pablo di Pace, “Mamma Mia”) and Thomas (Nico Tortorella, “Scream 4”) meet, get married, have charming friends and burgeoning careers. Fate steps in and the two agree to be foster parents to a little boy, Arthur. When Arthur is reunited with his birth mother, Thomas realizes he loves being a dad.
“BIG EASY QUEENS”
Tampa Theatre | 10:30 p.m. | 71 Mins. Seems like a perfect time in Florida for campy gangland humor. Fort Lauderdale Director Erynn Dalton (“The Gravedigger”) delivers this raucous delight. Miss Minnie Bouvèé (Eric Swanson) is a full-bodied queen of the Big Easy underworld who finds herself under threat by a mysterious masked predator and the fragrance of gardenias, a “sore spot of torment” from Miss Minnie’s past.
FRIDAY, OCT. 6
“OUR SON”
AMC West Shore | 7 p.m. | 104 Mins. Featuring great lead performances by two talented gay actors, “Our Son” is an absorbing exploration of parenthood and family. Gabriel (“Pose’s” Billy Porter) and Nicky (“Beauty and the Beast’s” Luke Evans) share a life in a spacious city apartment with their sweet seven-year-old son, Owen (Christopher Woodly). Nicky works long hours while Gabriel stays home to care for Owen.
“CHASING CHASING AMY”
AMC West Shore | 9 p.m. | 85 Mins. Can a lesbian have a romantic friendship with a straight, cis man? Especially when that man is portrayed by Ben Affleck?! Let’s get real. Many lesbians of a certain age hated “Chasing Amy,” Kevin Smith’s 1990’s romcom about a straight white guy who falls in love with a lesbian. Filmmaker Sav Rodgers, a young filmmaker from Kansas, did a Ted Talk about how “Chasing Amy” literally saved his life.
SATURDAY, OCT. 7
“BLACK BARBIE”
AMC West Shore | 2 p.m. | 100 Mins. “It took 21 years for one black fashion doll to be worthy of the Barbie name.” So says award winning queer director Lagueria Davis (“Maid of Dishonor”) who decided to make “Black Barbie” after spending time with her Aunt Beulah Mae Mitchell, a 45-year employee at Mattel. Those conversations sparked a curiosity about the evolution of Black Barbie leading to complex conversations.
“BIG BOYS”
AMC West Shore | 2:15 p.m. | 90 Mins. “Big Boys” is a sweet and humorous story about the awkwardness of growing up and feeling different from your peers. Jamie is an anxious and chubby 14-year old. While he’s not the least bit interested in sports, he might just be a culinary master.
AFTERNOON DELIGHTS SHORTS
AMC West Shore | 4:15 p.m. | 84 Mins. This series of short films includes the 10-minute “FLAG ACT,” 11-minute “MIKEY’S ARMY,” 15-minute “THE ART OF MAKING SIMPLE COMPLICATED,” 5-minute “DADDY ISSUES,” 3-minute “STILL THE ONE,” 10-minute “GIRL ON GIRL,” 3-minute “GAY QUIZ,” 14-minute “HEATHER” AND 13-minute “F^¢K ‘€M R!GHT B@¢K.”
“LIE WITH ME (ARRETE AVEC TES MENSONGES)”
AMC West Shore | 4:30 p.m. | 100 Mins. Based on the bestselling French novel, “Lie With Me” is a story about lost love and the importance of being true to yourself. Established author Stéphane Belacourt (Guillaume de Tonquédec) returns to his beautiful hometown to promote a renowned local cognac distillery and deliver a keynote speech.
“JESS PLUS NONE”
AMC West Shore | 6:30 p.m. | 101 Mins. Let’s just say it: Jess is a hot mess. She is impulsive, whiney and completely self-absorbed. That she is the maid of honor for her best friend is like an afterthought to Jess’ preoccupation with her recent breakup. The wedding is literally in the woods and a reunion of sorts for college friends and partners.
“ALL THE COLOURS OF THE WORLD ARE BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE”
AMC West Shore | 7 p.m. | 93 Mins. As the title of this debut film suggests, those who are willing to see beyond their own rigid black and white points of view are able to see a full spectrum of vibrant colors, nuances and complexity. When Bambino, a salt of the earth delivery driver in Lagos, meets aspiring photographer, Bawa, the two men form an instant intimacy.
“THE LOST BOYS (LE PARADIS)”
AMC West Shore | 8:45 p.m. | 83 Mins. Featuring an invigorating original score by Bachar Mar-Khalife and engaging performances, “Lost Boys” boldly explores ideas of freedom, the human need for love, and the ever-lingering effects that experiences in the juvenile detention system have on young people.
LATE NIGHT SHORTS
AMC West Shore | 9 p.m. | 98 Mins. This series of short films includes the 11-minute “THE DALLES,” 19-minute “KEEP/DELETE,” 18-minute “DOGFRIEND,” 15-minute “POLLYWOOD,” 11-minute “FIRST(ISH DATE),” 4-minute “PIPES,” 9-minute “HONEY TO THE MOON” and 10-minute “LOLLYGAG.”
CLOSING NIGHT
SUNDAY, OCT. 8
“IT’S ONLY LIFE AFTER ALL”
AMC West Shore | 3 p.m. | 118 Mins. “Fans want to know what is personal,” says Emily Saliers. And, in spite of her admitted discomfort with the personal, Saliers and Amy Ray, the iconic Indigo Girls, go there in this acclaimed documentary by filmmaker Alexandria Bombach (“On Her Shoulders”).
“GLITTER AND DOOM”
AMC West Shore | 6:30 p.m. | 113 Mins. “You look like someone with a lot of songs inside,” says Glitter to Doom. And the songs are those of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers — the Indigo Girls. New arrangements and mashups of their classics are a delight in Tom Gustafson’s (“Were the World Mine”) homage to the soundtrack of love and the burning desire for “the dream.”
TIGLFF’s Tampa edition will be held Oct. 5-8. Opening night will be at the Tampa Theatre at 711 N. Franklin St. before moving to AMC Westshore, located at 210 Westshore Plaza. Single tickets are $15, four for $45 or $125 for highest access.
Read more about the festival here and at TIGLFF.com, where you can also purchase tickets.
