These days, every demographic has its own film festival. We just had the Latino culture-highlighting Vistas Film Festival in October and the Asian Film Festival of Dallas in August. There is also the Juneteenth Film Festival celebrating African-American movies and even the KidFilm festival. But it works. Think about it. Anybody will see a movie.
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These film festivals prove to be a win-win situation for everybody. Viewers get to feel artsy and trendy by attending a film festival. The films make for great conversation over dinner at Paris Vendome or drinks at Nikita. But more important, audiences sample a filmscape they might never encounter--certainly not at any of the multiplexes, and heck, maybe not even at the art film houses in town. In turn, the festival hosts get the chance to, first, introduce films and filmmakers to a new audience and, second, use the festival as an opportunity to break down barriers and stereotypes. Snap--everybody's satisfied and culturally exposed for the better. Now it's OUT TAKES Dallas' turn with its seventh Annual Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. But the gay movie genre is a tricky one. There has yet to be that one gay or lesbian movie in which the stereotypes don't abound. In the truly independent film circle, cookie-cutter characters have become more than apparent. Nice guy with trusty gal pal falls for the hot sexy guy thinking he's the one. Innocent young girl automatically becomes lesbian when kissed by another girl. You get the idea.
By the looks of this year's roster, however, the times might be changing. One of many examples is the gem opening this year's festival, 29th and Gay, by director Carrie Preston. It has been pegged as the movie for the gay Everyman (yes, they actually do exist). The movie follows a man rapidly approaching 30 without a boyfriend or rock-hard abs. The charm is not just in this normal guy with dating fears but also in his alignment to his Hispanic heritage and being gay. Hey, maybe a gay guy doesn't have to be an Abercrombie model to find happiness. At the very least, the film breaks the usual shirtless disco-boy mold into a quality character dealing with the human condition. Who can't relate to that?
Alonso Duralde, author of 101 Must See Movies for Gay Men (and former artistic director at the USA Film Festival), obviously understands the need for a little variety; his book includes recommendations that run the gamut from realistic drama to the campiest of camp. Duralde discusses and signs his movie guide and hosts a special screening of Valley of the Dolls (guess which category that one falls under) on November 10. We're guessing Valley offers a bit of familiar territory for most, and Duralde's book can help with withdrawal symptoms post-festival.
Now obviously, it would be impossible to give attention to every film OUT TAKES Dallas is screening, but suffice it to say the bases are covered. Do I Look Fat?, Slutty Summer, Hate Crime, Gay Sex in the '70s, Never Rob a Bank With Someone You Love, We Are Dad, Original Pride: The Satyrs Motorcycle Club, Hitch Cock and A Different Kind of War are just a few titles but ones that indicate that this is not your grandmother's stereotypically gay film fest. Sure, teen girl will probably experiment and nice guy with gal pal will most likely get his heart trampled. But serious topics will be broached. Laughs will ensue. Documentaries, shorts and features will abound. And maybe Duralde will find a treasure that will demand a new book: 102 Must See Movies...But the best thing about OUT TAKES Dallas? Where else will you find movies titled Billy's Dad is a Fudge Packer or Taco Chick and Salsa Girl?
