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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 2001)
* perceptions makers than those aimed at gay men, demographics also play a part in festival pro- gramming. “This is something we’ve addressed over and over again through the years, by C hristopher M c Q uain that whatever event we’re putting on, whether it was our film series in June or this festival— when pie found confus we look at the numbers, the attendance by ing, and films start men far exceeds that of women," Mendoza ing sometimes 20 reveals. “Though it probably wasn’t completely “If, indeed, Iron Ladies wasn’t going to open to 25 minutes late. conscious, part of that worked into how we and it opens because of us and it’s a big hit, One participant booked this film festival.” clearly that’s something people will look at,” complained that Mendoza says. In what seems to be an ongoing gender fewer outlets sold King adds: “Basically, as you begin to estab passes and tickets than last year. impasse, Iron Ladies came to the rescue. The true lish yourself as a viable event that draws a story of an underdog Thai volleyball team— John Campos, Sensory Perceptions opera crowd and creates word of mouth for these with a lesbian coach and mostly gay and trans tions director, was in attendance at the meet films, there’s a momentum that builds. We’ve sexual players— that overcame formidable obsta ing and addressed some of the criticisms. “Last cles to make the national championships, it easi reached a new level, and I think it’s going to year, some venues didn’t sell many tickets, and start snowballing.” ly had the most diverse audience of the festival. we were spread a little thin,” he says. “We had Web sales this year, and passes and tickets were “Initially, we had thought about it for an Unfortunately, King won’t be around to see opening night film because we’ve been trying the growth she anticipates. After six years of available at the Cinema 21 box office.” inspired hard work on her part, the festival will He attributed the delays at some screenings to for years now to find a film that is mixed in their popularity. “Getting 500 people in isn’t easy-’’ gender so we could have just a single, inclusive he losing this articulate, visionary 24-year-old However, the people at FilmTalk were more to the Bay Area. opening night film,” King says. Iron Ladies ulti than enthusiastic overall. One man particularly “I’ve been in Portland for almost seven years mately was chosen for closing night. appreciated the relatively intimate quality of now. I came here for college and haven’t left since It’s worth noting that although the men’s the proceedings, saying, “I’ve been to similar film Big Eden won this year’s C1TV Viewers then. I’m a little antsy, ready to do something new. There are four people [running the film festi festivals in San Francisco and New York, Choice Award and response cards again indi val], and when one person walks away, that’s a which were much bigger, with lines around the cated most festivalgoers were men, only Iron quarter of the work that has to be picked up. I feel block, but I appreciated what I guess you would Ladies and Julie Johnson — films featuring promi call the ‘human touch’ horrible about that,” she laughs. “Seri here.” The increase to ously. . .we’ve been planning for it for a nine days was roundly couple of months now, and things are looking good.” applauded, with strong approval for continuing King says that C am pos and it next year “as long as Mendoza will take on most of her the quality of films is responsibilities and that Debbie C aselton will continue as develop maintained.” Although women ment director. “N ot to belittle the were invited to and work I’ve done or the work they’ll showed up for the have to do, but we all know how it FilmTalk festival preview works now, and I think these guys in September and again are going to be able to m aintain it were invited in October, and better it.” none came to this meet The title of festival director will ing— perhaps a reflection be passed on to Campos, who is con of the limited number of fident that Sensory Perceptions will lesbian films booked by continue to grow and prosper. “My Film festival organizers (from left) Caselton, King, Mendoza and Campos are Sensory Perceptions. goals during the coming year are to thrilled their hard work paid off Notably, when the time take this incredible success that came to discuss specific movies— the male-ori nent lesbian and transsexual characters— sold Maura has gifted to Gabriel, Debbie and ented L./.E. and All Over the Guy were myself and ensure that we have the founda out their screenings. favorites— almost no one had seen this year’s Iron Ladies will return to Portland in Febru tion ready to network out, to meet people, to “women’s films,” such as Julie Johnson, Desi’s make sure we’re able to make it as successful, ary for a regular run, thanks in no small part to Looking for a New Girl and Girls’ Shorts. the festival. This could increase Sensory Per if not more so, as Maura left it with us,” he Although proportionately fewer lesbian-themed ceptions’ chances of obtaining higher-profile says. “Just to make it rock solid and make it movies are available from distributors and film- films and even national attention in the future. kick ass.” j n This year’s film fest was a big success 'V d *$ § • he fifth annual Portland Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Film Festival might not have been make-or-break—previous years have seen a progressive increase in public interest and attendance— but organizers did put themselves out on something of a limb. Fortunately, their ideas paid off, both financially and with reception exceeding their guarded expectations. “We had a few experiments this year which went really well,” says Maura King, director of the festivals organizing body, Sensory Perceptions. “We had tickets for sale over the Internet, which went great. We had the new Platinum Passes, which we had a good response to. The festival ran for nine days, and we pulled in hundreds and hundreds of people on typically very slow movie nights, and that was fantastic. At Julie Johnson and Iron Ladies, we had to turn people away.” Adds publicist Gabriel Mendoza: “Every thing we wanted to happen happened. The films we chose worked out. We had the film festival 10 days after the stuff that happened in New York, shipping was questionable, yet most of the prints came through O K .” The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks prevented most of the filmmakers scheduled to present and discuss their work from attending. “Some people were in New York and wanted to be home during all this stuff,” Mendoza explains. “Other people may have been afraid to fly; some people had families who didn’t want them going anywhere.” Attendance, however, was unaffected. “We had some great people lined up and it was real ly unfortunate, but the audiences didn’t really seem to mind. I remember being asked about it only once,” Mendoza says. A t the October meeting of Men’s FilmTalk, a monthly discussion group for gay and bisex ual men, the consensus was overwhelming ly positive, with a few minor complaints. Those were exclusively logistical, centering around the layout of the festival program, which a few peo- Peace. TVust Respect. * Dignity- www.dignitymemorial.com www.BestHalf.com Providing quality funeral, cremation and cemetery services with care, compassion and dignity. Caldwell’s Colonial Chapel Ross Hollywood Chapel 20 N E. 14th Ave. Portland, OR 97232 4733 N.E. Thompson Portland, OR 97213 ( 503 ) 232-4111 ( 503 ) 281-1800 Sunnyside Little Chapel of the Chimes 11667 S.E. Stevens Rd. Portland, OR 97266 ( 503 ) 659-1184
