TORONTO – As thousands of Torontonians leave the city for cottage country to celebrate the first long weekend after Easter, thousands of others will head into Toronto for what is now the 12th Annual Lesbian And Gay Film and Video Festival. From its humble beginning at the Euclid Theatre with floor seating to its height when the films were screened side-by-side with “Star Wars – Episode 1” at the newly opened Paramount Theatre, this second largest film festival in Toronto never ceases to fascinate with its unique variety of offerings.
This year’s festival boasts 41 premieres of feature-length work (up from 36 last year), with 4 World Premieres, 27 Canadian Premieres and 12 Toronto Premieres. Scores of shorts will also receive their premieres in May. Canada is well represented in the field of over 260 works in 87 programmes. Almost half the work being screened is Canadian (up from a third from the previous year), with the balance drawn from 26 countries from around the world. Of the 112 Canadian works, 86 are from Toronto artists, 3 are dramatic features and 4 are feature-length documentaries.
Running for 10 days from May the 16th – 26th , the festival’s many films (especially those featuring famous stars) are already sold-out. The opening night gala “Gaudi Afternoon” directed by Susan Sedeilman (who will be in attendance) and the Spanish “Second Skin” with Javier Bardem (“Before Night Falls”) were sold out long ago and second screenings have been added.
Festival and Ticket Info
Advance Box Office at Xtra! Office, 491 Church St, 2nd floor runs from May 1 – May 15, 2 – 8 pm on weekdays, noon – 6 pm on weekends. Tel. 416-925-XTRA ext. 2229.
Same Day Tickets available at the respective theatres’ box-offices 1 hour before screening time for the ROM, Innis Town Hall and Bloor Cinema (cash only). Same Day tickets at the Cumberland Cinemas Box Office begin at 12.30 pm on weekdays, 11.30 am on weekends.
Advance Tickets during the Festival, member tickets and services are available at the Inside Out Information Desk in the Cumberland Cinemas, one hour before the first screening of the day.
Single tix: $9 (mbrs: $8), Weekend Matinee Special: $7 (mbrs: $6), Book of 8 vouchers: mbrs only $55, Limited seniors/youth tix: $6, Opening & Closing Night Gala tix: $25 (mbrs: $20), Centrepiece Gala Tix: $15 (mbrs: $12), Directors Series: PWYC, only at Inside Out B.O.
Festival and ticket info up-dated daily at “>http://www.insideout.on.ca or call 416-925-XTRA ext. 2229.
