About The HGLFF
From September 22 – 24, 2006, the Tenth Annual HGLFF will screen feature length films and shorts programs at the Angelika Film Center in downtown Houston.
Through its films, videos and related events, the Houston Gay and Lesbian Film Festival provides a platform for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community to tell their stories and to examine the crucial issues impacting their lives.
Our mission extends to the commercial communities in which our members thrive. Our supporters bring significant financial benefit to the organization, which amplifies our visibility in areas that were once taboo. Fashion and beauty oriented businesses are rewarded for their participation in our events with loyal customers who can remain within their comfort zone when purchasing. For example, our recent promotion involving Dot Com 4 Beauty’s Raquel Welch wigs was a huge success with 25% of the proceeds going toward this festival. The online wig store has been a long time supporter of HGLFF. This enterprise provides discrete sales and advice involving all aspects of wigs and hairpieces, including products used by those undergoing cancer treatments. DC4B is also a supporter of our media effort to combat hate messaging online, and promote positive portrayals of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
MISSION STATEMENT: The Houston Gay and Lesbian Film Festival is a non-profit organization that exists to promote the media arts as a powerful tool for communication and cooperation among diverse communities by presenting films, videos, and programs by, about, or of interest to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community. You may have learned that our reach has recently broadened to include sister organizations overseas, but there are still many countries in which the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community is still demonized. All you have to do is looked at the news from Russia and the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government.
The primary objectives of the HGLFF are:
• To promote both the art of filmmaking and the understanding and creative expression of diverse communities. To accomplish this goal, the HGLFF seeks to increase the accessibility, relevance, and visibility of the media art form to all segments of the greater Houston community.
• To provide a forum for discussion and dialogue about various aspects of both filmmaking and the experiences of GLBT people. The HGLFF encourages dialogue between audience members and filmmakers by bringing directors to the festival to introduce and lead discussions about their films. In so doing, the HGLFF counters both the isolation often experienced by GLBT people and the misunderstanding of people who have prejudices about them.
• To seek the reduction of stereotypes and behavior harmful to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and their allies by providing positive alternative media images.