Reel Pride film fest begins Oct. 21

ROYAL OAK – With a new fall date and a line up that looks to be the festival's best ever, Triangle Foundation's Reel Pride Michigan's GLBT Film Fest is the place to be as the cooler October weather sets in.
Reel Pride is Michigan's largest LGBT film festival. Previously held in the summer, the 2005 festival runs from Oct. 21-28 and includes over 20 feature length films and dozens of short films about the stuff of life: love, sex, body image, families, religion and more – all with a gay twist, of course.
One of this year's most buzzed about films at the festival is "Transamerica," which stars Felicity Huffman ("Desperate Housewives") as Bree, a transsexual woman grappling with the discovery of a son she never knew she had (played by Kevin Zegers). Huffman has been widely praised for her nuanced and spot-on portrayal of a male to female transsexual and buzz is building for the film with mentions in magazines like The Advocate and Rolling Stone.
Those with a fondness for bears and leather will want to clear the evening of Monday, Oct. 25 for "Grrr…Who's Your Daddy?" a series of short bear and leather films including "The Hairy Underbelly of Portugal," a look at that country's bear scene, and "Just for Leather," a story about a pick up gone awry.
Got a thing for classics? Reel Pride is bringing some old favorites to the big screen this year including a midnight showing of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" on Saturday, Oct. 22. "The Children's Hour" makes a rare appearance in the theatre on Friday, Oct. 28 at 5 p.m. This 1961 film stars Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine as the heads of an all-girl's school. One of them harbors a secret that leads to her doom.
For those interested in another definition of "classic" there's "Gay Sex in the 70's," showing Sunday, Oct. 23 at 9:30 p.m. This documentary chronicles that period of sexual liberation and abandon following Stonewall and predating the outbreak of AIDS.
The festival offers plenty of family-friendly films, as well. On Sunday, Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. is the moving documentary "We Are Dad" about 20-year-plus life partners Steve Lofton and Roger Croteau and their extended family of five foster children. The film is followed by "Two Moms: A Family Portrait" about a lesbian couple and their two adopted children.
On Saturday Oct. 22 are two films that youth age 21 and under can attend for free. The first is "Gen X" a series of short films for youth including "Just A Boy," about a family coming to terms with their transgender son and "Night Swimming" about two punk rock boys on a road trip to see their favorite band, but find something more interesting along the way. Following "Gen X" is "Surge of Power," a film about a gay super hero.
Those interested in young love will want to check out "Summer Storm" on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 9:45 p.m. The film follows rowing team members and best friends Tobi (Robert Stadlober) and Achim (Kostja Ullman). One is gay but closeted, a fact that gets all the more complicated when the boys' take on an all-gay rowing team called the Queerstrokes.
Looking for cute boys and a good party? Attend the opening night screening of "The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life Of Ethan Green" starring Daniel Letterle ("Camp") as Ethan. Join David Monahan ("Dawson's Creek") at the after party.
Not a night person? Then attend the festival's screening of "Hate Crime," which is preceded by a brunch and followed by a panel discussion on anti-LGBT violence. It all begins at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 23.
This year's closing night feature is the documentary "Left Lane: On the Road with Folk Poet Alix Olson." Watch the film and attend the after party with Alix Olson herself.