Bloomington's Pride Film Festival has boomed in popularity since its first incarnation five years ago. The event started as a venue that brought in approximately 300 movie watchers. This year, it is predicted to catch the eye of 2,000, said Mary Gray, chair of the festival's steering committee. It is also a place for members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community in Bloomington to be comfortable in its surroundings. \n"It's an incredibly important personal experience for a person who's spent most of their lives trying to hide things about themselves. To be in a huge room with hundreds of people who are saying 'It's OK; in fact it's great' is a very transformative experience," said Danielle McClelland, executive director of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, where many of the screenings will be, and a member of the Pride Film Festival's steering committee.
Discussion sessions\nThis year's schedule contains many discussion sessions that focus on homosexuality in our day and age.\n"I wanted to make sure the festival wasn't a feel-good party," McClelland says. \n"It just really opens (straight people's) eyes to see what their friends experiences might be, being gay and lesbian." Gray said. "It's really exciting to see those connections happen with groups of friends, through films."\nFeatured guest speakers include Judith Halberstam and Susan Stryker, both nationally noted film scholars.
Dance Party\nThe dance party on Saturday night at the Buskirk-Chumley has been around for a few years, but this year, Gray said, there have been more resources and support from the community to make it better. A surprise sculpture, done by a local float designer will be revealed at the dance party.\n"You kind of know, if you're in a bar or restaurant, that there are a lot of folks who are mingling and out on a date, and we don't really question how those situations are geared about heterosexuality." McClelland said. "It's a time of year to see same-sex couples hanging out; it's not just one -- it's 2,000. Nothing else like that happens during the year."
Tickets/screenings\nPlanning to attend the whole thing? General admission is $28 and $14 for students. If you only have time to hit up a few of the events, general screenings are $8 or $4 for students.\nJust Saturday: including the dance party and screening -- $12 general admission and $6 for students.\nJust the dance: $6 general admission, $10 at the door.\nTickets may be purchased at http://pridefilmfestival.org.\nThe four primary screenings at the Buskirk begin with a series of short films, followed by an intermission that leads to a feature film or documentary.
