Film For All
Long-running Austin film festival reveals 2018 lineup — and new name
After three decades of celebrating queer films and filmmakers, the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival is heading into its 31st year with a blockbuster lineup — and a new name. Now known as the All Genders, Lifestyles, and Identities Film Festival, the 2018 fest returns to Austin September 6-9.
In addition to a new name, organizers also used the July 11 announcement to reveal the festival's initial lineup, as well as the recipient of the inaugural aGLIFF Tribute Award.
Kicking off the long weekend will be PJ Raval’s documentary Call Her Ganda, aGLIFF's official Opening Night selection screening on September 6 at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar. The film by director PJ Raval chronicles the killing of a transgender Filipina woman by a United States Marine and the three women who investigated the case.
Among the programming highlights is a celebratory fifth anniversary screening of Before You Know It, andshowings of Transmilitary, Anchor & Hope and Austin-based filmmaker Yen Tan's Ciao and 1985. Tan will also receive the first-ever Tribute Award on September 9 before the screening of 1985.
Other festival firsts include the North American premiere of Mater and the first Texas showing of Studio 54, a documentary about the legendary New York City nightclub.
“As aGLIFF enters our fourth decade and embraces a more inclusive name change, it’s exciting to be able to launch this year’s film festival with such an impactful and beyond timely documentary, and celebrate the careers of two amazing talents, and fixtures in the Austin film scene, as well as longtime friends to aGLIFF," said program director Jim Brunzell in a release. "Both PJ and Yen’s latest films are some of the best films I’ve seen in 2018.”
Badges for aGLIFF are on sale now and priced at $125 which includes access to all screenings, a T-shirt, VIP lounge access, and the badgeholder's name in the program. Student badges are also available for $50. The complete festival lineup will be released the week of July 23.