Reeling Film Festival Puts Out Call for Entries

By Joseph Erbentraut in Arts & Entertainment on May 7, 2010 7:30PM

Earlier this week, the fine folks at Reeling put out the call for entries for its 2010 Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival, to be held November 4th through 13th later this year. The festival, entering its twenty-ninth year is the second oldest LGBT film festival in the nation and has gained a solid reputation nationwide for the fine work it showcases. The festival typically attracts filmmakers and industry types from all over the country with its 100+ feature roster and is one of the finest annual events on the queer calendar.

The 2010 edition of Reeling is also unique in showcasing top entries from a unique screenwriting contest in its first year, care of former Bailiwick artistic director David Zak. Via his new non-profit, Pride Films and Plays, Zak has spearheaded the Great Gay Screenplay Contest, which welcomes submissions now through July 31.

With the mission of "foster[ing] excellence in screenwriting that features gay characters, history, or themes important to the gay community and relevant to the world," the contest welcomes screenwriters to submit scripts to be reviewed by a committee of stage and film professionals. The committee will select five finalists to be performed as staged readings during the Reeling festival.

Can't wait until November for some gay-centric story lines? Pride Films and Plays are also behind the Five Decades of Great Gay Plays series, which will feature five staged readings of important queer works. The series begins Sunday with a reading of Mart Crowley's The Boys in the Band at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont, at 7 p.m. In honor of Mother's Day, all moms get free admission.