qFLIX Philadelphia 2019 is proud to present our Opening Night Black & Pink Gala to be held at two fabulous venues on one spectacular night in recognition of our 25th anniversary year of bringing LGBTQ+ film festivals to the Philadelphia community.
We begin our evening on the red carpet at the Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts at 6:30 PM for the North American premiere of “From Zero to I love You,” an LGBTQ+ film shot almost entirely in Philadelphia that will be subsequently featured at the BFI Flare in London the following evening.
The Opening Night Black & Pink Gala continues with a trip up to the Observation Deck on the 57th floor of Liberty Place. We will celebrate 25 years of LGBTQ+ film festivals among the stars with a 360-degree view of the city.
(Badges to the Gala are sold separately at https://qflixgala.bpt.me)
You will enjoy a night which includes hors d'oeuvres, fancy desserts and an open bar, along with music to enjoy, and a who’s who guest list you won’t want to miss!
qFLIX Philadelphia 2019 marks the 25th LGBTQ+ film festival in the region, with the amazing film from director Doug Spearman ("Hot Guys with Guns") and staring Darryl Stephens (”Noah’s Ark,” “Boy Culture”) and Scott Bailey (“The Bay”).
Stephens plays Pete Logsdon-just a guy in Philadelphia who happens to have a history of getting involved with married men. His father, played by veteran Richard Lawson and his soon-to-be step mom Leslie Zemeckis, are on him to find someone who's actually available and to settle down. Instead, he finds a man named Jack, played by Bailey, who is fifteen years into a perfect marriage with two beautiful children and an enviable wife, Keili Lefkovitz.
Darryl Stephens will be in attendance to receive the qFLIX Philadelphia 2019 Rising Star Award.
Doug Spearman, writer/director, will be in attendance for the opening of the festival.
At a recent meeting in Philadelphia, Mr. Spearman made this statement after expressing how amazing the Greater Philadelphia Film Office was to work with during his filming: "I wanted to make a movie about the Philly that I saw since I was a kid. Being from Washington, D.C., I've been coming to Philadelphia my whole life. But it wasn't till I was here showing my first film that I really saw Philly. Saw all the beautiful side streets and the alley ways and the still thriving colonial heart of this city. I also wanted to make a film about an African American who didn't need a white savior. There are no saviors in the film. People stand and fall by their own decisions and actions in the film. Learning who you are when things fall apart is very important to me. Especially when things fall apart because of love."
And Doug did exactly that and we are so proud that this film is the Opening Night selection of qFLIX Philadelphia’s 25th anniversary year!
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Before the feature film we will be screening a short film titled “Going Forward.”
This moving film shows viewers what Election Day is like for a lower-level candidate, campaigning in a district that’s desperate for a solution. Malcolm Kenyatta, a third-generation activist from North Philadelphia, was followed from 5am to 11pm, capturing the last hours of his campaign to become a Pennsylvania State Representative in the 181st District, and to become the first openly LGBTQ+ candidate of color elected to PA’s state office.
State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta will be in attendance to receive the qFLIX Philadelphia 2019 Harvey Milk Community Service Award.
For more information of the 95+ films screening at qFLIX Philadelphia 2019; Twenty-Five Years of LGBTQ+ Films visit, http://www.qflixphilly.com