aGLIFF 2009: The Fest is Over ... Or Is It?

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aGLIFF I'm no longer an aGLIFF newbie, especially after 9 features and 13 shorts in 6 days. It's hard to pick a favorite film, so I'll list a few that are still rolling around my mind.

For comedy, the feature The Baby Formula and the short Boycrazy, along with the gut-busting documentary The Long Haul, which just happens to be made by local filmmaker Liz Welch Tirrell. For more serious fare, the Queer Youth Media Project doc,  That's So Gay, which really needs to be expanded into a feature, and the animated short Dear Dad, Love Maria. After that, it's really hard to pick even one more that is more outstanding than the rest. It was a diverse, provocative and all-around entertaining program. And I wasn't the only one who thought so, apparenlty; most of the screenings I attended were near or at capacity. 

Socially, I'm really regretting missing the centerpiece party at Frank, and the Antique-themed dessert; people were raving about it the next day. I equally regret not spending all of Saturday at the Alamo South and aGLIFF just to watch Sharon Gless entertain the crowd during the blackout.  But I didn't miss the Hannah Free Q&A, and my video is embedded after the jump. Yes, Sharon Gless loved the Alamo Drafthouse popcorn. And she answers that pesky question about her orientation.

I can't help but mention again how fun the after-party was. Like every good party, staying longer than planned usually pays off with interesting conversations with aGLIFF staffers, volunteers, members, filmmakers and everyone else with a badge, several of which are new friends. In my last two minutes, while waiting for a cab, I got my first lesson in how to salsa from someone whose name I don't even know. But it's over. Or is it?

aGLIFF has several events and initiatives in the works, one of which is the continuation of the Queer Youth Media. They'll also host an Oscar Party at the Driskill in February.  And after a successful trial, a new aGLIFF Presents series at the Alamo Ritz will include the "best of the fest" the first Sunday of the month. The October selection is Otto: Up with Dead People

Those are just highlights; some of the programs are still in development. When they're officially announced, count on Slackerwood to report it.