A Sneak Preview of aGLIFF 2010

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The Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival -- aGLIFF -- starts tonight. Are you ready? It's going to be another year of diverse films that touch the lives of the LGBTQI community, which means just about everything that also touches the lives of everyone. Austin has some great niche festivals and the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival is no exception. I've seen some of the films and I can tell you, if you do not go, you're missing out.

For example, the Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls is a surprising documentary that is equally a music doc, a comedy, and an historical retrospective about the last three decades in New Zealand and in fact, the world. Never heard of the Topp Twins? Well, they're in the New Zealand music hall of fame, and among those talking about them is Billy Bragg. There's a little heartache and a whole lot of exuberance about two sisters who happen to be yodelling country comedian twins -- who just happen to be lesbian. aGLIFF couldn't have picked a better film to open the fest, and while the twins are in New Zealand they will be there not only in spirit, but through the wonders of technology, live on the big screen. And don't forget the opening-night party is at Annie's downtown on Congress, so hope to see you there.

The documentaries are strong, and Gen Silent is no exception, focusing on LGBT elders facing the end of their lives and still having to deal with discrimination in healthcare. Last year's A Place To Live: The Story Of Triangle Square touched on the subject with a housing project that resolves the issues, and Gen Silent brings some of those issues home, with long-term couples and others fearing the consequences of being in an environment where they have no control, and the fact that LGBT eldercare is not something long-term care facilities consider. Other documentaries include The Sons of Tennessee Williams and Freeing Bernie Baran (making its world premiere at aGLIFF), two eye-opening docs about hidden gay history. The The Real Anne Lister provides an intimate look into the life of a woman considered "the first modern lesbian," living in Yorkshire England during the Regency, and whose coded diaries were found and decoded in the latter part of the 20th century

You can also see a dramatization of part of Lister's life in the BBC biopic The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister, which will screen as part of the narrative competition. This year has a distinctly international feel, with films from seven other countries, including Germany, England, Spain, Italy, Argentina, New Zealand and Peru as well as the U.S. and Canada. Considering it's a much smaller festival than the big three in town, that's pretty impressive.

That's not to say Texas isn't representing. Former Austinite Kyle Henry's provocative short Fourplay: San Francisco is never quite what it seems throughout the entire film, and while I have a lot to say about it, I'm not going to spoil it for you. It plays with the centerpiece film, Howl. We can't dismiss Dallas if it's from way up off I-35, with perhaps the most anticipated film among the Slackerwood team, Ticked Off Trannies with Knives. We'll find out Saturday night just how ticked off those trannies are.

BearCity is this year's closing-night film, and while it's no The Big Gay Musical -- because it's not a musical -- the movie is a light-hearted rom-com (romp com?) sure to please crowds and end the fest on a high note, even without any singing. Bearcubs and Husbears and Glambears oh my!

This year kicks off the first narrative, documentary and shorts competitions for aGLIFF, which shows just how much it's grown. It also happens to mean that since aGLIFF generously honored me by asking me to sit on the Narrative film competition jury, I'm getting some help in covering the fest this year, so keep an eye out for dispatches from Don and Jette as well as me throughout the next week.

But what I'm wondering is how are they going to top their bumpers this year? "thankyouthankyou" was the first ever bumper that stayed just as funny on day five as it was the first time I saw it ("omigod!Thankyou!"). And who will be this year's favorite guests? Will we have another celeb wowing the crowds like Sharon Gless? Come to aGLIFF and find out.

aGLIFF runs September 7 through 12 at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar. For more information, go to the aGLIFF website, Twitter page or Facebook page (which has many trailers linked to it).