Fabulous Independent Film Festival celebrates diversity

Anthony Paull, a gay filmmaker and writer from Sarasota, looks forward to the day when there is no need for a film festival devoted to LGBT (lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender) films.

"Leave it on the Floor," is one of the featured films at the first Fabulous Independent Film Festival.

"I want us to focus more on the stories and not just the gay aspect," said Paull, whose short music video about a local band called MeteorEYES will be part of the Fabulous Independent Film Festival. "A lot of people still have the mentality that if there's a gay character, it's a gay film. I want to get away from that and just focus on a good story that may have a few gay characters in it."

Magida Diouri, the organizer for the festival, agreed. In fact, it's the very reason why she avoided using LGBT in the title for the event, which will showcase four feature-length and three short films from the LGBT community.

"It's really just a celebration of diversity," said Diouri, the former art director for the Sarasota Film Society. "And to bring together many people, because the LGBT community, like any community, is very diverse."

When, for the first time in several years, the Sarasota Film Society, Lakewood Ranch Cinemas and Burns Court Cinemas decided not to present an LGBT-oriented festival, Diouri decided, "it needs to be done," and took the reins into her own hands.

That was in June and the Belgian-born artist has been scrambling ever since to pull together the schedule for the one-day-only event. Her agenda? Make it entertaining, and appealing to anyone.

"I chose a lighter approach to selecting the films," she said. "So, while there is a good representation in that you have all kinds of lifestyles represented, it is also lighter fare, very fun films. In these times, I opted for that."

Paull applauded Diouri's approach.

"She didn't want to alienate straight people from being part of the festival," he said. "So there's flavors of gayness, but there's really no gay-centered characters. She wanted to get away from that because she didn't want heterosexuals to feel not included."

The features lineup includes "eCupid," a romantic comedy featuring Morgan Fairchild; "Leave It on the Floor," an independent musical set in the contemporary ball culture of Los Angeles; "Leading Ladies," about queer dance champions and starring Benji Schwimmer, a former guest artist on "Dancing with the Stars;" and "Mangus," a campy comedy featuring Heather Matarazzo and Jennifer Coolidge.

Besides "MeteroEYES," which Paull describes as "sexy and flirty, but with a creepy factor," shorts include "Baby Cake," from Australia and "52," a Canadian film starring Scott Thompson.

Diouri's company, Broken Rules Productions, is producing the event in association with Sarasota Pride, a local nonprofit LGBT organization which will benefit from any proceeds.

When asked what she hoped people would come away from the festival with, Diouri replied simply.

"A smile," she said. "That's pretty much it. I'm asking $8 for a smile."

As for Paull, he hopes the festival is a a step toward assuring the days of segregating LFGBT films are over.

"We're getting to the point where having a separate festival is archaic," he said.

"We need film festivals that embrace everything. We want everyone there because these are good films and we want it to be about the whole community."

PREVIEW: The Fabulous Independent Film Festival, at Florida State Theatre's Gompertz Theatre, 1247 First St. Screenings from 2-10 p.m. Aug. 27. Tickets $8 each. After-party from 10:15 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Selva Grill, 1345 Main St. For complete schedule, movie descriptions and advanced tickets, go to www.fabulousiff.com.