Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
www.mglff.com
After seven seasons, the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival has established itself as one of the hottest, best-programmed and most entertaining gay and lesbian film festivals in the country, challenging the holy trinity of New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco for supremacy. This year, attendance was up 20 percent, and the event featured a glitzy opening-night party at the Bank of America Sky Lobby and a career salute to queer cinema pioneer Gregg Araki. One weekend of the annual festival takes place in Fort Lauderdale at Cinema Paradiso. Co-directors Jaie Laplante and Carol Coombes have found the right formula to bring together the gay community for spirited viewing and even livelier afterparties. The 2006 festival will take place April 21-30.