Several Illinois State alumni will be featured in films planned for the Your Normal Film Festival, slated October 15 to 18, at The Normal Theatre in Uptown.
Your Normal LGBT Film Festival creates a showcase for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender stories and arts to entertain, inspire, and grow the number of Central Illinois fans and champions. Films will be shown for a cost of $7 per screening, and $5 for students with a valid ID. Each film begins at 7 p.m.
The Prairie Pride Coalition and the Normal Theater bring the 6th annual Your Normal LGBT Film Festival to town. The annual collaboration presents award-winning films that have screened at major festivals across the United States to residents of Normal, Bloomington, and the surrounding area.
The films inlcude:
Game Face – Thursday, October 15
The award-winning documentary Game Face tells the parallel story of Fallon Fox, Mixed Martial Arts first transgender pro fighter, and Terrence Clemens, a young, ambitious, and talented college basketball player in Oklahoma, who happens to be gay. NBA player Jason Collins, NFL player Wade Davis, NCAA Division 1 basketball player Kye Allums, and triathlete Chris Mosier also appear in the film.
A panel discussion will immediately follow the screening with Game Face executive producer and director, Michiel Thomas.
All About E – Friday, October 16
Beautiful, sexy e seems to have it all. A popular DJ at the top Sydney gay nightclubs, e has her pick of the girls. Matt, her flamboyant manager and best friend, makes her stunning outfits and creates a stylish home for them both. Life is sweet. Too scared to come out to her traditional migrant parents, e married Matt, a gay Irish dress designer, to give him a visa and provide cover for her sexuality.
Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party – Saturday, October 17
The film tells the tale of two teenage boys, preacher’s kid Henry Gamble and his friend Gabe, who has a sleepover the night before Henry’s 17th birthday pool party. Later that afternoon, as guests arrive–both from the church, as well as Henry’s own “secular” friends–and day turns to night, Henry carefully navigates the religious strictures and sexual secrets of his community, as do the adults and teenagers of the party, all struggling to tread the public and private, and their longing, despite themselves and their faith, for earthly love.
Tab Hunter Confidential – Sunday, October 18
The story of matinee idol Tab Hunter from teenage stable boy to closeted Hollywood star of the 1950s includes several Illinois State University alumni.
Throughout the 1950s, Tab Hunter reigned as Hollywood’s ultimate male heartthrob. In dozens of films–and in the pages of countless movie magazines–Tab’s astonishing looks and golden-boy sex appeal drove his fans to screaming, delirious frenzy, making him the prototype for all young matinee idols to come. He earned his stripes as an actor to become a major movie star and recording artist. Punctuating Tab’s on screen presence will be rare film clips and provocative interviews with friends and co-stars including John Waters, Clint Eastwood, George Takei, Debbie Reynolds, Robert Wagner, Portia de Rossi, Noah Wyle, Connie Stevens, Robert Osborne, and dozens more.
The film includes alumni Pat Healy, Francis Guinan, Nina Ganet, and casting director Jennifer Rudnicke.
More information is available at www.yournormalfilmfest.com and on Facebook at the Your Normal LGBT Film Festival page.
