Closing Night Gala and Awards Party

Closing Night Gala and Awards Party 7:30 PM Screening at the Gusman Center 10:00 PM Festival Awards Party at the swank and beautiful Miami City Club, 200 South Biscayne Boulevard, only a few blocks from the Gusman Center. With fabulous 55th floor panoramic views of the entire county, this promises to be our most fantastic and classy closing night event ever. Enjoy the wonderful international cuisine of the City Club's own in-house chefs and cocktails courtesy of Southern Wine & Spirits, as we end ten film-filled days and nights. Come celebrate with Festival film directors and other special guests as we announce the 4th Annual Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Awards.

From the Stonewall riots to the AIDS epidemic, from Anita Bryant to Ronald Reagan, this on-again-off-again love story unfolds against two remarkable decades of gay history. The interplay of fictional romance and real-life historical events lights up the film, and first-time director Miles Swain carries it off with exuberant energy and style.

The Trip begins back in 1973 Los Angeles, a time when its two college-age protagonists couldn't be further apart. Tommy (the adorably blonde Steve Braun) is a "radical homosexual" activist and Alan (Larry Sullivan, one of Will's boyfriends on Will & Grace) is a "straight" diehard Nixon Republican. They meet-cute at a party held at the mansion of a closet-case mogul that, to Alan's shock, transforms itself into a drug-laced orgy. A first dinner "date" transcends the slapstick identity confusion that ensues between the two and Alan's faux-hippie girlfriend; indeed, their blossoming friendship - and yes, eventual romance - is handled with a very real blend of awkwardness and humor.

Alan's coming out troubles are compounded by his ultra-conservative dad and prying floozy mom (camp goddess and former Bond-girl Jill St. John), not to mention the fact that his soon-to-be-published first book is a right-wing anti-gay diatribe. Four years later, the now ex-girlfriend has become an aerobics-fanatic (same idea, different fad), Tommy's best friend (gay indie fave Alexis Arquette) is still prowling the bushes, and Tommy himself is still working his causes, but the tender center of it all is the sweet affection these two have found. When the scheming actions of the fictional closet-case mogul and the oh-too-real queen of hate herself, Anita Bryant, bring things to a head, it's hard to see how true love can survive.

Like life itself, The Trip blends tragedy and farce, fantasy and reality. Added to the mix are excerpts of actual news footage, a great soundtrack of 70s and 80s classics, wonderful "period" outfits, and quirky cameos from gay politico David Mixner and the ever-funny Julie Brown. This is a trip through time and love that's well worth taking.

Director Miles Swain, and actors Larry Sullivan and Steve Braun, will attend the screening and discuss the film with the audience.

$50 Ticket includes film and post-screening Festival Awards Party

$25 Film screening only

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