It may have a new name, and it may no longer be affiliated with Philadelphia Film Society, but in a lot of ways Q Fest 2009 is still going to be the same festival that it was 15 years ago. The Philadelphia and Gay and Lesbian Film Festival was founded with the intention to present a “rainbow” of GLBT film and video images from around the world. and that same intention exists to this day regardless of what it’s called. And it’s all still being held courtesy of TLA Entertainment Group.

The Philadelphia QFest kicks off tomorrow, July 9, with a tribute to Chad Allen, followed by a screening of Jason Bushman’s Hollywood, je t’aime, in which Allen is excellent as a pothead drug dealer who befriends a Frenchman roaming around Los Angeles.

Among the other highlights of Philadelphia’s QFest are:

* Tribute to Sharon Gless, followed by a screening of Hannah Free.
* Doris Day Day featuring a screening of Pillow Talk, Day’s first pairing with Rock Hudson, and the film that earned the actress her only Academy Award nomination. Pillow Talk will be preceded by the new German documentary What a Difference a Day Made: Doris Day Superstar, directed by Andrew Davies and André Schäfer. There will even be a special Doris Day Themed Brunch at Q BBQ that includes Doris’s own Peach Angel Food Cake, a Q specialty Bloody Maria, and a full day of Doris and Rock to go along with it.
* Panel discussions on screenwriting, Philadelphia-based filmmakers, and what’s like to be out in the film industry.
* Screenings of Julián Hernández’s Raging Sun, Raging Sky, winner of the Teddy Award for best gay-themed narrative film at the 2009 Berlin Film Festival; Lucia Puenzo’s El Niño pez, about an illicit love affair between two women; Frameline 2009 Audience Award winner Patrik, Age 1.5, about a male gay couple eager to adopt an infant but ending up with a teen thug at home; and Megan Siler and Ellen Seidler’s And Then Came Lola, set among gay women in San Francisco, and told in three different scenarios much like Run, Lola, Run.
* a special showing of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert, and a showing of the classic Grease which includes a special sing along!
* there was also a going to be a surprise screening. bu it has been revealed to be Eating Out 3 which is about the deception and partner juggling of the prior two films continues, as bombastic Tiffani and her friend Casey try to lure the gorgeous Zack with a phony online profile using the image of Tiffani’s buff ex, Ryan… which works fine until the real Ryan shows up!

But considering the fact that there’s 12 full days of festival, 100+ films being screened, special outdoor screenings, special guests, and loads of parties and events, there are plenty of more reasons to go!

Q Fest official site