Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

Photos in order: Courtesy MGLFF (4); Dale Stine (3)

Story by LoAnn Halden

Let's hear it for the 10th anniversary of the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, which opened April 25 and runs through May 4. In the interest of full disclosure, I'll admit that I'm a South Florida girl and may have a slight hometown bias, but it's pretty darn impressive how far this fest has come -- any event that drags gay boys out of the gym en mass deserves props in my book.

The opening film Breakfast with Scot, a warm-n-fuzzy comedy starring Thomas Cavanagh (the TV series Ed) and Ben Shenkman (Angels in America) as unlikely gay guardians of a flamboyant young boy, made its gay filmfest debut in Miami, and could have a sitcom spinoff in its future. Watch for it to have a long life on the gay fest circuit.

      In order: Breakfast with Scot; Relax...It's Just Sex! Tru Loved.

Count on Miami for some paparazzi-friendly moments as well: Sharon Gless left her Queer As Folk frumpiness in the dust in an opening-night guest appearance; Jennifer Tilly (mercifully, without Chucky in tow) revisited Relax… It's Just Sex!; and original Project Runway winner Jay McCarroll made it work with a rooftop fashion show to support a documentary on his creations.

      In order: Jenifer Tilly; festival director Carol Coombes with Jay McCarroll; Sharon Gless.

So if you're in Florida, make a beeline for www.mglff.com, or the box offices at the Regal Cinemas (1100 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, through May 1) and Colony Theater (1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, May 2-4) where tickets are on sale for the rest of the fest. Big buzz surrounds the May 2 world premiere screening of Tru Loved, which opens with a short from our very own gay.com columnist Dennis Hensley.

And there's always next year -- plan a trip to the 11th annual festival with our Miami travel guide.