Festival Passes have sold out, but single tickets remain for The 8th Annual Dayton LGBT Film Festival – scheduled for Oct. 11, 12 & 13 at THE NEON in Downtown Dayton.

The exciting weekend will kick off on Friday, October 11 at 7:30 with G.B.F. – sponsored by Square One Salon & Spa. From the maker of JAWBREAKER comes another hysterical satire of high school clique culture – this time focusing on the latest fashion accessory – the G.B.F. (Gay Best Friend). Attendees will be invited to the Opening Night Party at CADC on the corner of East 4th and St. Clair – where they’ll be greeted with complimentary appetizers from Roost Modern Italian and live music by Sandy & Michael Bashaw. The opening night party is sponsored by Sue Spiegel and Lisa Hanauer.

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On Saturday, the films will continue at 1:00 with BRIDEGROOM – sponsored by PFLAG Dayton. This touching documentary recounts a romance between a young couple…and how one man was forbidden from attending the funeral of his lover. (This documentary started as a youtube video called “It Could Happen To You” – which has attracted close to 4 million viewers.)

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Always a festival favorite, at 3:00, TOP DRAWER SHORTS will showcase the latest and best in short films from across the country and around the world. This program is sponsored by The Human Race Theatre Company’s production of “Torch Song Trilogy.” Below is the trailer for DIK.

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REACHING FOR THE MOON, a beautiful period piece, chronicles the long-lasting love affair between poet Elizabeth Bishop and architect Lota de Macedo Soares. This film has won numerous audience awards and has played at prestigious film festivals around the world. It is sponsored by The Greater Dayton LGBT Center and starts at 7:15 on Saturday evening.

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Later on Saturday night, the festival will play a fresh and fun documentary about the cult legend and John Waters favorite – I AM DIVINE. Sponsored by MJ’s Café & Johnny, this film will begin at 9:45.

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On Sunday afternoon, the festival will continue with THE NEW BLACK at 3:00. This film, sponsored by The Miami Valley Fair Housing Association, tells the story of how the African-American community is grappling with the gay rights issue in light of the recent gay marriage movement and the fight over civil rights…and it has a local connection. Steve Bognar of Yellow Springs shot a portion of this film!

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The closing film – THE HAPPY SAD – will screen on Sunday, October 13 at 5:15. In the age of polyamory and blurred lines of sexuality, what really makes for a happy relationship? Two young couples in New York – one black and gay, one white and heterosexual – find themselves intertwined as they create new relationship norms, explore sexual identity, and redefine monogamy in this captivating new film directed by Rodney Evens (Brother to Brother). Sponsored by Marion’s Piazza, this wonderful film has been playing at film festivals all summer.

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In addition to a line-up of critically acclaimed new films from across the country and around the world, this year’s movie-goers will be treated introductions and Q&A’s from at least two visiting filmmakers.

Darren Stein, director of the Opening Night Film G.B.F., will be flying in from Los Angeles. Last week, G.B.F. screened in Atlanta, and he’ll be off to Austin after the Dayton premiere. In addition to film and television work in California, one of Stein’s well-known films, JAWBREAKER, is currently being turned into a musical in NYC.

Guy Shalem, the award-winning director of the short film SOMETHING REAL, will also attend the festival. SOMETHING REAL is a celebrity packed short with a musical twist about today’s contemporary bar scene. The film marks Shalem’s first collaboration with Tony award winning composer and lyricist Jeff Marx (AVENUE Q) and 5-time Grammy-award winning producer, composer and lyricist, Mervyn Warren. Shalem has heard great things about the film community in Dayton, and he’s excited to get to town.

The Dayton LGBT Film Festival wishes to extend a special thanks to AIDS Resource Center Ohio for their sponsorship and assistance in bringing these filmmakers to town. Additional sponsors include Ken Byers, Kurt Fleagle & Warren Riffle, and Chase Whiteside.

The Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Festival presents films that have thematic ties to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community – stories that aren’t often represented or celebrated in mainstream media. This year’s selections were picked from over 100 films, and though many of these films will not find mainstream distribution, they are strong pieces of work that merit being seen by a wider audience. The festival encourages film lovers from around the Miami Valley to support these strong films.

Single tickets – just $8 each – are moving fast.

THE NEON is located at 130 E. 5th Street in downtown Dayton. For more information about the festival, including full descriptions, links to official sites & trailers, and ticketing details, please visit www.daytonlgbt.com.