Political Animals in the City of Trees

While some city officials continue to do a lot of hand-wringing and pie-to-the-face taking over making the city “world class,” the Sacramento International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival is making that happen simply by continuing its tradition of excellence; now in its 25th year, the festival continues to up its game with a wide range of important, acclaimed films from all over the world. It takes place from Thursday, October 13, through Sunday, October 16, at the Crest Theatre (1013 K Street) and whether you’re in it for the whole shebang or just want to catch a night or two, there’s something for every film buff, LGBTQ community member and ally out there:

On Thursday at 7:30 p.m., kick things off with a screening of Political Animals, a widely acclaimed Los Angeles Film Festival-winning documentary about four lesbian legislators—Sens. Carole Migden, Christine Kehoe and Sheila Kuehl, and Rep. Jackie Goldberg—who played a pivotal role in fighting for civil rights for the LGBTQ community. Friday’s feature film is Major!, a documentary about Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a transgender activist who was incarcerated for her participation in the Stonewall riots; the screening begins at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday’s matinee programming starts off at 2 p.m. with Being 17, a feature film set in the French Pyrenees that follows two high school classmates as they work through their sexuality and complex relationship with one another. Alzheimer’s: A Love Story, a documentary short about two men who met 40 years ago, will follow. (Bring a tissue for this one; actually, one would be well advised to just tote around a box for the entirety of the festival.)

Then, for the Saturday evening programming kicking off at 7:30 p.m., Closet Monster is the feature; if you don’t come for the queer coming-of-age story (though you should), come for the talking hamster character voiced by Isabella Rossellini. Things heat up a bit for the late night programming that kicks off at 10 p.m. with a screening of Paris 05:59: Theo & Hugo, a feature about an intense love affair set in Paris. All-festival VIP passes are $70 and single-night tickets range from $10-$15. Visit http://siglff.org for more information and to buy tickets.