‘WERE THE WORLD MINE,’ ‘OUT AT THE WEDDING’ AND ‘MULLIGANS’ TAKE TOP PRIZES AT 10TH ANNUAL FORT WORTH GAY & LESBIAN FILM FEST

The producers of Q Cinema, Fort Worth‘s Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival are pleased to announce the winners of their annual Q Awards, including the $1,000 Dallas Voice Audience Choice Award.
The 10-day festival – held May 29-June 7 at the historic Rose Marine Theater – featured 30 films including a continental U.S. premiere, 12 Southwest premieres and five Texas premieres, along with appearances by several filmmakers, including Were the World Mine director Thomas Gustafson and stars Tanner Cohen and Nathaniel David Becker; Out at the Wedding producers Laura A. Kellam and Gina G. Goff; festival honoree Leslie Jordan with special guests Del Shores and Jason Dottley; Mulligans director Chip Hale and writer/star Charlie David and many more.
All of the awards were chosen based on program committee panel reviews and audience ratings. And the winners are . . .

BEST OVERALL FILM

Were the World Mine, directed by Thomas Gustafson

For the first time, this year’s Best Overall Film winner will take home a check for $500 and we couldn’t think of a more deserving picture than this first-time feature about an all-boys school intoxicated by a love potion of Shakespearean proportions. This musical fantasia is a gorgeous fairy tale of beautiful boys, infectious musical numbers and a whole lot of heart.


BEST GAY FILM

Mulligans, directed by Chip Hale

The story of a father falling for his son’s college buddy was buoyed by strong performances, beautiful cinematography and impressive writing by one of the film’s stars, Charlie David.


BEST LESBIAN FILM

Out at the Wedding, directed by Lee Friedlander

Offering a heavy dose of farce, frolic and fun, the film follows a would-be bride mistaken for a lesbian who decides to keep up the charade rather than tell her conservative parents that she’s marrying a black man. It’s a screwball take on modern love with engaging performances and lots of laughs.


BEST DOCUMENTARY

Sex Positive, directed by Daryl Wein

This story of a forgotten AIDS activist whose unpopular message of safe sex and a slow-down made the story of Richard Berkowitz an obvious standout among this year’s docs.

BEST DRAMATIC SHORT FILM (WOMEN’S)

The Touch, directed by Jane Clark

The judges were impressed with a both touching and heart-breaking period drama about two women from different cultures and backgrounds whose love for one another enabled them to cross all boundaries, even if it were only through the written word.

BEST DRAMATIC SHORT FILM (MEN’S)

Dolls, directed by Randy Caspersen

A teenage boy’s attachment to a pair of dolls prompts in unexpected and uncomfortable confrontation with his mom in this aching tale of youth on the edge of cusp of coming out.

BEST COMEDIC SHORT FILM (WOMEN’S)

Operated by Invisible Hands, directed by Nicole Brending

The banter between a pair of antique dolls sharing an awkward confrontation after a one-night stand makes for a very funny and surprisingly real story of the morning after.

BEST COMEDIC SHORT FILM (MEN’S)

Daddy’s Big Girl, directed by Reid Waterer

Poignant but very funny father-and-daughter story about an overweight girl and her newly out-of-the-closet dad trying to figure out how to fit into each others’ lives. Nicely acted, this edgy comedy sneaks up on you with its dark humor and heartfelt moments.


SHAWN A. MOORE PRIZE

Ciao, directed by Yen Tan

Every year, Q Cinema strives to support the work of Metroplex and Texas filmmakers with this special award (and $500 cash prize) given to films generated in the Lone Star State. This award is named after Q Cinema founder Shawn A. Moore. This year’s winner was filmed in Dallas by a long-time friend of the fest. His powerful meditation on the loss of a friend and how it affects and connects the lives of two strangers was this year’s quiet surprise.


DALLAS VOICE AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD

Mulligans, directed by Chip Hale

Our long-time sponsor the Dallas Voice came to us last year with the proposal of offering a $1,000 cash prize to the film chosen by the audiences themselves as this year’s favorite. Audiences filled out ballots throughout the festival and the people named our Best Gay Film winner as Q Cinema’s biggest crowd-pleaser.

Last year's award winners included The Gymnast (Best Overall Feature), A Four Letter Word (Best Gay Feature), Itty Bitty Titty Committee (Best Lesbian Feature), Straight Into Gay America (Best Documentary), Team Queen (Best Music Video), Division III (Best Gay Comedy Short), The Incredible Dyke (Best Lesbian Comedy Short), Solace and Signage (Best Gay Dramatic Shorts), Flowers at the Park (Best Lesbian Dramatic Short), Truths & Transformations (The Shawn A. Moore Prize) and Laughing Matters ... The Men (Dallas Voice Audience Choice Award).