Community College hosts film festival
Staff Report ~ 1/27/2010

The Desperado Film Festival, a new event screening independent
gay and lesbian films from around the world, will take place Friday and Saturday at Paradise Valley Community College.
The event offers outreach to the Phoenix community with socially relevant films and discussion about gay and lesbian issues.
Festival chairman Alan East, who enjoyed attending gay and lesbian film festivals in Seattle before moving to Arizona, created Desperado when he realized there is no such event in the Valley. He collaborated with PVCC’s Office of Student Life, Center for the Performing Arts and P.R.I.D.E. student organization to host the festival on campus.
“The Desperado Film Festival’s goal is to promote education and understanding of cultural diversity on the PVCC campus and provide outreach to the GLBT community in Greater Phoenix,” says East. “These films present a wide variety of gay and lesbian issues ranging from marriage and adoption to hate crimes, but they also offer a lighthearted view of coming out and finding happiness.”
Filmmakers, actors and leaders of social change also will attend the showings to discuss
provocative subject matter. Ellen Kahn, family project director for the national Human Rights Campaign will be on hand to discuss gay marriage and California’s controversial Proposition 8.
Michael Baughman, a Yuma activist, will answer questions about his experience pressuring law enforcement to find the killer of Amancio Corrales, the victim of a 2005 hate crime.
Admission to individual films is $10 for adults and $8 for students, PVCC staff and seniors. An all‐access pass, including entry to a premier reception, costs $40. Parking is free. Tickets may be purchased at CPA Box Office noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, online at www.paradisevalley.edu/cpa or by calling 602-787-7738.