The Outflix International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Festival kicks off its first night of films at 7 p.m. Friday at Malco's Ridgeway Four. The festival consists of more than 40 films that focus on the LGBTQ community.
Outflix rented two screens at the theater on Ridgeway Center Parkway. The University of Memphis Department of Communication is one of the many sponsors of the event, which ends Sept. 12.
Craig Stewart, an assistant professor in the department of communication, has attended Outflix for the last few years, and was involved in getting the department to sponsor a film in this year's festival.
"They always have a really good selection of documentaries in particular - not that the narratives aren't good, but documentaries, I think, are often a real strong suit at the festival," Stewart said.
Last year the festival broke attendance records. There were around 1,500 people total, according to Stewart.
"There's not any other sort of film festivals that are LGBT specific in the city, so I think it's an important venue for getting LGBT stories out in the community for LGBT people to see themselves on the big screen," Stewart said. "It's also for other members of the community, like straight allies, to see stories that are really focused on the LGBT community."
The Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center organizes the festival, and an individual sponsor pays for each film. The majority of the films shown are winners of several awards, and feature big name actors and directors like James Franco and Megan Mullally of "Will & Grace."
Kal Rocket, a coordinator for the youth-led Gay-Straight Alliance, is sponsoring the film "G.B.F" which can be described as an LGBT "Mean Girls," according to Stewart.
"These are brand new movies that you wouldn't be able to see in Malco theaters otherwise," Rocket said. "It makes you feel normal to see people like you in films."
Josh Edwards, the president of Stonewall Tigers, goes to the festival every year.
"It's a little aggravating when all you see are stereotypes in mainstream media," Edwards said. "Most people don't fit into those stereotypes, so it's nice to see real personifications of gay people."
Edwards said that many people would not guess that he was gay. Most people in high school just saw him as a jock.
"It's really helpful for a lot of people in their everyday lives to see true stories, or realistic fictional ones, because they can actually relate to them."
Tickets are $10 for a single pass and $90 for a festival pass. They can be purchased at the theater box office or online.
