Films of queer
interest to compete at Sundance

The 64 titles that will screen in competition at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival were announced Monday, and several are of direct interest to gay and lesbian audiences. The documentary competition will include the world premiere of Small Town Gay Bar, directed by Malcolm Ingram (Drawing Flies), described as "a voyage to the deep South to tell a tale of the struggle for community and expression in the face of ignorance, hypocrisy, and oppression." The dramatic competition includes Puccini for Beginners, the latest from writer-director Maria Maggenti (The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love), a bisexual romantic farce starring Justin Kirk and Gretchen Mol, as well as Quinceanera, a Latino coming-of-age film from openly gay Fluffer writer-directors Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland. Titles for the Spectrum, Park City at Midnight, and Frontier sections of the festival will be announced Wednesday. (Advocate.com)