San Diego's LGBT Film Festival celebrates 20th year

San Diego’s LGBT Film Festival celebrates 20th year

San Diego Union-Tribune

May 31, 2018 6 AM PT

San Diego’s LGBT Film Festival celebrates a milestone this year when it opens the four-day event with its opening-night screening of “Ideal Home,” the Andrew Fleming-directed film starring Steve Coogan and Paul Rudd.

Presented by FilmOut San Diego, the annual LGBT Film Festival turns 20 this year, and the stellar film lineup reflects the significance of the occasion.

“Ideal Home” is making its West Coast premiere in San Diego at the Sunset Temple across the street from The Observatory North Park.

The festival will showcase shorts and feature-length films from all over the world, including the Netherlands, Portugal, Israel, Belgium, Switzerland and the United States.

The festival will close with “Anything,” a film directed by Timothy McNeil and starring Matt Bomer.

The Paul Detwiler-directed documentary “San Diego’s Gay Bar History” makes its world premiere Sunday.

Many of the film screenings will be followed by Q-and-As with filmmakers and cast members.

20th Annual LGBT Film Festival

When: June 7-10

Where: The Observatory North Park, 2891 University Ave., San Diego

Tickets: $10 per screening, except for opening night film screening and party, $50; and closing night film screening and party, $25. VIP all-access: $150

Online: filmoutsandiego.com

Twitter: @outdoorlivingsd

michael.rocha@sduniontribune.com

Arts | Culture

Michael James Rocha

Michael James Rocha is the digital creative director at the Union-Tribune. He oversees the online presentation of Union-Tribune stories online and has oversight of the photo and graphics teams. Most recently, he was the arts and entertainment editor. During his tenure, the Union-Tribune’s Sunday arts section was named the best in the nation two years in a row (2021 and 2022). Michael started his career at the Union-Tribune in December 1997 as a features page designer. He eventually became the features design editor, managing a staff of 15 designers and 17 features sections. Through the years, he has done stints as the front page designer, audience development editor and home decor editor. He previously wrote a monthly column on outdoor living, which focused on outdoor decor. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications (with an emphasis on print journalism) from California State University-Fullerton in 1994. He is a founding member of the Asian American Journalists Association’s San Diego chapter, and he has taught magazine writing, editing and design at Point Loma Nazarene University. He also loves dogs.