New Board Member: Carl Spence

Carl Spence was appointed to the GSBA Board of Directors at the February meeting.

Carl is the Artistic & Co-Director of SIFF (organizers of the Seattle International Film Festival, SIFF Cinema, and SIFF Education) and has been curating film exhibitions, festivals and live events for more than 20 years. Carl also consults with the Palm Springs International Film Festival as their lead programmer and recently co-founded the Orcas Island Film Festival.

"I'm excited to join the GSBA board to become better connected with the community in Seattle as well as be part of the positive advocacy and support that the GSBA provides for future leaders as well as the community at large. Participating as a GSBA board member is a great opportunity for SIFF to be more closely connected to community with our recent addition of the Egyptian Theatre on Capitol Hill along with the purchase of the Uptown Cinemas on lower Queen Anne, in addition to producing the largest and best-attended film festival in the United States."

The Largest Film Festival in North America Returns May 20

The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) wants you to know about 20 stand-out LGBT focused films in this year's line-up. SJFF, the largest and most highly-attended film festival in the United States begins its run on May 20.

There are some real gems including The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls, a documentary about yodeling lesbian twins; Howl, featuring James Franco as poet laureate of the Beat generation Allen Ginsberg; William S. Burroughs: A Man Within, a stylish investigation into the fascinating life of the legendary beat author; I Killed My Mother, a corrosive and ultimately touching drama about a gay teen’s embattled relationship with his manipulative mother; and 8: The Mormon Proposition, a documentary that unravels the truth of the Mormon Church’s movement to stop equal rights for LGBT citizens through California’s Proposition 8. Violet Tendencies will be presented at the annual Gay-La Extravaganza at the Egyptian, with a party to follow. Our short film package “From Boys to Men” is gay life in all its twists and turns, from Thailand to 1950s Queens, from heated back alley chases to modern fairy tales.

SIFF runs May 20-June 13 at various location in Seattle. To see the complete Festival line-up and find out more, please visit www.siff.net.