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ABOUT QFEST The story of QFest begins in 1996, when a group of maverick arts organizations collaborated and created The First Annual Houston Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, better know as The HGLFF. Inaugurated by Loris Bradley of DiverseWorks, Liz Empleton of Rice Cinema, Sarah Gish of Landmark Theatres, and Marian Luntz of The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, The HGLFF would soon grow to include Steve Buck of The Angelika Film Center and Andrea Grover of The Aurora Picture Show. In its early years as a multi-venue annual event, The Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP) served as the festival’s non-profit fiscal sponsor. The first co-presidents of the HGLFF were Gudrun Klein and Andrew Edmonson, followed by Margaret Zigman and Ernie Manouse. In 2005, Margaret Zigman would become the festival’s first solo President. In 2006, the festival’s tenth anniversary, The HGLFF launched its most pivotal year. The HGLFF consolidated into an independent not-for-profit entity. With consolidation came new leadership. Rob Arcos, formerly of Landmark Theatres, was named Festival Director and Kristian Salinas was named Program Director. Now in charge of its own programming, the festival no longer exhibited programs at multiple venues over a two week period; instead, the festival was condensed into a single location over one weekend. The changes were risky, but brought about dynamic growth, allowing for some of the biggest hits in the festival’s history: Ash Christian’s Fat Girls, Carlos Portugal’s award-winning East Side Story, Andrea Meyerson’s Laughing Matters…More!, and the Spanish comedy Reinas. The growth of 2006 inspired a whole new direction for 2007. Led by new Executive Director Kristian Salinas, The HGLFF’s 11th year is being inaugurated with a dramatic name change to reflect this new energy - QFest 2007: The 11th Annual Houston Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival. The festival’s new name ushers in a new concept, one devoted not only to film, but also to art and music, refracted through a Queer prism. Inspired by the spirit of our maverick founders, QFest aims to be a vanguard for all things Queer: both an incomparable event for the community, and an inspiring experience to be shared by all. MISSION STATEMENT |
c/o DiverseWorks
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| QFEST STAFF |
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KRISTIAN SALINAS, Executive Director Kristian’s involvement with QFest dates back to 1997, where he served on the Festival’s first Advisory Committee. An RTF graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, Kristian has worked just about every facet within the arts and entertainment industry. Best-known to fellow Houstonians as the Program Director of the venerable Rice Cinema, Kristian also worked with MFAH Films, Landmark Theatres, SWAMP, Reinhart Marketing, and The Angelika Film Center. Now based in Los Angeles, Kristian was Senior Programmer for Outfest 2003: The 21st Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. He currently enjoys a freelance career as a writer and online marketing guru. |
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| QFEST BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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MICHAEL DeVOLL |
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| DENNIS DRAPER Now serving his third year as a member of the QFest board, Dennis Draper is a vital presence at the festival, managing our box office, recruiting volunteers, and overseeing our opening and closing night events. In addition to being an avid movie watcher, Dennis plays an active role in the community, serving on the boards of The P-FLAG/HATCH Youth Scholarship Foundation, as well as Unhinged Productions, a local GLBT-theatre company. During his regular business hours, Dennis is the Events & Operations Coordinator for the Alley Theatre. |
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| ELIZABETH McLANE, BOARD PRESIDENT | |
| PETE MUNOZ |
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SIXTO WAGAN At five years, Sixto Wagan is the longest serving member of the QFest board. Co-Executive Director and Performing Arts Curator for DiverseWorks Artspace, Sixto has focused attention on the commissioning and development of new work from nationally recognized mid-career and emerging artists. Prior to his association with DiverseWorks, Wagan taught inner-city public high school and co-founded The Queer Artists Collective – a multi-gendered, multi-ethnic performing arts collective. A former member of the National Performance Network Board of Directors, Wagan currently serves as a Hub Site Representative to the National Dance Project, is a Dance Down Under Ambassador, a partner in FUSED (French – US Exchange for Dance) and the Contemporary Art Centers consortium, and is on the Advisory Board for the Texan French Alliance for the Arts, an organization created to celebrate French culture in Houston. |
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| ©2007-2011, QFest. All Rights Reserved. 1117 E. Freeway, Houston, TX 77002-1108 | info@q-fest.org |