Prairie Pride Film Festival announces inaugural program lineup

The Allies and Advocates for GLBT Equality student organization at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law, with support from UNL's LGBTQA Resource Center, has announced the lineup for the first Prairie Pride Film Festival. The festival will be Feb. 23-26 at the Joyo Theatre, 6102 Havelock Ave.

Highlighting the festival are two films that will make their Midwestern premieres Feb. 26 after success at festivals on both coasts. "A Marine Story" addresses the military ban on gays through the story of one woman. The film has been honored at numerous festivals, most notably winning Grand Jury and Audience Awards at Outfest in Los Angeles. "Undertow (Contracorriente)" is a ghost story set on the Peruvian seaside. This tale of a married fisherman struggling to reconcile his devotion to his male lover within his town's rigid traditions has been honored with 39 film festival awards including a World Cinema Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. It is also Peru's official entry for the 2011 Academy Awards.

The Prairie Pride Film Festival will open with "Heartland Transport," a short film telling the story of 17 same-sex couples who obtain their marriage licenses in Iowa, and "Out in the Silence," a story of the hardships and controversies faced by coming out in small town, rural America.

A collection of short films will be screened together Feb. 24.

"The Believers," screening Feb. 25, is a story of determination and perseverance and a look at the intricacy and diversity of spirituality and the LGBT community.

The festival will close Feb. 26 with the screening of "Undertow," followed by the Prairie Pride Gala reception at ClubBlue, 317 S. 11th St. Appetizers will be provided by a variety of great local restaurants and admission is free with a ticket stub from any festival screening.

Tickets for the festival are $5 per screening and may be purchased on the day of the show at the Joyo Theatre or before the festival at the LGBTQA Resource Center, 345 Nebraska Union, 14th and R streets (cash or check only). Sponsorship opportunities and group rates are available and donations to the festival are welcome. Contact Elsbeth Magilton or Mike Echternacht by e-mail or visit the festival's website, www.prairiepridefilmfestival.com, for trailers and more information about the screenings.