Festival Data:

• Established: 1987
• Genre: Gay - Lesbian (click to see)
• Attendance: 16000
• Total Number of Films Submitted: 300
• Total Number of Films Screened: 150
• Total Screenings: 70

• Competitive

Festival Website:

Festival Description:

The Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival (aGLIFF) is the oldest and largest gay and lesbian film festival in the Southwest. In its first year, the festival included only five films screened over seven evenings at the Dobie Theater. By 2000, the festival had grown to include 150 films and videos from 14 countries. In 2003, attendance reached a record-breaking 16,000! The Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival is THE largest gay and lesbian cultural event in Austin.

The festival awards The Iris Prize, an international gay and lesbian short film prize which is open to any short film which is by, for, about or of interest to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex audiences.

The winner will receive the largest prize for a gay and lesbian short film in the world - valued at $25,000. The prize, generously sponsored by Barcud Derwen and the UK post production sector, will allow the winner to make their next short film in the UK. Recognised world wide as the film-makers preferred destination the Iris Prize winner will benefit from the very best filming equipment and editing facilities available in the UK.

In addition to the annual festival, aGLIFF has been working to cultivate future talent in the film industry. In collaboration with Out Youth, aGLIFF now hosts the My Gay Movie (MGM) Challenge, which encourages novice, adult filmmakers to create a 10-minute short for exhibition and submission to other queer film festivals across the globe. Most recently we have added the Filmmaker Series, which provides upcoming, queer filmmakers an opportunity to exhibit a body of their work to raise funds for upcoming film projects.