Cinema Diverse 2018: Celebrating 20 Years of LGBTQ+ Cinema in Palm Springs

From September 20-23, 2018, Cinema Diverse marks its second decade at The Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs. Recently revitalized as part of the Palm Springs Cultural Center, the venue features elegant updates, including crisp black-and-white photos of its iconic 1967 facade. Retaining its boutique art-house charm, complete with a full bar and restaurant atop a spiral staircase, Cinema Diverse kicks off another exciting festival under refreshed lighting.

As LGBTQ+ identities evolve—with some embracing "QUEER" for its inclusivity and others rejecting its painful history—the festival's films reflect this diversity. That's the essence of Cinema Diverse's name and mission.

Queer film festivals carry a unique responsibility due to their identity focus. Diverse audiences seek rare on-screen reflections of themselves. Cinema Diverse succeeds by showcasing shared struggles of self-acceptance that unite the community as 'other' yet not alone. These events define gay culture, fuel activism, and highlight progress and setbacks for attendees.

In 2018, the community rallies around milestones: the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, San Francisco's 50th Imperial Court, 50 years of Gay Pride marches, The Advocate magazine, and nearly 50 years since Boston women established a enduring women's center at Harvard.

Gay and lesbian film festivals didn't exist 50 years ago. San Francisco's Frameline, the world's first LGBTQ+ festival, debuted 41 years prior in 1977. This year, compelling documentaries on iconic gay stories reignite the circuit.

Cinema Diverse welcomes returning filmmakers with their third, fourth, or fifth projects. Loyal attendees witness the evolution of top queer talents, especially Californians who premiere, screen, and even shoot in the Greater Palm Springs desert.

With about 45 films over four days, director Michael Green curates inclusively. "The challenge is always having more great films than slots," Green notes. "This year's diversity in subject matter is astounding, with LGBTQ+ filmmakers pushing creative boundaries."

Global festival trends shift: 1980s-90s focused on HIV/AIDS; later on rights, marriage, and family. Recently, trans stories surged; now, youth rejecting gender norms (without transitioning), bisexual narratives, and polyamory among 20- and 30-somethings gain traction.

Short film compilations—guys', gals', trans, and mixed—are perennial favorites, spotlighting emerging artists, experiments, and web-to-screen transitions.

An all-access pass guarantees learning, feeling inspired, and occasional bewilderment.

Camelot Theatres at the Palm Springs Cultural Center is at 2300 E Baristo Rd. Buy tickets online at CinemaDiverse.org or at the door (if available). All-Access Passes are $159, covering all screenings and after-parties. Event: Sept. 20-23, 2018.

_{*Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer, Questioning, Asexual, Allies, Intersex, and 2-Spirited.}