Canada Seizes Films Headed to Lesbian & Gay Film Fest

Canada’s customs officers seized three lesbian and gay-themed films enroute to Canada’s Inside Out LGBT film festival, according to Xtra.com. Officials gave no explanation for the seizure and the films will remain in custody until officials have had a chance to personally screen them for offensive content.

Director Shamim Sarif’s cross-cultural lesbian-themed comedy I Can’t Think Straight starring Lisa Ray and Sheetal Sheth, Adrian Shergold’s made-for-TV Clapham Junction, about a group of South London gay men, and Ella Lemhagen’s Patrik Age 1.5, about a gay couple who unwittingly adopt a teen thug are the films Canada’s Border Agency customs officers pulled enroute to the festival, which ends Nov. 22. All three films are Here! Media releases.

More at: SheWired.com!

Miami’s GLBT Film Fest a Financial Bust

The Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival — about $50,000 in debt — on Friday fired its flamboyant festival director, Carol Coombes.

Now, she may be deported.

”Carol is British and in 60 days she might have to leave the country,” said Harvey Burstein, a festival founder and former board member.

He said Coombes’ visa requires she be employed in the film industry and that she was to get her permanent residency or green card in November.

Coombes joined the festival in 2001 and became director a few years later. She declined to comment.

Read the rest of the story at miamiherald.com.