December 8 is Gay-La Night in the 2010 Anchorage International Film Festival, with two shorts and a feature at Bear Tooth, and an after party at Mad Myrna’s.

This year’s Gay-La program includes three films about gay men: Now and Forever, a supershort about an artist, a painting and two hearts that become one; a short narrative called Bedfellows, a modern-day spin on a fairy tale genre with two gay characters in the classic boy-meets-girl story set in New York City; and an award-winning one hour documentary Holding Hands, about Craig and Shane, a couple in Australia, who face a difficult journey to recovery after suffering a hate crime. Join AIFF for the screening and then head to Myrna’s for drinks and food.

Holding Hands won two awards at the Spokane GLBT Film Festival last month, including the audience choice award. More about Holding Hands, and the trailer:

“Craig and Shane were holding hands when they fell victim to a brutal hate crime off Sydney’s Oxford Street in 2007. The image of Craig’s shattered face on the cover of the local newspaper called Sydney’s queer community to action, and the couple were nominated leaders of the 2008 Sydney Mardi Gras Parade. The hardest year of this young couple’s lives is documented through endless surgeries, physical and psychological recovery and their struggle to plan for their future. But at its heart, Holding Hands reveals that even in the worst circumstances, we can all create positive change.”

Also screening in AIFF 2010 is Ticked-Off Trannies With Knives [link includes trailer] on Dec. 4 at Bear Tooth and on Dec. 10 at Out North. (Viewers must be 18 and older.)

“A group of transgender women are violently beaten and left for dead. After regaining their consciousness the violated vixens turn deadly divas and with their new-found confidence and courage, slice their way to vengeance. A homage to the exploitation/revenge films of the 70’s and 80’s, this film sets out to create a new and unique genre called — transploitation. Loaded with titillating dialog, bodacious bods and extreme violence, this revenge-fantasy proves that it takes more than balls to get even.”

The 2010 film festival runs December 3-16 at the Bear Tooth, Out North, Organic Oasis, Anchorage Museum, Wilda Marston Theatre and the Alaska Dispatch Hangar.

“North America’s northernmost independent film festival celebrates its 10th event by getting movie-goers out from the cold and into the illuminating glow of hot films from around the globe.”

Wednesday, December 8

Screening at Bear Tooth at 8:15 pm

After Party at Mad Myrna’s starts at 10:00 pm