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Gay-lesbian film fest celebrates 20 years

Published online on Monday, Sep. 14, 2009

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When Paula Durette moved to Fresno, one major reason was the Reel Pride gay and lesbian film festival.

Durette, a filmmaker, was living on the East Coast when several of her films were shown at Reel Pride festivals. When she was thinking of relocating, that experience influenced her. "I have to say, Reel Pride really put Fresno on the map for me," she says. "When I was first looking into my current job in Fresno, I remember thinking that because Fresno had a first-rate LGBT festival, it must have a pretty vibrant community."

Now Durette is a board member of Reel Pride -- and this year she has another selection in the festival, the two-minute animated short film "Numerology." (It screens at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Tower Theatre as part of the Girls' Shorts program.) We caught up with her to get her take on the 20th anniversary of the festival.

Question: What's your film about?

Answer: "Numerology" is a short, humorous animation that unveils the mysteries of lesbians through the occult arts. Without giving too much away, the numbers take on lives of their own, and those lives are very specifically lesbian.

What was the hardest thing about getting your film made?

Animation can be a very tedious process at times. You don't have quite the expense of film or coordinating as many people, but it is a long process. It can be a little isolating at times, too. With filmmaking there is more opportunity for creative input from others as you are making the piece.

What's your take on the gay-lesbian film festival circuit these days? Is it weaker or stronger than five years ago?

It is much stronger. I think we are finally getting back to the roots of what made LGBT festivals so wonderful in the first place. From what I have been seeing, the audiences are really stepping up this year. The festivals are becoming more of a community event again. A place where LGBT people can come together and feel like they are active members in creating something wonderful in spite of economic and political hardship.

And the films are very good right now. I know Fresno's Reel Pride has an amazing lineup this year. I saw a number of the films in San Francisco and was blown away.

There is beginning to be a transition from filmmakers making as many light, unchallenging "feel good" films to films that are more edgy, clever, socially important, risk-taking and just plain smart. It reminds me of queer cinema of the '90s, which I think was the best time. I am so excited about this festival.

What do you hope audiences take away from your film?

"Numerology" is a fun little animation. It plays with the various classic types of lesbians. I hope audiences have a good time of it and maybe see a little of themselves and their friends in the piece.