Celebrating its 27th anniversary, BENT-Sacramento International LGBTQ Film Festival is a spectacular community and cultural event consisting of three days of LGBTQ film, local food, beer, wine and live entertainment. BENT Film Fest takes place in October each year coinciding with the national LGBTQ History Month, an observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of gay rights.

“Why the name change? Sacramento is growing and evolving; so is the festival,” says Michael Dennis, BENT Board President. “We have updated our festival name from SIGLFF (Sacramento International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival) as the name was a bit cumbersome and the acronym was tricky to pronounce. Plus, gay and lesbian no longer encompass who we are as a community the way LGBTQ does. Why BENT? We love the various meanings of the word. BENT is not straight; BENT is queer. BENT is an inclination or natural talent. BENT is determined to do something big and bold; so are we.”

What hasn’t changed, however, is the mission of the festival to provide the community some of the best LGBTQ films each year. Six feature-length films and 18 short films will be showcased, which range from expectation-shattering, heart-wrenching, sexually fluid, to just plain steamy. Numerous filmmakers and special guests are expected to attend the Festival.

Schedule:
Friday, October 12:
-7pm: Freelancers Anonymous
-9:15pm: 1985

Saturday, October 13:
-12:30pm: Life in the Doghouse
-3:45pm: Wild Nights with Emily
-7pm: A Great Ride
-7:30pm: Dykes, Camera, Action!
-9:15pm: Saturday Night Shorts Program

Sunday, October 14:
-3pm: 50 Years of Fabulous
-6:30pm: Sunday Night Shorts Program

For the second year, BENT Audience Awards carry cash prizes for the winning filmmakers ($750 for best feature-length film and $500 for best short film). Community attendance and votes help to support LGBTQ films and filmmakers. BENT Film Fest is funded in part by Visit Sacramento through funds generated by the Sacramento Tourism Marketing District.