Come help us celebrate the second year of CINEMA DIVERSE! We’re planning an amazing Festival, including features, documentaries and shorts that showcase the best in LGBT filmmaking. This year’s festival takes place from Thursday,September 24 through Sunday, Saptember 27, 2009.

All film screenings will take place at the Camelot Theatres, 2300 E. Baristo Road in Palm Springs. For more information about Camelot Theaters, visit:

Camelot Theatres

Tickets and passes are on sale now, and may be purchased at the Camelot box office or by calling 760-325-6565.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 6:00pm
THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT (Jack Gold, 1975, UK, 78 Minutes)

"Never keep up with the Joneses. Drag them down to your level. It's cheaper" -- Quentin Crisp

THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT created a furor in 1975 when it premiered on PBS in North America with both viewers and sponsors threatening to yank their support. It was a film ahead of its time about a man even more ahead of his time. Despite the uproar, the film remained on the air and garnered strong critical acclaim, Emmy Award nominations and a Best Actor British Television Academy Award for John Hurt's extraordinary performance.

THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT is based on the autobiography of Quentin Crisp, a man struggling to live an openly gay, flamboyant lifestyle during a time when homosexuality was against the law in Britain. Mr. Crisp's outlandish behavior shocked the intolerant pre-WWII British society and provoked frequent homophobic attacks, but Crisp staunchly refused to compromise his lifestyle and went on to become a cult celebrity and an international gay icon, a 20th-Century Oscar Wilde.

Some thirty four years after its television premiere, THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT still remains bold and original. In fact, it is a uniquely adult "coming of age" tale which perfectly balances itself with humor and tragedy.

7:20pm -- 10-15 Minute Intermission

7:30pm AN ENGLISHMAN IN NEW YORK (74 Minutes) DIRECTOR: Richard Laxton

Outspoken, outlandish and utterly unwilling to conform, legendary Quentin Crisp’s tale is the tale of homosexuality in the 20th century. Commonly accepted as the first “out” man in Britain, Crisp’s 1968 biography inspired the 1975 award-winning TV film The Naked Civil Servant, starring John Hurt. But when it comes to the flamboyant performer and king of social commentary, one film could never have been sufficient.
An Englishman in New York (starring Hurt in a reprisal of the role) chronicles the latter third of the icon’s life. Where The Naked Civil Servant was about Quentin’s going against the heterosexual grain in the UK, Englishman is the converse, a moving tale about a man who still refuses to follow the rules, even within the budding gay culture of the 1970s and ’80s in New York.

Britain’s most famous homosexual sashays stateside with the help of Manhattan agent Connie Clausen (the always amazing Swoosie Kurtz), who gets Quentin resident alien status based on his “unique qualities.” Along the way, Connie finds Quentin a film review gig at The Village Voice and highly entertaining friendships are formed with New York’s bohemian set, played by Denis O’Hare, Jonathan Tucker (who played Tilda Swinton’s gay son in The Deep End), and Sex and the City’s Cynthia Nixon. He quickly becomes the toast of New York society and a fixture on the champagne and peanuts circuit, and Quentin’s 1981 one-man-show “How to Be Happy” delights ever-more-mainstream audiences. Loose lips get Quentin in a pickle, but this time with the gays.

Ninety-year-old Quentin’s final jaunt with theater brings this intelligent and entertaining biopic to a close, as new audiences experience the joy of Quentin Crisp for the first time.

8:50pm Exit Theatre

9:00pm After Party

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

1:30PM SHORT Selection: MOTHER KNOWS BEST (Iceland, 2009, 24 Minutes, Dir. Bardi Gudmundsson)
A young man's overbearing single, selfish mother seems determined to ruin all of his relationships, until one fine day...
1:30PM PATRIK, AGE 1.5 PATRIK, AGE 1.5 (Sweden, 2008, 100 minutes, Dir. Ella Lemhagen)
Delightful comedy of errors about two gay dads whose dream of starting a family turns into a nightmare when a mistake is made and their adoption of a cute little "baby boy" arrives in the form of an embittered homophobic 15-year-old juvenile delinquent named Patrik.

4:30PM SHORT Selection: BREATH (Netherlands, 2008, 8 Minutes, Dir. Margien Rogaar)
First passions of a boy blossom during a summer swim with a family friend.

4:30PM GIVE ME YOUR HAND (France, 2009, 80 Minutes, Dir. Pascal-Alex Vincent)
Startlingly original, sexy and often times obscure tale of twin brothers (Alexandre Carril and Victor Carril) who experience a severe onslaught of sibling rivalry and the emergence of their repressed sexual egos while on the road from France to Spain to attend their mother's funeral.

7:30PM PORNOGRAPHY: A THRILLER (USA, 2009, 113 Minutes, Dir. David Kittredge)
Trippy, psychological creep-show about a gay porn star who mysteriously vanished after deciding to leave the business at the height of his fame in 1995 and a young New York writer who becomes obsessed with investigating the circumstances of the model's strange disappearance some 14 years later.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

9:30AM SHORT Selection: A DAY AT THE BEACH (USA, 2008, 3 Minutes, Dir. Veronique Courtois)
Brad and Sally get more than they expected when they go to the beach on a beautiful sunny day.

9:30AM OUT OF THE BLUE (France, 2007, 95 Minutes, Dir. Alain Tasma)
Endearing, beautifully acted, DESERT HEARTS inspired tale of a middle-aged mother and wife (the lovely Mireille Perrier) who leaves her husband only to find an unrealized inner life when she encounters a beautiful, independent, free spirit dancer named Claude (Rachida Brakni).

1:30PM SHORT Selection: DOOR PRIZE (USA, 2009, 7 Minutes, Dir. Zsa Zsa Gershick)
Palm Springs favorite Beth Grant (SORDID LIVES) stars in this brief, funny tale of the unexpected emotional awakenings that find one woman while waiting in line for a restaurant bathroom.

1:30PM A PLACE TO LIVE: THE STORY OF TRIANGLE SQUARE (Centerpiece Documentary Film) (USA, 2008, 84 Minutes, Dir. Carolyn Coal) -- DOCUMENTARY CENTERPIECE FILM
Outrageously entertaining, inspiring and highly moving documentary which chronicles the journey of seven brave individuals as they attempt to secure a home in Triangle Square, Hollywood, the nation's first affordable housing project for LGBT seniors. "Best Documentary Award Winner" at Los Angeles's OUTFEST.

4:30PM SHORT Selection: JACKSON PARISH (USA, 2009, 13 Minutes, Edward McDonald)
A handsome young man, living a successful and privileged life far away from his deep southern roots, runs head on into the complex truths of his own life when he returns to his family home for a funeral.
4:30PM RIVERS WASH OVER ME (Centerpiece Dramatic Film) (USA, 2009, 89 Minutes, Dir. John G. Young) -- DRAMATIC CENTERPIECE FILM
Emotionally rigorous, brave account of an intelligent 15-year-old who is forced to relocate from New York City to live with his extended family in rural North Carolina where he chooses to continue to live an open life in a community where sexual, racial and class conflicts rage.

7:30PM SHORT Selection: TWOYOUNGMEN, UT (USA, 2009, 17 Minutes, Dir. Sam McConnell)
A strange, haunting and emotionally surprising road trip begins for a High School senior when he gets caught with a bad fake ID in Salt Lake City’s only gay bar and a cute bartender invites him to a clandestine party.

7:30PM LUCKY BASTARD (USA, 2009, 95 Minutes, Dir. Everett Lewis)
Dark, highly provocative noir tale of a young architect whose carefully designed life spirals out of control after he is picked up by a gorgeous hustler. This twisted, complex, highly sexual come-on of a film is the latest creation from Sundance Prize winning director Everett Lewis (NATURAL HISTORY OF PARKING LOTS, SKIN AND BONE, LUSTER.)

9:00 PM After Party at Club Confession

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

1:30PM SHORT Selection: MAKE A MATE (USA, 2009, 4 Minutes, Dir. Jennifer Jordan Day)
A lonely woman finds a magical shop where she can choose the ingredients to make a mate in this charming animated film.

1:30PM DROOL (USA, 2009, 86 Minutes, Dir. Nancy Kissam)
A deadpan Southern family gets a radical makeover when a colorful, free-spirit, Kathy K. Cosmetics saleswoman enters their gothic world to liberate some, inspire others and teach all the glories of purple eye shadow. Gorgeous Laura Harring (David Lynch’s MULHOLLAND DRIVE) and sexy Jill Marie Jones (TV’s "Girlfriends") star.

4:30PM SHORT Selection: ONE DAY IN MAY (USA, 2009, 20 minutes, Dir. Amir Jaffer)
May 26, 2009: Emotions run high as people await the California Supreme Court decision regarding the validity of Proposition 8 and the ruling on Marriage Equality.

4:30PM THE BUTCH FACTOR (USA, 2009, 88 Minutes, Dir. Christopher Hines) -- SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PREMIERE!
Fast paced and revealing documentary which investigates the complex and intertwining nature of masculinity and homosexuality from the point of view a cross-section of jocks, queens, clones, Bears and gym rats who open up a healthy (and hot) discussion of what it means to be gay and a man.

7:30PM SHORT Selection: STEELING MAGNOLIAS (USA, 2009, 3 Minutes, Dir. The Vasco Brothers)
A handsome cable guy has secret passions for much more than just his job.

7:30PM HOLLYWOOD, JE T'AIME (USA, 2009, 95 Minutes, Dir. Jason Bushman) CLOSING NIGHT PRESENTATION
Delightful, charming and hugely entertaining laugh riot about a romantic Frenchman who, when burned by love, escapes the gorgeous black and white reality of his cherished Paris for the strange neon glare of the City of Angeles. A sweet, surprising, fish-out-of-water story that ultimately becomes one of the funniest satires of the absurdities of the low-level Hollywood showbiz world ever! Adorable Eric Debets and handsome gay icon Chad Allen (SAVE ME, 2008 Cinema Diverse Closing Night Film) star. From the makers of KISSING JESSICA STEIN

The Palm Springs Cultural Center presents a wide variety of events and programs throughout the year, designed to encourage the development of the Cultural Arts in the Coachella Valley. These include:

Certified Farmers' Markets. Discover the freshest and best locally grown produce every Saturday in Palm Springs, every Sunday in Old Town La Quinta, and every Wednesday in Palm Desert.

Palm Springs location: Adjacent to the Camelot Theatres in the Palm Springs Mall parking lot at 2300 E. Baristo Road at Farrell.

La Quinta location: Old Town La Quinta, 78100 Main Street, just a few blocks west of La Quinta City Hall off Calle Tampico.

Palm Desert Location: Palm Desert Visitor Center, 72-567 Highway 111 in Palm Desert.

The Markets continue every Saturday an Sunday morning through June 2009.

Film Festivals: The Palm Springs Cultural Center presents a diverse array of Film Festivals throughout the year, including:

The Palm Springs Student Short Film Festival. Each year, students from more than fifteen Coachella Valley High Schools and middle Schools are invited to submit films to the Palm Springs Student Short Film Festival. The Festival opens a pathway to our youngest local filmmakers to showcase their film work in their home community while offering our community a “first look” at the creative and artistic riches in our own backyard. This year’s event will take place from April 23rd through April 25th.

Arthur Lyons’ Ninth Annual Palm Springs FilmNoir Film Festival. The Palm Springs Cultural Center is proud to welcome the Palm Springs FilmNoir Film Festival to its growing list of annual programs. Founded by the late Arthur Lyons, and produced by Arthur and Barbara Lyons, the Palm Springs FilmNoir Film Festival has become one of several hallmark annual film events in Palm Springs. This year’s Festival will take place from May 28th through May 31st, and will include special appearances by some of Hollywood’s greatest Film Noir Stars, special receptions, and 13 film screenings. Last year more than 3,700 people attended the festival.

CinemaDiverse: The Gay and Lesbian Film Festival • Palm Springs, will be held this year from September 24th through September 27th. Now in its Second year, CinemaDiverse will include some 13 feature-length films, as well as a number of short-films from all over the world. Last year, the festival attracted an audience of more than 5,000 people, and was a universally-acclaimed success. CinemaDiverse brings together film artists, film lovers and industry professionals in a week-long celebration of motion pictures that reflect, inform, enrich and often transform lives.

The Palm Springs Cultural Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which was established to encourage the development of the cultural arts in the Coachella Valley with a specific focus in the areas of film, fine art, live performance, dance, music, and community festivals. The Center is dedicated to advancing education, to nurturing community-wide participation in the cultural arts, and to sponsoring scholarship awards for deserving individuals. Direct inquiries to: Palm Springs Cultural Center, P.O. Box 1449, Palm Springs, CA 92263 760-322-3521.


Note that the Native American Film Festival is actually a separate event presented by the Agua Caliente Cultural Center. The Palm Springs Cultural Center is a sponsor.