Q Cinema Presents - Fort Worth, TX

The Miss Q Cinema Pageant takes place May 19 at Best Friends Club, 2620 E. Lancaster in Fort Worth, Texas at 8 p.m.

The first centerpiece films were also recently announced for Q Cinema, Fort Worth's 12th Annual Gay & Lesbian Film Festival including a controversial film labeled as "transploitation," making its Southwest premiere. (Source: Todd Camp).

"Ticked-Off Trannies With Knives" comes to the event to take place June 3-6 in town on the heels of its world premiere at the Tribeca International Film Festival. Israel Luna's "actioner" will make its debut in Fort Worth.

"Shot on location in Dallas, Fort Worth, and the mid-cities, the movie follows a quintet of sassy club performers who have a violent encounter with a gang of brutal thugs," states a press release. "The film has already touched off a wave of criticism throughout the blogosphere, inspiring a Facebook group out to have the film pulled from Tribeca and planned protests in New York."

Q Cinema staffers had made the determination to show the film before the tran tempest began stirring, but remain even more committed to presenting it after watching the efforts to try to have the film removed from Tribeca, according to press materials.

"Q Cnema, first and foremost, has been a supporter of local filmmakers and Israel has been a long-time friend of the festival since we premiered his first feature several years ago," said Todd Camp, Q Cinema's artistic director. "But one of the roles of any film festival is to present new, dangerous, sometimes unpopular ideas and to allow audiences to decide for themselves."

Camp went on to say that for the film's legion of critics, this is an opportunity to see it before you pass judgment on it in order to avoid the kind of sight-unseen criticism that has long plagued gay-and-lesbian-themed entertainment of all kinds.

"Q Cinema is also excited to announce that this year's festival will include a very special sneak preview of the new film 'Role/Play' from Texas Christian University graduate Rob Williams," he said. "A recently outed soap opera actor crosses paths with a recently divorced gay marriage activist, forcing them to confront the price of fame and the fickle nature of celebrity within the gay community."

Watch for more titles to be announced in the coming weeks and for the latest on all Q Cinema news, check out qcinema.org.

The mission of Q Cnema is to provide a voice for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender persons by presenting films, videos, and live programs that represent the diversity of the community while educating, enlightening, and entertaining.

A Q Cinema volunteer's business has hit You Tube.

Justin Anderson, one of the group's regular volunteers, is taking his Anderson Trail Premium Moist Granola to the Internet for a little online exposure.

Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsrnURqDBAY.