Philadelphia QFest 2011 Opening Night Party at The Ritz & Loews Hotel
Last night I attended the opening of the 17th Annuat TLA Entertainment QFest 2011
Over 100 films will be screened at the Old City Ritz theaters over the next 11 days.
Yesterday PCC celebrated it’s 4th Anniversary. One of the first events I covered was the GLBT film festival and it really opened the doors that lead me to where I am today. It’s where I met Philadelphia Inquirer’s Michael Klein at a reception which lead to my photos being in his column for the next 3 years until he retired that column earlier this year. Today I went to the launch of his new site today of his new site Philly.com/Food. It was a huge success with 4 local chefs and proceeds benefiting Philabundance, MANNA, and The Food Trust. Also there was his wife Jen, who is expecting their first child or two in a few months. Above DJ Marilyn Russell from 95.7 BEN FM checks for rain at the VIP cocktail party which was held before the kick off of the night.
At the party was actor Charlie David, who was in the opening night film “Judas”. You might remember Charlie from his last visit in 2007 to promote two of his films “Kiss The Bride” and “Four Letter Word”
Sean Paul Lockhart was also on hand. Not only was he in last nights opening movie, but he is receiving this years Rising Star Award. They call him the Tracy Lord of gay film making, as he was a very popular porn actor and it was later discovered that he was only 17 when he made some of his first movies.
Then it was off to the theater..
Mayor Nutter came by and read a proclamation. Here he is with the cast of Judas Kiss. Director J.T. Tepnapa directs a very talented cast including Charlie David (Mulligans, Kiss the Bride, Dante’s Cove), Sean Paul Lockhart (Another Gay Sequel, Milk, I was a Teenage Werebear) and Richard Harmon (“The Killing”)
Ben FM win a car, listen everyday
Gloria Casarez, Donald Carter and Kelly Burkhardt, 
Marilyn Russell Introduces the opening night film Judas. Many of the films are playing two or three times for your convenience
Then it was off to the 33rd floor of the Loews for another fabulous party
with hot hot GLBT peeps including
Carol Coombes, Managing Director of Philadelphia QFest, Claire Kohler, QFest Managing Partner, Claire Kohler says there’s something for everyone this year at the festival.
PhillyGayCalendar is covering ever aspect of the festival. They have great videos and shots of all the action every day.
Center front: Joe’l Ludovich is an award-winning producer and film maker. She currently teaches at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, filmmaker Tiona McClodden, the writer and director of the highly-acclaimed full length documentary, black./womyn and Professional Blogger and Social Media Manager LeAnne Lindsay 
Natalie Hope McDonald, Freelance writer as well as the editor of G Philly, a new series of blogs from Philadelphia magazine. and Meg Rider.
Check this link for more pictures taken Opening Night at QFest as well as throughout the week Online Album
