Berlanti was born in Rye, New York. He described his early life in an August 2004 interview with Entertainment Weekly: “We were Italians in a town of WASPs” and his family was not “doing as well as 90% of the community.”

Berlanti is openly gay.

Berlanti studied writing at Northwestern University and participated in many activities including Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He was a writer and producer on Dawson’s Creek and its short-lived spin-off Young Americans. He is best known as being the creator, executive producer, and showrunner of Everwood. He also co-created the short-lived series Jack & Bobby.

Berlanti also wrote and directed the film Broken Hearts Club, about young gay friends in West Hollywood which he based on his own circle of friends at the time.

In August 2006, Berlanti announced a new deal with Touchstone Television and ABC to create new pilots. In conjunction with the announcement, Berlanti announced a parting of the ways with longtime creative partner Mickey Liddell. At the same time, news surfaced that Berlanti was acting as a consultant for the new ABC series Brothers & Sisters. The previous executive producer, Marti Noxon, had left the show after conflict with creator Jon Robin Baitz. Berlanti now serves as an executive producer for the series.

Berlanti is also executive producer of Dirty Sexy Money which debuted on ABC on September 26, 2007.

With Marc Guggenheim, Berlanti is the co-writer of Eli Stone, a television pilot for ABC which debuted as a mid-season replacement in 2008. Berlanti also serves as executive producer. Berlanti was instrumental in the pilot’s promotion of the theory that a mercury-based vaccine preservative causes autism. This theory is not supported by scientific evidence, but has contributed to decreased vaccination rates that endanger children. Berlanti expressed no qualms about the pilot and defended it before it aired.

Berlanti will be a writer/director for the upcoming 2010 film, Green Lantern.

[Via Wiki]

Director: Gus Van Sant
Writer: Dustin Lance Black
Cast: Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco, Alison Pill

Mapa, a Filipino American, was born in San Francisco and attended George Washington High School (San Francisco).

Mapa is openly gay and lends his support to various projects supporting the gay, lesbian, and Asian American communities.

One of Mapa’s earliest appearances was in 1980 as a drama student at Washington High School’s production of Bye Bye Birdie where he starred as Randolph McAffee. He later appeared in R.E.M.’s seminal video for the song “Losing My Religion” as the boy tied to a tree with an arrow in his heart.

He got his first professional break when he was cast to replace B.D. Wong in the Broadway production of M. Butterfly. On television, he has made guest appearances on a wide variety of programs, including Jamie Foxx Show, Roseanne, Seinfeld, NYPD Blue, Friends, Murder One and Dharma & Greg. He co-starred with Jason Bateman in the short-lived 2001 comedy Some of My Best Friends. He played Adam Benet in the UPN comedy Half & Half.

He wrote and performed in a one-man play titled “I Remember Mapa”, about his experiences growing up gay in San Francisco.

Mapa was a featured performer on the Logo original stand-up comedy series Wisecrack. He recently appeared as Vern, Gabrielle’s gay best friend, on the hit ABC series Desperate Housewives. He currently plays a recurring role in Ugly Betty, as the on-screen host of the fashion-oriented television channel that covers the inside gossip from Mode and other fashion magazines.

Mapa’s film credits include parts in Bright Lights, Big City, Playing by Heart, and Connie and Carla, among others. He was recently featured in the movies Super Sweet 16: The Movie and Tru Loved.

Currently he is hosting Transamerican Love Story. This show is a reality dating program starring transgender woman Calpernia Addams selecting from among eight potential suitors.

[Via Wiki]

PLEASE FORWARD TO FILM/VIDEO MAKERS

NewFest has been NYC’s premier forum of international LGBT film since 1988. Each year, NewFest provides a professional and public context for the presentation of innovative and challenging films from over 30 countries and reaches a dedicated audience of NYC’s film lovers, filmmakers, industry representatives, and journalists!

Submissions of films/videos of any length and in any genre that are by, about, or of interest to LGBT people are now being accepted for NewFest 2009: The 21st Anniversary New York LGBT Film Festival, which will take place June 5-12, 2009.!

Deadline: January 1, 2009
Final Deadline: February 15, 2009

For PDF versions of the Submission Form and Guidelines, click here.

For text-only versions of the Submission Form and Guidelines, click here.

Lesli Klainberg
Board Member
NewFest
submissions@newfest.org
718-923-1950 718-923-1959

Hello & Welcome

The Southwest Gay and Lesbian Film Festival(SWGLFF) has secured passes for the Albuquerque advance screening of MILK, one of the most anticipated films out this year, starring Sean Penn as famed gay-rights activist Harvey Milk!
There are two exclusive screening for the Albuquerque area before the film is released on December 5th. You can pick up your tickets at Self Serve (3904 Central Ave SE) while supplies last. Please make sure you check the back of the pass for location and time.

1st advance screening:
November 25- 7:00pm
Century 14 Downtown

2nd advance screening
December 4- 7:00pm
United Artists Starport Cottonwood Mall

See you at the movies!

Festival Director
Roberto Appicciafoco

Tribeca All Access (TAA), a program of the Tribeca Film Institute, provides a forum where high-level film industry executives can meet with a diverse and exceptionally talented group of U.S.-based filmmakers. The core of the program begins with an intense six days of panels, meetings, and networking opportunities during the Tribeca Film Festival. At the conclusion of those six days, juried awards totaling $60,000 will be presented. The 2009 program will take place April 20 – 25.

Entering into its sixth year, Tribeca All Access has become a recognized talent pool within the industry. The program serves as an unrivaled platform for emerging and established filmmakers from traditionally under-represented communities in the film industry to advance their careers and potentially find funding and exposure for their feature length screenplay or documentary work-in-progress. Program alumni are eligible for year-round support through TAA OnTrack which offers educational panels and workshops; TFI hosted presentation screenings; promotional support for completed films; and the use of digital filmmaking and editing equipment.

December 8, 2008 – Final Deadline

[Apply Here]