FESTIVAL BUZZ REPORT – DAY 3: MGLFF News, Gossip, Pictures

*The girls definitely were out in force yesterday as the festival enjoyed one of its best days of ticket sales yet. Popular screenings, especially for Girl Play, had people lining up early for rush tickets.

*The Annual Planet Out.com Short Movie Awards celebrated the best of the best with the presentation of award winning films at the Regal Cinemas. Joining Festival Program Director Carol Coombes were Planet Out’s handsome Mark Elderkin. The winners at this years awards were “Solitude” for Best Experimental Short, “Starcrossed” for Best Drama Short, “Irene Williams..Queen of Lincoln Road” for Best Documentary Short, “Listen” for Best Animated Short, “Feltch Sanders” for Best Comedy Short and the Grand Prize winner for Best Short “Prom-troversy.” Thanks to the generous sponsor Scion who offered filmmakers $15,000 in cash prizes, $1,000 to each winning director and a whopping $10,000 to the Grand Prize winner.

*The crowds celebrated the awards at the jam-packed after party poolside at the National Hotel where the short filmmakers in attendance included Director Jesus M. Rodriguez, actress Jane Lynch, Director Abe Sylvia, actress Honey Labrador, Director Eric Smith and many others.

*After the sold out screening of Girl Play, director Lee Friedlander joined a huge contingent of the hottest Florida women to the elegant Women’s Dine Out sit down dinner which had the entire first floor of the Abbey Hotel filled with festival patrons. Special thanks to Icandee Productions for such a classy event.

*The countdown continues for the upcoming Ft. Lauderdale screening of 100% Woman on Saturday, April 30th at 5:00pm with the subject of the film Michelle Dumaresq planning to attend the screening.

The festival Day 4 gets underway today with:

7:15pm When Ocean Meets Sky (With director Crayton Robey in attendance) - RUSH LINE ONLY STARTS AT 6:15pm at the Regal

7:30pm HBO Career Achievement Award to Director Gregg Araki followed by his critically acclaimed film and contender for the Best Film Award Mysterious Skin - RUSH LINE ONLY STARTS at 6:30pm at the Regal

9:45pm The Reception (With director John G. Young in attendance)