About Castro Theatre
Every June, for ten days, the San Francisco Lesbian and Gay Film Festival takes place to sold-out crowds. The magnificently grand Castro Theatre, located in the heart of the Castro district, is one of three theatres that host the highly diverse collection of films made by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered people from all over the world.
These are my high holy days, and the Castro Theatre is my most sacred place. From opening night with all its grandeur, to the electric atmosphere all week long, the rituals each have special meanings to me; running into old friends while waiting in lines that snake around the block, scoping out the crowd in the dim theatre before a screening starts, saving enough seats for friends running late, seeing the actors and filmmakers being introduced on stage before their film is shown, having the audience express their feelings so vocally during the film, hanging out in the festival pavilion outside between shows, participating in a Q and A with the filmmakers after a film.
The features and short films at this festival show images of myself and many of the people I know and love. The images are based on our real lives--not some stereotypes traditionally portrayed by Hollywood. For ten wonderful days we get to see our lives reflected on the big screen in a way that most other people take for granted every time they go see a movie.
The San Francisco Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and the Castro Theatre itself are indeed sacred to me.-- Carol Rossi 1998