Franco to Accept Ally Award at the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Fest

MIAMI—Celebrating 15 years of fierce and fabulous film, the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (MGLFF) will hit the silver screens around Miami and Miami Beach from April 26 to May 5, 2013. The highlight of the festival will be a personal appearance by actor/author/director James Franco who will be at the event to accept the HBO Latin America Ally Award for his career accomplishments and his unwavering support of the LGBT community. The Ally Award presentation will take place on Saturday, April 27, at the Olympia Theater at Gusman Center in downtown Miami immediately preceding the showing of the film Out In The Dark at 9:15 p.m. "We are thrilled to host an actor of James Franco's caliber at the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival," said Franc Castro, executive director of the MGLFF. "His multi-faceted talents coupled with his contributions to LGBT film both in front of the camera and behind the scenes have helped shine the spotlight on LGBT cinema and a filmmaker's right to free expression." James Franco's metamorphosis into the title role of the TNT biopic James Dean earned him career-making reviews, as well as a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture made for Television. He also received nominations for an Emmy and Screen Actors Guild Award for this memorable performance. Franco earned an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead as well as nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award and recognition from numerous critics' associations for his starring role in Danny Boyle's critically acclaimed drama 127 Hours. His performance alongside Sean Penn in Gus Van Sant's Milk earned an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actor and he was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in David Gordon Green's comedy Pineapple Express, where he starred opposite Seth Rogen. He is also known for his starring role as Harry Osbourne in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy. Franco is currently starring in Raimi's Oz: The Great and Powerful as well as in Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers. "At HBO Latin America, we are committed and proud to support diversity and promote equality of rights in the community, and it is with great honor that we are presenting this year's awards to James Franco, Travis Mathews, David W. Ross and Heather Winters for their great contributions to the LGBT community," said Miguel Angel Oliva, Vice President of Public Relations and Corporate Affairs for HBO Latin America Group. "HBO is recognized for including subjects that affect the LGBT community and we have been constantly showcasing diversity in many of our original programs, so this is just another step in reinforcing our commitment." Franco's next film, Interior. Leather Bar., recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and will make its Southeast Premiere at the MGLFF on Sunday, April 28 at 8:30 p.m. at the Colony Theatre in Miami Beach. Franco's co-director Travis Mathews will be in attendance at the screening and will accept the HBO Latin America Vanguard Award for his innovation as a filmmaker who pushes the boundaries of conventional story telling. MGLFF and HBO Latin America are recognizing Mathews not only for his work, but also for his commitment to his vision—especially when others move to censor his voice and his artistic expression, said Castro. Now in its 15th year, the MGLFF is held annually throughout South Florida in the world-renowned historic South Beach district and throughout Miami-Dade County. The MGLFF is celebrated for its program of feature films, documentaries and short films by, about and of interest to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities. In 2012, screenings and special events drew more than 13,500 attendees from greater Miami-Dade, as well as national and international visitors. The MGLFF remains active outside of the film festival to produce the Ft. Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Film Festival every October and provide monthly movie screenings throughout the year through its GLOW Miami and 954 GLOW programs. These programs bring year-round advance, archival and educational screenings to moviegoers in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. For more information about the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, presented by HBO Latin America and Miami-Dade County, or to purchase tickets, please click here.