By Brittany Ward
July 10, 2018

Sponsored by Outlinc and Southeast Community College, Prairie Pride Film Festival will mark its eight year this Thursday through Saturday at the Sheldon Museum of Art, 12th and R Street.

Since the festival’s founding in 2010, the festival brings independent LGBTQA films to Lincoln, supports the community and starts important conversations.

For those who purchase an All Access Pass ($30), it includes access to all four films, an exclusive pre-screening at the Nonprofit Hub as well as a festival T-shirt. Passes and single film tickets can be purchased on outlinc.org.

Abbi Swatsworth, president of Outlinc, cannot wait for what this year’s festival has to offer.

“I am most excited this year by the quality of the films. And, especially by the lineup of films on Saturday, which starts with a FREE community screening of ‘Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine’ a documentary about the murder of Matthew Shepard. The film will be followed by a panel discussion,” Swatsworth said.

All independent movie lovers and film critics will have an unforgettable time at the festival. If one isn’t caught up on the independent films that have come out recently, this weekend is the time to catch up. These movies, aside from the free screening, are films that are playing currently in LGBTQA communities and film festivals across the U.S. and Canada. Everyone is encouraged to come out and make beautiful memories like one of Swatsworth’s favorite from the first year of the festival.

“The festival is at the Sheldon Museum, she said. “I remember the first year we were there and they set up the lights outside to be in rainbow colors. Coming out of the last movie it was so beautiful. I’ll always remember seeing it lit up that way for the first time.”

To a More Perfect Union

July 12 | 7-9 p.m.

Tickets| $8

A feature-length documentary that tells a story of love, marriage and a fight for equality. The film chronicles unlikely heroes — octogenarian Edie Windsor and her attorney, Roberta Kaplan, on their quest for justice: Edie had been forced to pay a huge estate tax bill upon the death of her spouse because the federal government denied federal benefits to same-sex couples—and Edie’s spouse was a woman. Deeply offended by this lack of recognition of her more than forty-year relationship with the love of her life, Edie decided to sue the United States government — and won. Windsor and Kaplan’s legal and personal journeys are told in their own words, and through interviews with others of the legal team, movement activists, legal analysts, well-known supporters and opponents. Beyond the story of this pivotal case in the marriage equality movement and the stories behind it, the film also tells the story of our journey as a people, as a culture, and as citizens with equal rights.

The Feels

July 13| 7-9 p.m.

Tickets| $8

Andi (Constance Wu) and Lu (Angela Trimbur) are excited to celebrate their upcoming wedding with a joint bachelorette weekend in wine country. On the first night, the brides and their friends get wasted, and Lu admits to everyone that she’s never had an orgasm. This admission comes as a complete surprise to Andi and derails the weekend in unexpected and poignant ways. It causes everyone to reflect on trust, love, and their journeys to experiencing their first orgasm.

Brunch at the Panic

July 14| 10 a.m.

Panic Bar

200 S. 18th Street

Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine – Free Screening

July 14| 1-3 p.m.

Nearly 20 years ago, on the night of October 6, 1998, two men lured Matthew Shepard, a gay freshman at the University of Wyoming, from a bar in Laramie, WY. Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine follows director Michele Josue, a close friend of Matt’s, as she travels to pivotal locations in Shepard’s life, interviewing other friends and family members, and gaining insight into the beautiful life and devastating loss of Matthew Shepard.

White Rabbit

July 14| 3:30-5 p.m.

Tickets | $8

Recently single, Korean-born LA artist Sophia Lee devotes herself to her public performance art, whether it’s a provocative Korean perspective in the park on the LA Riots or quirky digital art on social media. To pay the bills, she does odd jobs for TaskRabbit. When a filmmaker reaches out to discuss an acting role in his film, she is excited to explore the opportunity, only to realize he can’t distinguish between her art and her real-life identity.

Ideal Home

July 14| 7-9 p.m.

Tickets | $8

Paul Rudd and Steve Coogan star as Paul and Erasmus, a bickering gay couple whose life is turned inside out when a ten-year-old boy shows up at their door claiming to be Erasmus’ grandson. Neither Paul, nor Erasmus, are ready to give up their extravagant lifestyles to be parents, but maybe this little kid has a thing or two to teach them about the value of family.