Phoenix - The curtain goes up on the inaugural Desperado Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, a spectacular showcase of film making from some of the best in the industry. The festival is being presented in collaboration with Paradise Valley Community College's Office of Student Life, P.R.I.D.E Student Organization and the Center for the Performing Arts.

Organizers hope that by providing the Phoenix LGBT population as well as the students of Maricopa County's Community Colleges an understanding of diversity and multiculturalism, that acceptance will take stronger root in the Valley.

In addition, with proceeds from this event, P.R.I.D.E. will establish the PVCC Rainbows Scholarship.

Friday, there will be a welcome reception at the theater and a premiere showing. Saturday, films will run throughout the day starting at 1p.m. Cost is $10 per film, $8 for students and seniors. Tickets maybe purchased in advance at showup.com

The Films

25 Random Things I Did During My Big Fat Lesbian Depression Takes a comedic look at one lesbian's journey of recovery from an unreal break up. From eating excessive amounts of frozen yogurt to entering a twelve step program. The film uses the framework of social media to poke fun at some of the crazy, yet personal things we do in life to get through our darkest moments.

A Belch Can Ruin A Wedding (Premier) It was love at first sight when Little Mel spotted Studly Doright across the bar. Two years later, they announce to the world that they will “tie the knot” in the state’s first gay marriage. But when the dastardly, right-wing Rev. Fred Belch learns of their wedding plans, he devises a sinister plot to foil the happy couple’s plans – for good.

Buttery Top A jug of wine, a loaf of bread - but wait - what kind of bread? A comedy about a first date with extra baggage.

Dancing  into Happiness Helen, a stockbroker, and Anna, her cleaning lady, are united in a salsa dance course, which becomes a musical fairytale about overcoming societal borders.

Amancio - Two Faces On A Tombstone As a young boy, Amancio Corrales immigrated from Mexico to Yuma Arizona with his parents in search of a better life. Gay and Hispanic, Amancio dreamed of one day being a performer in Las Vegas, but his dream was cut short on May 6, 2005 when Amancio’s body was found floating in the Colorado River near Yuma. He had been brutally beaten and stabbed. For the first time the story of one man’s journey to seek justice for the murder on behalf of Amancio’s family and friends is revealed in this intriguing documentary.

The Big Gay Musical Life imitates art in this musical comedy of love and acceptance. Paul and Eddie are stage actors performing in Adam and Steve, Just the Way God made 'em. During rehearsals, their personal lives come to mimic the story of their on-stage characters as Paul searches for that one true love and Eddie seeks acceptance from his conservative parents. Featuring half-naked dancing angels.

Daddy’s Big Girl When a depressed and overweight young woman named Millie finds her gay dad dating yet another young hunk, tensions flare up. In her mind, his constant criticisms seem to come as much out of selfish embarrassment as genuine concern. In her own life, Millie struggles to find societal acceptance and romantic fulfillment due to her weight. Finally, in a last-ditch effort to reconcile with her father, Millie ultimately uncovers what makes him tick.... and what she must do to find happiness herself.

Hannah Free Adapted from an award winning play by Claudia Allen, and starring Sharon Gless Hannah Free is the story of the lifelong love affair shared between Hannah, a butch independent woman who has an insatiable itch to travel and see the world, and Rachel, a widowed mother of two who spends most of her lifetime trying to shed the shame brought on by her religious upbringing. At the end of their lives, Hannah and Rachel are both trapped in the same nursing home, their once independent lives now at the mercy of a nursing staff that cares more about following rules than caring about their patients.

All films will be shown at PVCC’s Center for the Performing Arts, located at 34th Street and Union Hills at the east end of the campus of Paradise Valley Community College in North Phoenix.

For more information go to desperadofilmfestival.com