The Sacramento International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (SIGLFF), Sacramento's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) art event, is coming to the Crest Theatre Thursday through Saturday.

"Embrace your sexuality, whatever it is," said Patti Barcena of SIGLFF. "SIGLFF is good entertainment. Where else will you get to see GLBT films with such an appreciative audience?"

SIGLFF is a non-profit event that shows worldwide film and video works of both positive or critical portrayals of GLBT communities, people and aspects of their daily lives. "This international festival provides an outlet for GLBT filmmakers to express themselves and have their works shown on a big screen to a general audience, a feat that is oftentimes hard to accomplish with a GLBT-themed film," Barcena said.

"The goal of this event is to show that we can come together with our shared experiences and create an authentic reflection of our community," said Dawn Deason, president of SIGLFF.

Each night of the three-night festival is composed of different short and feature length films. While a variety of themes are explored, such as being true to yourself and coming of age, according to Barcena, the program is very youthful and full of humor.

The festival will open with two short films, "Paris Noir" directed by Alexandra McGuinness and "Frequent Traveler" directed by Patricia Bateria. Thursday night's showing concludes with "The Big Gay Musical" directed by Casper Andreas and Fred M. Caruso. "The Big Gay Musical" follows the lives of Paul and Eddie, actors whose lives mirror the characters they are playing. Paul is looking for the perfect man but seems to only have disastrous dating experiences, while Eddie is dealing with how sexuality and faith can mix.

Friday night's showing has a similar format to Thursdays featuring two short films, "Girl Talk" directed by Jennifer Smith and "U-Haul: The Music Video" directed by Bob Koehr, followed by Shamin Sarif's feature length film "I Can't Think Straight." An entertaining, romantic comedy, "I Can't Think Straight," is a sweet story about two women, one Indian and the other Palestinian, and their preparations to get married.

Fifteen short films will conclude the festival Saturday night. Films include: "Dinx," "Make a Mate," "James," "A Day at the Beach," "Dish," "Buttery Top," "Downstream (Im Fluss)," "The Marionettes," "Allison My Love," "On the Bus," "510 Meters Above Sea Level," "El Mueble de las Fotos," "Peking Turkey," "Judgment Day" and "How Do I Say This? I’m Gay."

"The short program is really fun," Barcena said. "There are such a variety of films - from comedies to musicals to animation. There is a program for everyone."

Most films strike an emotional chord with the audience, said Jennifer Novak, of Sunburst Projects. "They really make people aware that we are all human beings."

In the past, the audience has been so inspired, they have ended with film on their feet cheering for the film's characters, Barcena said.

"Nobody cheers for the GLBT characters in mainstream film," Barcena pointed out. "The reaction to SIGLFF has been fabulous."

After the showing, each audience member will have a chance to vote for their favorite film.

SIGLFF was started in 1992 by Allan Cole and was based on a student-run gay and lesbian film festival at Fresno State. Cole and his organizers worked together with students from the California State University, Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Alliance and the Delta Lambda Phi fraternity to organize SIGLFF. The first year was a huge, sold-out event prompting SIGLFF to be continually held each year in early October to celebrate National Coming Out Day, observed every October 11.

SIGLFF shares the proceeds of this event with local non-profit organizations. This years beneficiaries are the Lambda Players and Sunburst Projects.

The Lambda Players serve the GLBT community by educating and entertaining through live theatre, including works from local GLBT play writes.

Sunburst Projects is a local organization that helps improve the lives of thousands of primarily low-income HIV or AIDS infected and affected family members and children. They work to address the social, emotional and psychological needs and care of those impacted by HIV and AIDS.

"The money raised by SIGLFF will go to our children and teens to help support monthly activities, such as laser tag, adopt-a-child holiday program and our summer camp programs," Novak said.

Since 1992, SIGLFF has raised more than $34,300 which has benefited a variety of organizations including Breaking Barriers, Women's Health Services and Center for AIDS Research & Education.

All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. An individual ticket to the event is $10 and an all-festival pass is $25. Pass holders receive free entry to all programs and the SIGLFF sponsored events before and after each program, including special seating, an opening night reception at the Cosmo Cafe and wine and hors d'oeuvres before the Friday and Saturday showings.

Tickets are available at the Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street, tickets.com and The Beat Music Store, 1700 J Street.

Photos are courtesy of SIGLFF.