LOGAN SQUARE — Between gay marriage passing in Illinois and the U.S. Senate approving a ban on discrimination against LGBT people in the workplace, it's not a bad week to hold the world's second oldest LGBT film festival.
"I think that it will add a sense of excitement and celebration to the festival, even more so than there would have been," Reeling Film Festival spokeswoman Sarah Rubin said.
And for the first time in its 31 years, the the bulk of the film festival will be held in Logan Square at the Logan Theatre.
Though the festival opened Thursday night at the Music Box Theatre in Lakeview, the majority of the films will be screened at the Logan Theatre beginning Friday night, with some being shown at the festival's headquarters in Andersonville.
"We're very excited to be there," Rubin said. "We've had many meetings with Ald. Colon, local activists and business leaders there, and they've all shown their support. We've really found a sense of community there."
The feelings seem to be mutual.
In a newsletter to his constituents Thursday night, Ald. Rey Colon (35th) reiterated his excitement for the festival and unveiled a Logan Square Area Welcome Map listing neighborhood businesses and organizations, with several offering discounts during the festival.
Last August when the venue change was first announced, Colon said, "Taking something like that out of Boystown and bringing it into this neighborhood is pretty cool ... To me it's just another sign of an area that's progressive and welcoming to all different kinds of people."
Screenings will begin at 7 p.m. Friday at the Logan Theatre, 2646 N. Milwaukee Ave.
A full schedule and program guide can be found here.
