OutFilm

Love and identity are many-splendored things in the offerings of the 9th annual Eros Film Festival, presented this week by Out Film Connecticut and the student LGBT group at Trinity College. Although the fest is definitely a baby sibling to Out Film's annual Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, the programmers have done a great job in representing as much of our community as possible with just six films.

The highlight of the Festival is the 2006 documentary Boy I Am. This fearless film brings up a lot of sensitive issues with authenticity and respect as it follows three FTM transsexuals who share their stories and experiences of being transgender, including how they feel about queer communities. The filmmakers also interview activists, academics and experts, revealing conflicting thoughts and theories about trans people, their place in lesbian communities, and discomfort over the blurring line between butch lesbians and trans men.

On the lighter side, director Andrea Myerson, who brought us two excellent documentaries about lesbian comics, takes a look at some mirthful men in Laughing Matters...The Men. Myerson looks at the careers of Bruce Vilanch, Alec Mapa, Bob Smith, Andr? Kelley, Eddie Sarfaty and Scott Kennedy, sharing some of their funny material as well as their philosophizing about being out in the entertainment business. Also slated to screen are Tick Tock Lullaby, a sharp comedy about lesbian parenthood; Curiosity of Chance, a quirky teen comedy about misfits evening the score with the school bully (think Revenge of the Gay Nerds); The Bubble, an explosive drama about gay life in Tel Aviv; and a trip down memory lane with the lesbian classic Desert Hearts.

All films are at Cinestudio at Trinity College, 300 Summit St, Hartford, CT. Tickets $8, free for Trinity students. For showtimes and info, visit www.OutFilmCT.org or call 860.586.1136