ABSOLUT VODKA and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation (GLAAD) today announced the ABSOLUT BEST Lesbian and Gay
Films of the 20th Century as determined by a popular vote of more than
23,000 from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The
voting took place throughout 1999 on the GLAAD Web site and at GLAAD
events and ABSOLUT sponsored gay/lesbian film festivals nationwide.
The list was topped by 1994’s The Adventures of Priscilla,
Queen of the Desert. The ABSOLUT BEST films include the
Academy Award‑winning films Gods and Monsters,
Philadelphia, Longtime Companion and The Crying Game, along with
audience favorites like In & Out, Boys on the Side, Torch Song
Trilogy and The Color Purple (a complete list follows). The films were
announced at the 11th Annual GLAAD Media Awards ceremony in New York
City Sunday April 2nd and represent a broad cross‑section of
American and British cinema over the last quarter century. In the coming
months, ABSOLUT VODKA and GLAAD will be promoting and screening the
ABSOLUT BEST films at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender film
festivals across the country.
The ABSOLUT BEST Lesbian and Gay Films of the 20th Century,
in order, are:
-
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994,
Gramercy)
-
Beautiful Thing (1996, Sony Pictures Classics)
-
Torch Song Trilogy (1988, New Line)
-
Philadelphia (1993, TriStar)
-
Longtime Companion
(1990, Samuel Goldwyn)
-
Gods and Monsters (1998, Lions Gate)
-
The Crying Game (1992, Miramax)
-
The Birdcage (1996, United Artists)
-
Jeffrey (1995, Orion Classics)
-
In & Out
(1997, Paramount)
-
Bound (1996, Gramercy)
-
The Color Purple (1985, Warner Bros.)
-
My Beautiful Laundrette (1986, Orion Classics)
-
Maurice (1987, Cinecom)
-
Love! Valor! Compassion! (1997, Fine Line)
-
The Wedding Banquet (1993, Good Machine)
-
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975, 20th Century Fox)
-
The Incredibly True Adventure Of Two Girls In Love
(1995, Fine Line)
-
La Cage Aux Folles (1978, United Artists)
-
Boys on the Side (1995, Warner Bros.)
“The gay and lesbian population has made significant
contributions to our creative community, and ABSOLUT VODKA is excited to
recognize what thousands have selected as the ABSOLUT BEST in
filmmaking,” noted James Schleifer, Director of Marketing for SEAGRAM
AMERICAS. “Since 1989, ABSOLUT has supported GLAAD and its Media Awards
program. During the same period, ABSOLUT began sponsoring gay and lesbian
film festivals‑large and small‑across the country, including
the oldest and largest in San Francisco. ABSOLUT BEST brings together all
the elements of our sponsorship program in an extremely meaningful way.”
“We are thrilled by the incredible community response to
this project,” said GLAAD Entertainment Media Director Scott Seomin.
“By delivering a diverse list of films covering lesbian and gay youth,
AIDS, interracial relationships, aging, transgender identity and other
universal themes, our community has recognized the important role film
images play in shaping the world around us.”
ABSOLUT’s support of the gay and lesbian community began in
the 1980s initially through advertising in The Advocate and other emerging
media and later, through its involvement with the creative communities of
art, fashion and design. ABSOLUT’s support grew when it affiliated with
numerous community-based gay and lesbian organizations and events and
supporting various AIDS events and charities. To date, ABSOLUT has worked
with hundreds of regional and local gay and lesbian organizations and AIDS
charities across the U.S.
GLAAD is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate
and inclusive representation of individuals and events in all media as a
means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender
identity and sexual orientation.
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