TLVFest
TLVFest or the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival (Hebrew: הפסטיבל הבין-לאומי לקולנוע גאה) is an annual film festival held in Tel Aviv, Israel. The festival is focused on LGBT themed film from around the world.
The films are primarily screened at Tel Aviv Cinematheque. The festival runs around the same time as, sometimes concurrently, with Tel Aviv Pride.
History
The first ever LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual) film festival in Tel Aviv was held in 2006, and focused on LGBT-themed films would otherwise never get theatrical, TV or DVD distribution in Israel. The festival took place at the Ha’ozen Hashlishit (Third Ear) music venue on King George Street and screened in five tiny theaters of 20–40 seats each. The festival opened with Greg Araki’s Mysterious Skin and the festival sold out every film, attracting more than 2,000 people.
The festival moved to the bigger Tel Aviv Cinematheque in 2007.
In 2012 the Israeli Film Council threatened to withdraw funding for the festival; however it didn't cancel the funding.