Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

Camina Entertainment is proud to announce that the haunting and powerful documentary, UPSTAIRS INFERNO, is an official selection of this year's Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival! The documentary will screen Saturday, October 17, at 12:00pm at AMC Pacific Place (600 Pine Street, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98101). A powerful Q&A will follow the film. UPSTAIRS INFERNO recently received the JURY AWARD: BEST MEN'S DOCUMENTARY FEATURE and AUDIENCE AWARD: BEST MEN'S FEATURE at the North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, the BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE award at the Long Beach QFilm Festival and was named a FESTIVAL FAVORITE at Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs LGBTQ Film Festival. Tickets are available at http://www.threedollarbillcinema.org/programs/SLGFF The 96 minute film was written and directed by Robert L. Camina. Narrated by New Orleans' own New York Times best selling author, CHRISTOPHER RICE. On June 24, 1973, an arsonist set fire to the Up Stairs Lounge, a gay bar located on the edge of the French Quarter in New Orleans, LA. The result was the largest gay mass murder in U.S. history. Despite the staggering historical significance, few people know about the tragedy. Thirty-two people were killed and some bodies were never identified. One-third of the New Orleans chapter of the Metropolitan Community Church were killed in the blaze, including two clergy. The primary suspect was never charged with the crime. The tragedy did not stop at the loss of lives. There were also the delayed injuries: lost jobs, fear, public ridicule and severed families. The devastation was compounded by the homophobic reactions and utter lack of concern by the general public, government and religious leaders. The fire permanently altered lives and was the root of many lifelong struggles. UPSTAIRS INFERNO is poised to be the most comprehensive and authoritative film about the fire and its aftermath. However, UPSTAIRS INFERNO isn't simply a stagnant exposition of facts. UPSTAIRS INFERNO brings humanity to the headlines by shining a light on the very painful effect the tragedy had on survivors, witnesses and loved ones. Their interviews are gut wrenching, yet insightful. Some of the people interviewed in the film haven't publicly discussed the fire until now, especially on camera. Featuring over 20 powerful interviews, it's specifically noteworthy to mention that the film includes a rare, heartbreaking interview of a survivor who lost her lover, Reggie Adams in the blaze. As part of her long healing process, she legally changed her name to "Regina Adams" in honor of her "one true love". In addition, the film includes Ricky Everett and Francis Dufrene (two survivors who barely escaped the inferno), Reverend Elder Troy Perry (Founder of the Metropolitan Community Church) and many more. UPSTAIRS INFERNO is different than any other project the public has ever seen about the fire! UPSTAIRS INFERNO reveals facts audiences have never heard and it uncovers long lost artifacts, interviews and archival footage few people have ever seen. The official trailer is available at https://vimeo.com/94900386 and www.UpstairsInferno.com Some of the images in UPSTAIRS INFERNO are graphic in nature and may be disturbing to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised. ---- CHRISTOPHER RICE (narrator) is a New York Times best selling author. His debut, "A Density of Souls", was an overnight best seller, and was greeted with a landslide of media attention, much of it due to the fact that Christopher is the son of legendary vampire chronicler, Anne Rice. Much of his writing is heavily influenced by the years he and his Mom lived in New Orleans. Rice considers New Orleans his "hometown". Christopher currently co-hosts his own Internet radio show, THE DINNER PARTY SHOW, with fellow New York Times best selling novelist, Eric Shaw Quinn. Rice recently published the novel, "The Vines", which is set in the outskirts of New Orleans. Christopher Rice also wrote the adapted screenplay for Anne Rice's novel, "The Tale of the Body Thief", which was acquired by Universal Pictures in November 2014, according to Variety Magazine. ROBERT L. CAMINA (director) wrote, directed and produced several short films before premiering his first full length documentary, RAID OF THE RAINBOW LOUNGE (2012) to sold out audiences, rave reviews and a media frenzy. RAID OF THE RAINBOW LOUNGE recounts the widely publicized and controversial June 28, 2009 police raid of a Fort Worth, Texas gay bar that resulted in multiple arrests and serious injuries. The raid occurred on the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Inn raid. The film, narrated by TV icon Meredith Baxter, screened during 33 mainstream and LGBT film festivals across the United States, Mexico and Canada. The film won several awards including 5 “Best” Film and 3 “Audience Choice” Awards. The film also received attention from the Office of the White House, Department of Justice and a division of the U.S. State Department. At their invitation, the Library of Congress hosted a screening in September 2014. (www.RaidoftheRainbowLounge.com)