18th ANNUAL MiFo LGBT FILM FESTIVAL WELCOMES BACK SHOWTIME®
AND ANNOUNCES GILEAD AS PRESENTING SPONSORS
MiFo Miami: April 22 – May 1, 2016
MiFo Fort Lauderdale: October 7 through October 16
MiFo LGBT Film Festival welcomes back SHOWTIME as Presenting Sponsor for the festival’s 2016 season, and announces that Gilead Sciences, Inc., has also signed on as Presenting Sponsor for MiFo’s Miami and Fort Lauderdale editions. The Miami Festival kicks off its 18th year on April 22, while Fort Lauderdale enters its 8th year on October 7.
Rebranded in 2015 as “MiFo,” the moniker joins together the Miami and Fort Lauderdale LGBT film festivals under one umbrella and one brand name. This not only solidifies South Florida as a major market for showcasing premier LGBT films, but also provides an opportunity for sponsors such as SHOWTIME and Gilead to reach a broader, brand-loyal audience.
From Queer as Folk and The L Word, to Shameless, Penny Dreadful and Masters of Sex, SHOWTIME has led the way in presenting LGBT programming on television. A premium television network, 41% of SHOWTIME’s programming last year was LGBT-inclusive, earning them recognition from GLAAD as one of the most LGBT inclusive networks, with 18 regular or recurring LGBT characters (http://fortune.com/2015/10/27/glaad-lgbt-television).
Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative medicines for people with life-threatening illnesses around the world .Their portfolio of marketed products includes a number of category firsts, including complete treatment regimens for HIV infection available in a once-daily, single pill and the first oral antiretroviral pill available to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV infection in certain high-risk adults. With more than 7,700 employees, Gilead has a history of supporting communities in which their employees live and work, providing funding and grants for the betterment of those they serve.
“As MiFo continues to grow and prosper, we are grateful to have the support of SHOWTIME and Gilead, two major forces in their respective industries,” said Victor Gimenez, executive director of MiFo. “Both organizations have consistently supported the LGBT community throughout the years, and we are proud to have them as part of the MiFo family.”
The MiFo LGBT Film Festival is an internationally acclaimed event serving as a platform for numerous World, North American, and East Coast Premiers. MiFo is also the largest LGBT cultural arts event in South Florida.
MiFo Miami has grown from a three-day event in which 25 films were presented, to the current format of ten days with 65+films. The Fort Lauderdale Edition has evolved from a three-day event to a two-weekend event showcasing 50+ films. The 18th Annual MiFo Miami Edition takes place April 22 through May 1. The 8th Annual MiFo Fort Lauderdale Edition takes place from October 7 through October 16.
Look for updates on movies and happenings by visiting MiFo at www.MiFofilm.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mifofilmfest. For further information, including sponsorship opportunities, go www.MiFofilm.com or call (305) 751-6305.
The MiFo LGBT Film Festival is committed to its mission: To inspire, entertain and educate the public, encourage a sense of community through international and culturally diverse film, video, and other media that offer historical and contemporary perspectives on the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender experience.
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