Two Films With Philly Ties Nominated for GLAAD Media Awards


The cast of "Geography Club," one of the films with Philly ties up for a GLAAD Media Award.

The cast of “Geography Club,” one of the films with Philly ties up for a GLAAD Media Award.

The 25th annual GLAAD Media Award nominees were announced yesterday. The list comprises a host of magazines, blogs, films, musicans etc … that “recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives.” While I’m bummed G Philly wasn’t nominated for Most Amazing Awesome Fabulous Blog of the Year, I’m happy to see that at least two films with local ties made the cut.

Geography Club and Out in the Dark, both distributed

by Philly’s Breaking Glass Pictures, are up for Outstanding Film: Limited Release. You may recognize the names; they both screened at QFest last year.

Based on the first book in in Brent Hartinger’s Russel Middlebrook Series, Geography Club follows 16-year-old  Russell (played by Cameron Deane Stewart) who’s hiding a secret relationship with his school’s star quarterback (Justin Deeley.) Frustrated with having to hide his true identity, Russell finds acceptance in the school’s Geography Club that’s made up of other misunderstood students. The comedy, coming-of-ager also stars Glee star Alex Newell, who was recently honored by the Attic Youth Center. Geography Club will be available on DVD starting March 11.

Michael Mayer’s gripping, sexy Out in the Dark concerns the socially conflicting relationship between a Palestinian student (Nicholas Jacob) and an Israeli lawyer (Michael Aloni.) For his role, Aloni took home an Audience Award for Best Supporting Actor at FilmOut San Diego. Out in the Dark is available on Netflix.

The awards will be handed out in two ceremonies, one in Los Angeles on April 12 and the other in New York City on May 3