We got a mention in the Chronicle’s Gay Place as one of Andy Campbell’s favorite things of 2008!

8. I had a hell of a time at this year’s AGLIFF. The films were well curated and the Alamo Ritz was a fun and a welcome change for the film festival. Spirits were high and the caliber of films was higher, with David Sweeney continuing to serve as Executive Director of the Festival and with Grace Gonzalez taking on the programming next year’s AGLIFF will only be an improvement upon last year’s fest! Hurrah!

Gay News: The Gay Place Blog - The Austin Chronicle.

A New Near, a New aGLIFF - that’s our theme as we finish out 2008 and start on 2009.

But what do we mean by new? Well, for starters, we have an all new staff. Collin Acock is our Development Director, and Grace Gonzales is our Program Director. That means new grants to pursue, new sponsorships to find, and new relationships with all our members.

We have new membership formats - we learned some important lessons last year about how badges work for us, and so we’ve streamlined the entire membership process.

We’re working on a new website - this one is the functional bones of what we’re working on - that will take a few months as we develop our theme for 2009.

But most importantly, it’s a new chance for us to thrive. There have been some awesome challenges since I started last June, but by reaching out and asking for your support - and by proving to you that your support is worthwhile - we have kept this idea going.

And what is worthwhile? Of course, we’re going to have aGLIFF’s 22nd Annual Film Festival - this year with tentative dates (write them down) of September 8 - 13th - 6 days, with an estimated 42 screenings with 120 films.

We have new projects starting - some may look familiar - My Queer Movie, the Queer Youth Media Project, and expanded volunteer opportunities. We’ve started hosting monthly screenings, and bi-monthly get togethers for our members. We have BLOOM 2009 coming up in April, and we’ll be at Pride in June.

The take home point is that we’re here, and we’ve listened to you and we’re doing what you want. And more than that, we’re grateful for the opportunity.

We’ll see you in 2009. And thank you.

David Sweeney

Like so many have done as the clock strikes 12-midnight on this first day of 2009, we at aGLIFF have made some resolutions for this coming year.

#1 GET IN SHAPE

• Expanding and diversifying our board of directors
• Revisiting our strategic plan and focusing on growing the organization over the next five years
• Continuing to sprucing up our office and going paperless

#2 ELIMINATE DEBT

• Increasing member support through year-long benefits to membership
• Diversifying and exploring new opportunities for funding
• Working with local consultants and organizations to develop a reserve fund through savings and investment

#3 SEE THE PEOPLE WE LOVE MORE OFTEN
(that’s you!)

• Programming a longer festival with more screenings and more films (plus some surprises!)
• Organizing monthly screenings of both new films and past festival favorites
• Developing educational programs for the filmmaker in all of us

And though we might be cheating a bit (we got a start on some of these in September), we know these resolutions address your suggestions and concerns, and will strengthen aGLIFF for the years to come.

We are excited for aGLIFF22 and can’t wait to see you in February for our first Monthly Screening and Launch Party!

All our best for a happy New Year,

The Board and Staff of aGLIFF