The Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival started nearly 40 years ago as an extension of Tampa Pride.<\/p>\n
The group re-branded this year as simply \u201cTIGLFF,\u201d making events even more inclusive and accessible, and emphasizing support for the trans community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe state of the world right now definitely puts queer and trans people in a place where we seek community, and we want to find each other,\u201d said Unity Jalal, TIGLFF president.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to protect each other. We want to have safe spaces for us. We want to see ourselves on the screen. We want to see ourselves in community. We want to find each other. And I think that\u2019s critical, and that\u2019s important,\u201d Jalal continued.<\/p>\n
Trans film fest & Pride weekend<\/p>\n
The Tampa Bay Transgender Film Festival, one of its signature events, started as a partnership with St. Pete Pride in 2020. This year, it\u2019s expanding to a full Trans Pride Weekend. Events will be held in both St. Petersburg and Tampa, for the first time, this weekend.<\/p>\n
Jalal said the organization is used to hosting three film festivals, but decided to try a different approach in 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not host two, but make them bigger and better and with more films, more events, more ability to expand across the Bay instead of being limited to only one location,\u201d Jalal said.<\/p>\n
She said the rebrand and event expansions also make clear their commitment to welcoming and celebrating trans and gender-diverse people.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always been community-oriented. It\u2019s always been by us, for us when it comes to queer arts and film, and we want to respect that history and that legacy, while also moving TIGLFF forward.\u201d<\/p>\n