Summer blockbusters are kicking off to a yawn, and they don't look like they're gonna get much better. I'm holding out for Gore's docudrama, An Inconvenient Truth, and XMEN.

For real film pleasure that will more than make up for the Hollywood's Crapfest 2006, check out NEWFEST's 18th annual New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Film Festival by going to Newfest.org. It's only in New York City, only from June 1st through the 11th, 2006.

The festival opens with the movie based on the television series of the same name, Strangers With Candy, starring Amy Sedaris, the politically charged Stephen Colbert, and a bunch of recognizables: Allison Janney, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Kristen Johnston, Sir Ian Holm, Matthew Broderick, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Closing the festival will be 20 Centimeters, by Ramon Salazar, about a narcoleptic, pre-op MTF named Marieta. When Marieta falls asleep, she has show-stopping dreams swirling with choreography and music. More than just fluff, though, the film gives Marieta a big dilemma: to cut or not to cut. Sounds simple, but she's in love with a guy who likes chicks with dicks and going full female might mean more than just losing 20 centimeters of penile flesh. This raises lots of interesting questions, like: are one's genitals the source of one's happiness (and success) in love? I haven't seen the movie yet, but definitely will.

The best this about this festival is that it is truly international. Most features are accompanied by a short, so you get plenty of perspectives on issues of gender, identity, sex(uality), on and on.

Check it out. There's more to see than you could possibly have time for.