We need to make sure we tell our loved ones every day that we love them, because we don’t know what lies ahead. In addition, I hope the film acts as a stark reminder that we need to seize the day. Because there definitely wasn’t a lot of compassion when the deadly arson occurred. Hopefully, now, more than ever, audiences walk away from the film with a renewed call for compassion: Compassion for those unlike us. This is a gruesome story, there is no way around it and in light of the recent mass shooting at the gay nightclub in Florida, the parallels strike a painful chord. The victims and their families and friends left to cope with the aftermath deserved better treatment than what they got.
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These were unfinished lives, tragically cut short by a senseless act. The victims are more than statistics, more then names in a newspaper clipping or even names on a plaque. The film is narrated by New Orleans’ own New York Times Best Selling Author, CHRISTOPHER RICE.Īudiences should expect to see a balance between investigative reporting and very intimate profiles of people lost or affected by the tragedy. Some of the people interviewed in the film haven’t publicly discussed the fire until now, especially on camera. Their interviews are gut wrenching, yet insightful. UPSTAIRS INFERNO brings humanity to the headlines by shining a light on the very painful effect the tragedy had on survivors, witnesses and loved ones. However, UPSTAIRS INFERNO isn’t simply a stagnant exposition of facts. UPSTAIRS INFERNO (96 minutes) is the most comprehensive and authoritative film about the fire and its aftermath. The fire permanently altered lives and was the root of many lifelong struggles. The devastation was compounded by the homophobic reactions and utter lack of concern by the general public, government and religious leaders.
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There were also the delayed injuries: lost jobs, fear, public ridicule and severed families. The tragedy did not stop at the loss of lives. The primary suspect was never charged with the crime. One-third of the New Orleans chapter of the Metropolitan Community Church were killed in the blaze, including two clergy. Thirty-two people were killed and some bodies were never identified. Despite the staggering historical significance, few people know about the tragedy. For 43 years, it was the deadliest single event to affect the gay community in U.S. On June 24, 1973, an arsonist set fire to the Up Stairs Lounge, a gay bar located on the edge of the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60657)! For tickets and more information, please visit. History for 43 years.Ĭamina Entertainment is honored to announce that UPSTAIRS INFERNO will have its Chicago Premiere as the CENTERPIECE DOCUMENTARY during Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival, on Sunday, September 25th at 7:00pm at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema (2828 N. Camina and Executive Producers behind “Back on Board: Greg Louganis”, “Kiss Me, Kill Me”, “Beautiful Something”, “Raid of the Rainbow Lounge” and “Southern Baptist Sissies”, comes UPSTAIRS INFERNO, a poignant and timely documentary chronicling the deadly 1973 New Orleans gay bar arson: an event that remained the Largest Gay Mass Murder in U.S. NEW ORLEANS GAY MASS MURDER DOCUMENTARY, UPSTAIRS INFERNO, REELING FILM FESTIVAL CENTERPIECE DOCUMENTARYįrom award winning director, Robert L. Willam is also gearing up for the 4th season of his popular web series, The Beatdown, in which is tears apart everything happening in Pop Culture News and The Internet. Suck Less offers a forward written by Neil Patrick Harris and is a new approach on advice from “the only honest friend you have, Willam”. Willam was appointed as the first Transgender model for American Apparel and recently earned an award at Cannes Lions for his Magnum Ice Cream ad campaign called “Be True to Your Pleasure”. Willam is a marquee LGBTQ celebrity from working as Neil Patrick Harris’ Drag Queen coach around his residency on Broadway as Hedwig, to ongoing appearances on RuPaul’s Drag Race, LOGO TV, MTV, etc. His “unorthodox” self help book which embraces tough-love and unapologetic honesty, titled: Suck Less: When There’s a Willam, There’s a Way was just released last week!!! The ever fabulous Willam Belli ( FYI 686K YouTube subscribers, and over 100 million views) will be in Chicago TUESDAY OCTOBER 25th ROSCOES!