Pride of the Ocean Doubles in Size for 2013 - Only a Few Cabins Remain on the only LGBT Film Festival at Sea
Cruise News
Guilford, VT; April 2013: The fourth Pride of the Ocean LGBT Film Festival sails for Glacier Bay, Alaska, in August with over twice as many passengers as the preceding third cruise. Onboard the Norwegian Pearl luxury cruise ship, the film festival will host groundbreaking film screenings, seminars, workshops and a wide variety of filmmakers and special guests.
Now in its fourth year, the unique festival has seen a four-fold increase over its first sailing in 2010. While enjoying the amenities and shore excursions of a classic Norwegian Cruise Lines cruise – traveling from Seattle, WA, up the Alaskan coast to the Inside Passage – passengers view both shorts and feature length independent films, get advance glimpses of upcoming work, and meet and mingle with the filmmakers.
Passengers have special access to the world of film, with sneak previews, group dinners with filmmakers, and even the opportunity to observe the process of “workshopping” a film, with the CineSLAM Film Slam Seminars that provide focused peer critique to works in progress. Expert facilitation is provided by Susi Walsh, the director of the Center for Independent Documentary, which sponsors the CineSLAM seminars.
Growth Anticipated but Still Surprising
Anticipating the leap in size this year, Program Director John Scagliotti and Cruise Director Jim Pollin planned for more cabins to be available for the expanding audience of 2013.
“Our cruise has leaped in size every year,” states Pollin, “and this year we knew we would see another burst of interest for our first West Coast departure.”
“We are delighted that our growth even surpassed our expectations.”
As the passenger list expanded, Pollin ensured the group had the space they needed. “Interest has been so high, the railroad car reserved for the group shore excursion in Skagway on the White Pass Railroad sold out. We quickly added another car, and that sold out as well.”
Pollin and his team accommodated the growing group, but at this point there are only a few more cabins that can be reserved. “There is a limit to even our ability to corral additional cabins,” laughed Pollin. “We can offer a last few cabins, but as of the end of May, our group will be closed.”
World Class Programming Meets Luxury Cruise Travel
Program Director Scagliotti, well-known for his many firsts in the LGBT community, from creating the first gay radio program in 1973 to the first gay TV series on PBS, anticipated increased interest this year, but was also pleasantly surprised by the size of the response. “Pride of the Ocean has distinguished itself as a world-class film festival combined with a luxury cruise vacation, and people are responding.”
After traveling on a previous Pride of the Ocean cruise, New York Times travel writer George Gustines remarked, “The true delight of the trip was… the friends we made on the cruise.” Scagliotti believes this to be a driving factor in the increase in passengers. “George saw the heart of what Pride of the Ocean offers, that being an engaging, smart group of people who you want to spend time with on board a beautiful ship.”
With partners such as filmmaker Andrea Meyerson, who also started the nationwide lesbian travel organization Women on a Roll, community excitement from LGBT travelers built the audience. “We watched our numbers climb through word of mouth – the very best form of recruitment that tells us we’re on the right track,” said Scagliotti.
Meyerson will be honored on board with the prestigious “Body of Work” award, for her contributions to LGBT film with her series of LAUGHING MATTERS documentaries about trailblazing LGBT comedians, and her dedication to the LGBT community.
Along with Meyerson, Yoruba Richen will be on board screening her highly anticipated film, THE NEW BLACK, about the complicated relationship between the civil rights and gay rights movements, utilizing marriage equality as a lens for examination. Special guest, national marriage equality advocate Michael Crawford, will host a panel after the showing.
Passengers will also get a sneak peek at Nancy Kates’ documentary for HBO, REGARDING SUSAN SONTAG. The documentary about the cultural icon will show on HBO at a point later in the year still to be determined.
Cheryl Furjanic will screen her recently completed BACK ON BOARD, the story of Olympic diving legend and highly visible gay athlete Greg Louganis. Often referred to as the best diver of all time, Louganis will be joining the Bon Voyage party in Seattle, at which Pride of the Ocean passengers meet the night before setting sail.
“Our guests will meet Greg, and hear about our exciting plans for 2014,” says Scagliotti. “We always look forward to releasing announcements about the following year at our Bon Voyage.”
Another exciting year, and beyond, is in the wings. “With John’s plans for next year and 2015, we know we will keep growing,” says Pollin.
MEDIA ADVISORY & PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
Olympic Gold Medalist Greg Louganis will join Pride of the Ocean Cruise Director James Pollin to announce 5 new Pride of the Ocean cruises to be rolled out in 2014 & 2015 and to wish the Pride of the Ocean 2013 cruise a Bon Voyage as it departs Seattle for Alaska the following day. Red carpet photo opportunities with Mr. Louganis and award winning film directors and producers.
WHO:
- Greg Louganis, Olympic Gold Medalist and subject of the documentary film, BACK ON BOARD
- Yoruba Richen, Director of the documentary film THE NEW BLACK, which examines homophobia in the black church, and winner of the Sundance Producer's Fellowship, Tribeca Creative Promise Award, Guggenheim fellowship, and Fulbright Award for Filmmaking.
- John Scagliotti, Pride of the Ocean Program Director
- James Pollin, Pride of the Ocean Cruise Director
- Andrea Meyerson, Director of the award winning documentaries, I STAND CORRECTED and LAUGHING MATTERS, and recipient of Pride of the Ocean's Body of Work award.
- James Sommers, Senior Vice President of Content for The Independent Television Service (ITVS)
- Christopher Willey, Head of East Coast Development and Production for Logo Television
- Susi Walsh, Executive Director for The Center for Independent Documentary
WHAT:
Olympic Gold Medalist Greg Louganis will be taking questions from the press at the Pride of the Ocean press conference on August 17, 2013 to announce 5 Upcoming Pride of the Ocean Cruises.
WHEN:
August 17, 2013
WHERE:
Seattle, WA
WHY:
Now in its fourth year, the unique festival has seen a four-fold increase over its first sailing in 2010 and has increasingly given its passengers a privileged glimpse into prominent films in progress that have subsequently gone on to win awards in prestigious film festivals around the world.
Accredited media must preregister to join Mr. Louganis at the Pride of the Ocean Press Conference. To register please contact Christopher Dawes at (646) 322-8209 or admin@prideoftheocean.com
About Pride of the Ocean
For more information about the Pride of the Ocean LGBT Film Festival, the filmmakers and special guests, and to book one of the few remaining cabins, visit www.prideoftheocean.com.
Press Contact:
Pride of the Ocean
158 Kopkind Road
Guilford, VT 05301
admin@prideoftheocean.com
(802) 254-4859
Now in its fourth year, the unique festival has seen a four-fold increase over its first sailing in 2010. While enjoying the amenities and shore excursions of a classic Norwegian Cruise Lines cruise – traveling from Seattle, WA, up the Alaskan coast to the Inside Passage – passengers view both shorts and feature length independent films, get advance glimpses of upcoming work, and meet and mingle with the filmmakers.
Passengers have special access to the world of film, with sneak previews, group dinners with filmmakers, and even the opportunity to observe the process of “workshopping” a film, with the CineSLAM Film Slam Seminars that provide focused peer critique to works in progress. Expert facilitation is provided by Susi Walsh, the director of the Center for Independent Documentary, which sponsors the CineSLAM seminars.
Growth Anticipated but Still Surprising
Anticipating the leap in size this year, Program Director John Scagliotti and Cruise Director Jim Pollin planned for more cabins to be available for the expanding audience of 2013.
“Our cruise has leaped in size every year,” states Pollin, “and this year we knew we would see another burst of interest for our first West Coast departure.”
“We are delighted that our growth even surpassed our expectations.”
As the passenger list expanded, Pollin ensured the group had the space they needed. “Interest has been so high, the railroad car reserved for the group shore excursion in Skagway on the White Pass Railroad sold out. We quickly added another car, and that sold out as well.”
Pollin and his team accommodated the growing group, but at this point there are only a few more cabins that can be reserved. “There is a limit to even our ability to corral additional cabins,” laughed Pollin. “We can offer a last few cabins, but as of the end of May, our group will be closed.”
World Class Programming Meets Luxury Cruise Travel
Program Director Scagliotti, well-known for his many firsts in the LGBT community, from creating the first gay radio program in 1973 to the first gay TV series on PBS, anticipated increased interest this year, but was also pleasantly surprised by the size of the response. “Pride of the Ocean has distinguished itself as a world-class film festival combined with a luxury cruise vacation, and people are responding.”
After traveling on a previous Pride of the Ocean cruise, New York Times travel writer George Gustines remarked, “The true delight of the trip was… the friends we made on the cruise.” Scagliotti believes this to be a driving factor in the increase in passengers. “George saw the heart of what Pride of the Ocean offers, that being an engaging, smart group of people who you want to spend time with on board a beautiful ship.”
With partners such as filmmaker Andrea Meyerson, who also started the nationwide lesbian travel organization Women on a Roll, community excitement from LGBT travelers built the audience. “We watched our numbers climb through word of mouth – the very best form of recruitment that tells us we’re on the right track,” said Scagliotti.
Meyerson will be honored on board with the prestigious “Body of Work” award, for her contributions to LGBT film with her series of LAUGHING MATTERS documentaries about trailblazing LGBT comedians, and her dedication to the LGBT community.
Along with Meyerson, Yoruba Richen will be on board screening her highly anticipated film, THE NEW BLACK, about the complicated relationship between the civil rights and gay rights movements, utilizing marriage equality as a lens for examination. Special guest, national marriage equality advocate Michael Crawford, will host a panel after the showing.
Passengers will also get a sneak peek at Nancy Kates’ documentary for HBO, REGARDING SUSAN SONTAG. The documentary about the cultural icon will show on HBO at a point later in the year still to be determined.
Cheryl Furjanic will screen her recently completed BACK ON BOARD, the story of Olympic diving legend and highly visible gay athlete Greg Louganis. Often referred to as the best diver of all time, Louganis will be joining the Bon Voyage party in Seattle, at which Pride of the Ocean passengers meet the night before setting sail.
“Our guests will meet Greg, and hear about our exciting plans for 2014,” says Scagliotti. “We always look forward to releasing announcements about the following year at our Bon Voyage.”
Another exciting year, and beyond, is in the wings. “With John’s plans for next year and 2015, we know we will keep growing,” says Pollin.
MEDIA ADVISORY & PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
Olympic Gold Medalist Greg Louganis will join Pride of the Ocean Cruise Director James Pollin to announce 5 new Pride of the Ocean cruises to be rolled out in 2014 & 2015 and to wish the Pride of the Ocean 2013 cruise a Bon Voyage as it departs Seattle for Alaska the following day. Red carpet photo opportunities with Mr. Louganis and award winning film directors and producers.
WHO:
- Greg Louganis, Olympic Gold Medalist and subject of the documentary film, BACK ON BOARD
- Yoruba Richen, Director of the documentary film THE NEW BLACK, which examines homophobia in the black church, and winner of the Sundance Producer's Fellowship, Tribeca Creative Promise Award, Guggenheim fellowship, and Fulbright Award for Filmmaking.
- John Scagliotti, Pride of the Ocean Program Director
- James Pollin, Pride of the Ocean Cruise Director
- Andrea Meyerson, Director of the award winning documentaries, I STAND CORRECTED and LAUGHING MATTERS, and recipient of Pride of the Ocean's Body of Work award.
- James Sommers, Senior Vice President of Content for The Independent Television Service (ITVS)
- Christopher Willey, Head of East Coast Development and Production for Logo Television
- Susi Walsh, Executive Director for The Center for Independent Documentary
WHAT:
Olympic Gold Medalist Greg Louganis will be taking questions from the press at the Pride of the Ocean press conference on August 17, 2013 to announce 5 Upcoming Pride of the Ocean Cruises.
WHEN:
August 17, 2013
WHERE:
Seattle, WA
WHY:
Now in its fourth year, the unique festival has seen a four-fold increase over its first sailing in 2010 and has increasingly given its passengers a privileged glimpse into prominent films in progress that have subsequently gone on to win awards in prestigious film festivals around the world.
Accredited media must preregister to join Mr. Louganis at the Pride of the Ocean Press Conference. To register please contact Christopher Dawes at (646) 322-8209 or admin@prideoftheocean.com
About Pride of the Ocean
For more information about the Pride of the Ocean LGBT Film Festival, the filmmakers and special guests, and to book one of the few remaining cabins, visit www.prideoftheocean.com.
Press Contact:
Pride of the Ocean
158 Kopkind Road
Guilford, VT 05301
admin@prideoftheocean.com
(802) 254-4859
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