Today marks the start of the 2014 Level Ground Film Festival, the world’s first faith-based, LGBT film festival, in Pasadena, California.

Believe Out Loud is excited to announce it will be one of the presenting sponsors participating during this groundbreaking event.

The festival will run from February 20th through March 1st, and will feature an eclectic and diverse group of entertaining and thought-provoking films including: Before You Know It, Bridegroom, Geography Club, In Bloom, Kidnapped For Christ, Matterhorn and The Most Fun I’ve Had With My Pants On. 

Level Ground is a unique organization that uses art to create a safe space for dialogue about faith, gender, and sexuality. With the focus of cultivating better ways to discuss differences and disagreement, the integral part of this film festival will be the conversations that take place during the next ten days in Pasadena. Following most of the film screenings, audience members will be encouraged to stay and participate in intimate conversations with filmmakers as well as LGBT and faith leaders.

As part of the Level Ground’s Legacy Series, Believe Out Loud will be hosting a free screening and discussion of the groundbreaking film, Paris is Burning at the First United Methodist Church of Pasadena on Thursday, February 27th at 7:30pm.

The Legacy Series intends to feature older films that have been important or iconic in contributing to the dialogue on faith, gender, and sexuality.

In addition to the film screenings, there will also be live performances of “ZE” & “Becoming a Man” on the same stage together, as well as special screenings of Date and Switch and the first public conversation with Megan Phelps-Roper—the granddaughter of controversial Westboro Baptist pastor Fred Phelps—with journalist Jeff Chu about the faith she has chosen to leave behind.

The festival also offers several free events taking place during the ten day festival including morning yoga, workshops, and the Festival of Books, culminating with the Level Ground Awards Ceremony and Closing Gala on March 1st.

You can see a complete listing of all the films, times, locations and events by visiting the 2014 Level Ground Film Festival’s schedule. Tickets can be purchased here.