NOW IN ITS 15TH YEAR, the Portland Lesbian & Gay Film Festival (PLGFF) returns to Cinema 21 for nine days, 17 features, and a couple of shorts.

Things kick off on September 30 with We Were Here, David Weissman's documentary about AIDS in 1980s San Francisco. We Were Here will open in Portland later in October for a theatrical run at the Fox Tower 10, but at PLGFF, Weissman will be in attendance for a Q&A—and there'll be a post-screening 15th anniversary party for the fest at 23Hoyt (529 NW 23rd) featuring New Deal vodka, Ninkasi beer, and a short set from Holcombe Waller.

The following days see more of PLGFF's major presentations: Andrew Haigh's SXSW-approved gay drama Weekend screens October 2 (again, in advance of a Portland theatrical run) and the screening of Hollywood to Dollywood (October 1) boasts the two subjects of the documentary—twin brothers Gary and Larry Lane, who will discuss their quest to deliver to Dolly Parton a screenplay for her, embarking on their journey in "an RV named Jolene." Another artist appearance sounds radically different but maybe just as entertaining: Director Mark Bessenger will be around on October 7 to present Bite Marks, a film featuring gay hitchhikers and a abandoned junkyard full of vampires.

Sci-fi gets represented, too, with the comedy Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same (October 7), as does the rom-com, with lesbian musical Jamie and Jessie Are Not Together (October 4). The focus, though, as in past years, remains on dramas, like Gun Hill Road (October 6), which stars Esai Morales as an ex-con dealing with his gay son, the farmhand romance Harvest (October 4), and Trigger (October 3), about two estranged women—former bandmates—who, thanks to a benefit concert, reunite.

Click over to Film Shorts for the Mercury's reviews of selected films, and Movie Times are here. Hit plgff.org for a complete list of films and events.