At the international film festival in Cannes you can find tents for nearly every country represented in the competition. Former feature film executive Ellen Huang always thought there should also be a place where members of a community that transcends nationality could congregate. So when she got back to the States one year she decided to start Queer Lounge—a space for LGBT festival goers at the Sundance Film Festival.

Her idea quickly evolved into more than just a hangout, and Queer Lounge was established in 2004 as a place for professional networking, informal gathering and sponsored events. This year the Lounge rented 6,000 feet of retail space, which was segmented into a hospitality suite and space for panels, concerts and parties.

The organization aims to increase awareness of gay and lesbian films at Sundance and to bring queer and straight festival-goers together in an environment highlighting queer film. “I really want to build bridges,” says Huang, “so we promote films and filmmakers that facilitate greater understanding between those communities.”

The Lounge is staffed by volunteers both queer and straight, and Huang estimates that roughly half of the patrons are straight. She speculates that being bisexual puts her in a favorable position to bridge gay and straight communities: “Maybe something about my identity makes me create something that's more uniquely geared toward both communities.''

Queer Lounge has become the hip place to be, and it seems that everyone—queer or not—wants in. “It's at the point where you hear people on the bus, gay or straight, saying ‘What's going on at Queer Lounge?', says Huang. “We have this buzz about throwing the best parties,” she continues, “We're passionate about being inclusive, so it's a different vibe than a lot of other parties.”

Panel discussions are another Queer Lounge specialty, with five or six per year. This year saw panels featuring Gus Van Sant, Maria Maggenti, Armistead Maupin and the director and producers for Rosie O'Donnell's film (Rosie herself was forced to cancel last minute).

Another panel focused on alternative channels for film distribution, such as Netflix and Without a Box. “Because gay and lesbian film is usually made independently and has a hard time finding distribution I thought it was important to do something on that,” Huang explains.

The panel included Kirby Dick, whose film, This Film is Not Yet Rated, has very little queer content but exemplifies the cross-awareness Huang hopes to promote. “Some of my gay constituents who come to the Lounge might not have gone to see the film had we not promoted it, and it's important to see because it deals with how the MPAA can discriminate.”

Maggenti, who also wrote and directed The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love, was blown away by the panel for her current film, Puccini for Beginners. “My moderator, Jennie Livingston was smart, funny and incisive,” she says, adding that wishes she could go back for another panel next year.

Maggenti also gushes about the decor: “The space was the most gorgeous of all the lounges at Sundance—a white lacquered chandelier that resembled antlers, a white shag carpet, black-and-white framed photos of movie stars of yesteryear. It was stunning!” The Lounge was furnished by Barclay Butera Home Furnishings, and everything—including the swank leather couch pictured on the website—was auctioned off at the end of the festival.

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