Check out our coverage of the festival at SRQ Backlot, SRQ's dedicated film blog.

Tom Murray was well-known within Sarasota's film community for documentaries exploring the real-life challenges of being a homosexual. Now his final story is set to screen at the Fabulous Independent Film Festival, which will premiere the late director's last work as the centerpiece film on Saturday. Murray’s Queerituality, a documentary interviewing members of the LGBT community about their own spirituality, screens Saturday evening at Burns Court Cinema.

“Tom Murray was a very kind and inquisitive man,” said Magida Diouri, Fabulous IFF founder. “He loved making documentaries and I have presented every one of his films over the years.  It is an honor to be able to present his last film. “

Diouri, who ran the Gay and Lesbian Film Celebration before founding the Fabulous IFF, showcased many of Murray's prior works, including Tell, a documentary about the impact of the military's don't-ask-don't-tell policy, and Almost Myself, a documentary about exploring the lives of transgender individuals and the diversity within that community. During his lifetime, Murray's work was shown through national distribution, including broadcasts on Logo TV.

He has explored the subject of spirituality and homosexuality before. The documentary Fish Can't Fly is among the director's most acclaimed work. The full-length film explored the lived of people of faith who survived traumas inflicted upon homosexuals by the "ex-gay" movement.

Murray died in 2010 of a fatal heart attack while he was still finishing Queerituality. Diouri, who had showcased previous Murray films in at Fabulous IFF and before that at the Gay and Lesbian Film Celebration, had spoken with Murray about the film prior to his death. “He was just doing the finishing touches,” she recalls. “Then two later he passed away.”

Since then, she has spoken regularly with Murray’s partner about the film. The footage needed a solid editor to make a final cut, and in the last few months a satisfactory product came together. Gaylon Emerzian, of Trillium Productions in Chicago, put together the version that will screen at the festival and is credited as a producer as well.

Diouri said the movie itself is fascinating, especially in the wake of societal changes since Murray’s death. “The subject matter is also so very timely, especially in the political climate the world is experiencing right now.,” she said. He was seeking answers on spirituality, religion and he patiently went about to find them.  I also really enjoy how things tend to fall into place without much prompting. A simple question started the process."

The Fabulous IFF kicks off tonight with a 7:30pm screening of Blackburn, starring Mo'Nique and Isaiah Washington, followd by a cocktail party at MADE at 9:30pm and a dance party at Throb at 11pm. Queerituality will host its world premiere Saturday at 8pm at Burns Court Cinema. The festival wraps Sunday night with a reception at Caragiulos at 9:30pm.

Check out our coverage of the festival at SRQ Backlot, SRQ's dedicated film blog.

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