James Franco to Accept Ally Award at the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

James Franco will be present to accept the HBO Latin America Ally Award at the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, which takes place in Florida from April 26 to May 5. He is being given the award for his career accomplishments and his consistent support of the LGBT community.

"We are thrilled to host an actor of James Franco's caliber at the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival," said Franc Castro, executive director of the MGLFF. "His multi-faceted talents coupled with his contributions to LGBT film both in front of the camera and behind the scenes have helped shine the spotlight on LGBT cinema and a filmmaker's right to free expression."

Franco's new film, Interior. Leather Bar., which recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, is a reimagination of the 40 minutes of sexually explicit material that was cut from the 1980 film Cruising, starring Al Pacino as an undercover cop investigating a murder in New York City's gay leather bar scene. The film will make its southeast premiere at the MGLFF on Sunday, April 28. Franco's codirector, Travis Mathews, will be present at the screening and will accept the HBO Latin America Vanguard Award for his originality in filmmaking and for pushing the limits of conventional narratives.

"At HBO Latin America, we are committed and proud to support diversity and promote equality of rights in the community, and it is with great honor that we are presenting this year's awards to James Franco, Travis Mathews, David W. Ross and Heather Winters for their great contributions to the LGBT community," said Miguel Angel Oliva, vice president of public relations and corporate affairs for HBO Latin America Group. "HBO is recognized for including subjects that affect the LGBT community and we have been constantly showcasing diversity in many of our original programs, so this is just another step in reinforcing our commitment."