ancouver has one of the most prominent gay communities in all of North America. Vancouver also has one of the most prominent film industries in all of Canada (hence the nickname "Hollywood North"). It's only fitting, then, that the Vancouver Queer Film Festival is one of the biggest events of the summer. Second in size only to the Vancouver International Film Festival, VQFF brings the best of queer independent cinema to Vancouver's screens. The ten day festival starts tonight and they've got a good night of festivities in store. First is the opening gala of South Korean film Like a Virgin, the story of a chubby high school student who wants to save enough money for a sex change operation so he can be like his idol, Madonna, while at the same time mounting a wrestling career. So your average coming of age story. After the screening will be an opening gala party at Celebrities Night Club featuring "high-end 80s pop and locker rock" with free admission to anyone with a ticket stub or festival pass.