Considering the hot/cold response to filmmaker Michael Moore's acceptance speech at the Academy Awards one might conclude that people are much more receptive to political messages expressed through film than they are to the same messages expressed in the format of a demonstration.

This idea played a large part for The Coalition of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) Graduate Students in their decision to host a weeklong film festival to highlight LGBT issues and concerns.

"Film is a less-abrasive medium than a demonstration or a protest," said Festival Committee Chair Trevor Brown, explaining that rallies tend to alienate the straight community. "[Film] can be entertaining and have a message."

The "One in Ten" film festival, which begins tomorrow and leads up to the celebration of Pride Week, includes seven feature-length films from various different countries, ethnicities, and nationalities -- all dealing with LGBT issues.

In addition, on Wednesday and Thursday of next week, the Coalition will screen a series of short films for competitive and entertainment purposes.

The festival's title, Brown said, comes from the statistical percentage of Americans who identify themselves as LGBT.

"There's a good possibility that one of your friends identifies him or herself as something other than straight, but you are unaware of it," he said, referring to the average Penn State student. "Our mission is to have a venue to openly, comfortably address the issues of diversity within the community."

There is much diversity within the festival as well, showcasing films from three different countries and a wide spectrum of genres and subjects, ranging from Hand on the Pulse, a documentary about the formation of the American lesbian community to Aimee and Jaguar, a romantic drama about lesbian lovers in Nazi-era Germany.

"Our goal is to have something for everyone -- a film for each LGBT theme," Brown said.

Unwilling to leave out any vehicle of cinematic expression, "One in Ten" also invited directors of short LGBT-themed films from across the United States and Canada to submit their films for consideration.

Seven were selected by the festival committee to compete for the audience-selected best short film prize. Five additional short films, ineligible for competition, will also be screened.

State College resident Tony Coray, the committee's short film program co-ordinator, considers short films to be a "terrific medium" for artistic expression.

"These artists set out to make films they really want to make," Coray said. "These films don't have the commercial, formulaic feeling that most Hollywood films have. Each film is personal."

Wednesday's audience is encouraged to stay after the 7 p.m. screening for a panel discussion with some of the short filmmakers.

Generating discussion, Brown said, is one of the main objectives of the festival.

"['One in Ten'] is another way to get the Penn State community talking about these issues, which is why I'm hoping that the straight community feels invited.

"Films are capable of having a great impact on the way society treats a certain issue; they can convey a manner of thinking or a way of handling a situation that can positively influence the way people act."

Coray also sees "One in Ten" as an avenue for people to experience something new.

"These films do a wonderful job of raising people's consciousness, of presenting worlds they might not otherwise step into," he said, adding that he hopes people come out to "One in Ten" so that they can receive the "the wide variety of perspectives" the festival will offer.