Fresno’s Reel Pride Film Festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, with its roots beginning in a classroom on the Fresno State campus.

Two Fresno State students came up with the idea and vision to have a film festival solely dedicated to the personal experiences and the importance of advocating groups in the LGBTQ+ community.

The film festival started on Wednesday, Sept. 18 and will continue through Sunday, Sept. 22 at the Tower Theatre, 815 E. Olive Ave., and Vista Theatre, 1296 N. Wishon Ave., in the Tower District.

Tickets are available for $10 for each film. Festivalgoers may also purchase a festival pass for $95, which includes an invitation to a pride kick-off party, admission to the opening night gala and closing night reception, admission to all film screenings and recognition in Fresno’s Reel Pride Festival’s program.

To make viewing the films more accessible to the younger generation, tickets are also discounted when a valid school ID is shown. 

For Fresno State students living on campus, free bus transportation is available to and from Tower District when using a valid Fresno State ID card.

There are a variety of film genres that will be shown, including documentaries, comedies, dramas and more. One of the closing night films, “Adam” will feature star actor Nicholas Alexander, best known in the vampire drama TV show, “The Originals” this Sunday at 7 p.m. in the Tower Theatre. 

As one of the largest LGBTQ+ film festivals in the U.S., and only the sixth oldest, the crowds continue to return year after year to screen new films and documentaries from the U.S. and abroad.