Friends of the Festival — a nonprofit fundraising group for the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival — kicks off its new Clip Film Series (after the festival's new name, Clip) with a Wednesday evening screening of Russell P. Marleau's The Curiosity of Chance. The coming-of-age John Hughes-inspired comedy is set in the 1980s and follows eccentric, out Chance Marquis as he enters an Americanized European high school for army brats. With his jaunty top hat and bow tie, Chance immediately marks himself as an outsider and attracts the indignant attention of the gay-hating school bully. Soon enough, Chance befriends a couple of other misfits, sassy and rebellious Twyla and too-nerdy-for-his-own-good Hank, and with their help and a bit of guidance from a local drag queen, he navigates the treacherous territory of high school. Wed., Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m., Muvico Baywalk Theaters, 151 Second Ave. N., downtown St. Petersburg, $9 adults/$7 students (one dollar from all ticket sales benefits Winter Pride Tampa Bay), 727-502-0965, tiglff.com.
