Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Tokyo International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival kicks off today and runs until July 22 at Aoyama's Spiral Hall.

The festival will feature a total of 18 programs comprising 45 films from 13 countries.

As usual, a wide variety of perspectives will be shown, from West Hollywood boys in love ("The Broken Hearts Club," U.S.) and a high school girl's obsession with her classmate ("Memento Mori," Korea) to episodes of "Florentene," the popular Israeli television series about twentysomethings coming out of the closet.

Several critically acclaimed features will also have their Tokyo premieres, including "Plata Quemada (Burnt Money)," based on a true story of doomed gay robbers; "Chutney Popcorn," a popular comedy in which a lesbian woman becomes a surrogate mother for her infertile sister; "Presque Rien (Come Undone)" where young lovers Mathieu and Cedric experience one passionate summer; and "Emporte-moi (Set Me Free)," about a young girl who lives in the silver screen and falls for an Anna Karina look-alike.

"Psycho Beach Party," a high-camp horror comedy featuring a drag-queen homicide detective, will open the festival.

All non-Japanese films will be screened with Japanese subtitles and non-English films with English subtitles.

Tickets are available at the door or through Ticket Pia (03) 5237-9999, Lumiere (03) 3352-3378 and Spiral Hall (03) 3498-1171. For further information call (03) 5380-5760 or access the festival Web site (l-gff.gender.ne.jp/).