Attitude, sexual angst and curiosity.

Like many 13-year-olds, the Calgary Fairy Tales Film Festival is morphing into a year of awakening, and that involves all the pubescent energy of teen anguish.

“But it is a good teenager though,” director Jessica Dollard says. “A teenager that is thoughtful and full of reverence for those who have paved the way before us.”

This year’s festival’s theme centres on coming of age and coming out, and is full of attitude, drama, grit and sex. Dollard assures there is something for everyone, regardless of sexual preference.

“This year’s festival celebrates the diversity, creativity and visibility of Calgary’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer (LGBQT) community,” she says. “This year, the festival perfectly reflects what’s happening in the world in 2011.”

Some of the films being shown during the festival include: Off-Beat, a gritty coming-of-age hip-hop drama set in Germany; The Advocate for Fagdom, a shocking documentary about queer core artist Bruce LaBruce; Unhappy Birthday, a queer take on the British horror film; Man at Bath, a provocative sexual film; and Night Watch, a period piece about lesbians.

This year, popular sex advice columnist Dan Savage was invited to speak at the event after Dollard contacted him last year. Savage, the creator of the It Gets Better campaign, was so impressed with the Fairy Tales version of the campaign that he agreed to speak.

In Fairy Tales’ version, a dozen gay, lesbian and transgendered youth have been creating public-service announcements urging people to take a stand against prejudices.

The Calgary Police Service is heavily involved in the campaign and Const. Lynn MacDonald says that the kids are very excited to catch Savage’s attention.

“I think until (Savage decided to come) they didn’t realize how much of an impact they have been making,” MacDonald says. “They have made a huge impact to the service.”

The Fairy Tales’ It Gets Better campaign PSAs will play on May 29 during the festival. Dollard also encourages people to “bring-a-straight” on Tuesday night to the film We Were Here, the true story about San Francisco in the midst of the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s.

“We always pick one of our most powerful and moving films for Bring-a-Straight Night to show people who may never have been to the festival before that we share powerful human stories with universal appeal,” Dollard says.

And what 13-year-old isn’t complete without a party or two?

The opening gala will kick off the festival and there will be a can’t-miss Happily Ever After Party at the Marquee Room featuring DJ Joshua vN, DJ Mike Dub and DJ Jody Crowe.