Philadelphia's fifteenth annual QFest opens Thursday, and picking this year's winners will not be easy.

The festival is set to premiere two highly-anticipated films: Hollywood, Je T'aime and The Big Gay Musical. (OK, technically, Je T'aime will premiere at Los Angele's Outfest, let's call Philly its East Coast premiere, then.) But other contenders for prizes lurk beneath the surface, including Make the Yuletide Gay.

We only know a pinch about Director Capser Andrea's lyrical gay tale, Musical. But what's leaked out sounds promising. After heartbreak, Paul decides to give up dating for more immediate pursuits. He's working on the new musical hit Adam & Steve: Just the Way God Made 'Em, where he shares the stage with Eddie. Eddie's got his own big gay problem: How do you reconcile being gay with a faith that calls it a sin? Paul manhunts on the Internet while Eddie comes out to his Bible-thumping parents, which leads to sassy musical numbers with bikini clad tap dancing angels and a bunch of showtunes. Fabugay!

Musical will bring down the curtain of QFest 2009 on July 20 after 11 dizzying days of screenings at three venues.

Make the Yuletide Gay premiered earlier this year in Toronto, but has remained fairly closeted since. The movie gives the old comic premise of “meet my parents at Christmas” a gay spin. The movie includes the genre's three requisites: the fawning but clueless parents (the Gunnundersons), the distant parents (the Stanfords), and the cute couple who yearn for a Merry Christmas curled up in a stocking hung by the chimney with care (Olaf and Nathan).

Problem is Olaf, the big college gay rights advocate, remains closeted to his lovable parents. So when boyfriend Nathan decides to join the holiday cheer at the Gunnunderson home … well, you've seen this film, right? (Pssst: Gay double entendres and homo hijinks ensue.)

Still, Director Rob Williams' latest film is a sweet treat certain to be a gay family Christmas favorite.

Meanwhile, Director Jason Bushman's first feature film Hollywood, Je T'aime has a strong buzz going for it, making it the presumed film to beat this year.

Parisian Jerome's life is a forlorn mess after heartbreak. In an attempt to mend himself, he travels to Hollywood to be discovered. It happens in the most unusual way, but not before Jerome walks on the beach with Ross, played by Chad Allen (Save Me), and befriends some wacky Angelenos. Will Hollywood save Jerome?

Je T'aime kicks off the gay fest Thursday with a special screening and appearance by the openly gay actor Chad Allen.

(Yuletide and Je T'aime will also screen at this year's Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Outfest, which also opens July 9.)

Gay Entertainment Report is a feature of On Top Magazine and can be reached at ontopmag@ontopmag.com.