Vancouver Queer Film Festival Celebrates 30 Years

The Vancouver Queer Film Festival (VQFF) is celebrating 30 years of showcasing the artistic voices of queer and trans folks from within and outside Vancouver. From August 9-19, the public is invited to join the celebration and view films, participate in Q&As and attend workshops that platform the social issues of this community. A complete list of events can be found here and include venues such as VIFF Vancity Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse, The Junction Pub, SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts and more. Kick off the multi-day event festival with the opening gala on August 9 or bring the whole thing to a close on August 19 at the closing gala.

With a priority of accessibility, VQFF issues over 500 complimentary tickets and memberships for anyone facing financial hardship, who might otherwise not be able to attend the festival. In addition, for those who need to pay for childcare to view a screening, a festival sponsor, The Law Offices of Barbara Findlay, Q.C. will provide $10 per screening to parents or guardians. Learn more about the venues and accessibility on the festival website.

FILM SPOTLIGHTS

There are 4 film spotlights this year:

decolonizing discipline(s): a two-spirit showcase

RISE: Youth Spotlight

Spotlight on the Artist

Trans Women on Screen

Each spotlight features numerous films as curated by Artistic Directors Amber Dawn and Anoushka Ratnarajah who are excited about the wide representation within this year’s submissions. Especially worthy of note is the focus on indigenous queer and two-spirit folk, as well as the showcase of trans women on screen. “Historically, stories about trans women have been performed by cis male actors,” explained Ratnarajah. “We have decided to make it an ongoing policy to not show films where cis men are playing trans women.”

MAKING SPACE AT THE TABLE FOR QUEER PEOPLE OF COLOUR

2018 has been named Year of the Queer by the City of Vancouver. Coupled with the timing of the 30^th annual Vancouver Queer Film Festival, we thought this would be a great time to share an organization for, by and about LGBTQIA+ South Asians and allies living in the Pacific Northwest. TRIKONENW has meetings, speaking events, and more. For more information, check out their website.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE VANCOUVER QUEER FILM FESTIVAL

Visit their website and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.