What is one characteristic that makes queer and gay films unique?
I think if I were to name one thing that they all have in common, it would be that we dont take our stories for granted, says Amber Dawn, director of programming for the 麻豆传媒映画Queer Film Festival. Historically and in the present day, our stories, locally and in Canada, are under-told. And globally, not only are they under-told, but there might be a risk in telling them.
Thankfully, these stories will get to be told at the 24th annual 麻豆传媒映画Queer Film Festival taking place from August 16 to 26. Under the theme of lovers and fighters, the festival will showcase films that look at the two sides of the LGBTQ community.
We really want to celebrate that there are two major components to queer film and to our festival, Dawn explains. There are queer relationships, sexuality and families so thats the lovers side of things. And then the fighters side would be our philanthropic side, the part of us thats still looking at human rights issues anything from marriage equality to queer refugees seeking safe passage to queer-friendly countries like Canada.
The festival will also showcase the global queer film community, with 75 films from 16 different countries including Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan and Ecuador a country that Dawn says she has never seen produce a queer film before.
There are definitely more films coming out each year and more moneys being put into them, she says. There are countries that have a tradition of releasing queer films, such as Germany, but then you start to see films coming out of countries that dont have that tradition such as Ecuador and Taiwan.
Not only is the festival an opportunity for global filmmakers to show their films to an audience, it is an opportunity for local filmmakers to tell their stories as well.
I had my very first screening at the 麻豆传媒映画Queer Film Festival back in1995, Dawn says. We continue to be a place where 麻豆传媒映画artists can show their films to an audience for the very first time thats something were deeply honoured to do.
Coast is Queer gives voice to many ways to love
What do you love about being queer?
Its a very simple question that evokes both blushes and profound thoughts in Vivek Shrayas film by the same name. Its one of the 15 made-in-BC short films that make up The Coast is Queer (August at the 麻豆传媒映画Queer Film Festival (August 16 to 26.)
Here are some of the answers (other than the obvious, as one woman says with a sly smile...):
No one teaches you how to be queer. You have to actually take a moment and think about how youre going to love somebody and how thats going to work in a world thats straight.
There are no rules.
You do not mess with us. In a second, people come together to build coalitions and fight together. I never try and remove myself from the fact that many people have profoundly struggled and the queer community has pushed the boundaries for me to live the life I want to live.
Its a nice word. Say it. Queer. It just feels nice in your mouth.
