Vancouver Queer Film Festival

The Vancouver Queer Film Festival is Vancouver's second largest film festival and Western Canada's largest queer arts event that takes place annually in Vancouver, British Columbia.[1]

The Vancouver Queer Film Festival logo

2013 marks the 25th Annual Vancouver Queer Film Festival, August 15 to 26. The Vancouver Out On Screen Film Society (Out On Screen) began as a small, community-based film festival in anticipation of Vancouver hosting the Gay Games in 1990. Since then, Out On Screen has evolved to become a professional arts organization with three key program initiatives: the Vancouver Queer Film Festival, and Out in Schools.

Mission statement and vision

Mission: Celebrating Queer Lives.

Vision: A society where gender and sexual diversity are embraced.

Festival Awards

People's Choice Award for Best Feature

Year Film Director
2012 Mia Javier Van de Couter
2011 Gen Silent Stu Maddux
2010 Undertow Javier Fuentes-Leon
2009 I Can't Think Straight Shamim Sarif
2008[2] Were the World Mine Tom Gustafson
2007[3] Shelter Jonah Markowitz
2006[4] Unveiled Angelina Maccarone

Gerry Brunet Memorial Award

Established in 1997, this juried award is given in recognition of Gerry Brunet, a lifelong contributor to the arts and an early board member at Out On Screen.

Year Film Director
2012 Insert Credit David Nguyen
2011 Mood for Love Jason Karman
2010 Waiting 4 Goliath Cal Garingan
2009 Naoko-San Rka Moorhouse
2008[5] Hirsute AJ Bond
2008[5] Writing the Land Kevin Lee Burton
2007[6] Trans Neptune Matthew Long
2006[7] What Don't You Understand About "I'm Leaving Again" Amey Kazymerchyk

OUTtv Hot Pink Shorts Award

Echoing OUTtv's Hot Pink Shorts TV show, this awards recognizes an exceptional short film.

Year Film Director
2012 Jackie Jose Ignacio Correa
2011 (3-way tie) B.A.B.S/ Finding Judy/ Quirk-E: A Learning Collective Mette Bach / Gary Riotta / Callista Haggis[8]
2010 Butch Tits Jen Crothers
2009 The Portside Aerlyn Weissman

Other programs

Out in Schools

Launched in 2004, Out in Schools brings independent queer films into local high schools in British Columbia. In conjunction with gay–straight alliances, Out in Schools focuses on the serious issues that affect queer youth.[9] The purpose of Out in Schools is to reduce isolation and increase the safety of the learning environment for queer students in the community. Out in Schools aims to increase understanding through education to combat issues such as homophobia and bullying that threaten the safety of the classrooms for both queer and straight students.[10] In 2013, Out in Schools expanded its program reach by 25% into new school districts, delivering 100 classroom presentations focused on queer and anti-bullying education to more than 8,200 high school students across BC!

FirstOUT Video Scholarship Program

FirstOUT Video Scholarship Program is an intensive digital filmmaking program for youth aged 16 to 24. This is part of the youth education initiatives which, together with Out In Schools, seeks to give media literacy and production opportunities to queer youth and their allies. It brings independent media artists together with queer youth to work with them on developing their own cultural voice and producing their first video. Since its inception, five films have been produced and exhibited.[11]

2007

Out On Screen had partnered with Pacific Cinematheque to present the first year of the FirstOUT Video Scholarship Program. The application submission ended in November 2006. By mid-December, four participants were selected and were paired in a one-on-one mentorship with celebrated local independent media artists in Vancouver. The training and production period began in February and ended late June. All of the four short films were screened at the 19th Annual Vancouver Queer Film Festival on August 18, 2007 at Pacific Cinematheque as part of the Youth Series. A youth-friendly reception followed to celebrate the accomplishment of the four young filmmakers, as well as the success of the program.[12]

Film Director Mentor
The Nuwest Steambath Julian DeMayo Kenneth Sherman
Going In Jacks Cheng Terra Poirier
Borderless Me Setareh Mohammadi Karen Duthie
Checkpoint Alex Mah Winston Xin
^1 In addition to the four mentors above, Gabe Forsythe and Krista Stusiak were the youth mentors from Pacific Cinematheque's Education department who facilitated boot camp workshops on cinematography and technicality of filmmaking.

References

External links