A sizzling selection of the best and most diverse queer films from Australia and around the world will screen in Brisbane from 10 – 19 March 2017 for the newly independent Brisbane Queer Film Festival (BQFF).
The brilliantly bold 2017 program has been carefully curated by new directors Shanon King and Justin Marshman to embrace the full gamut of queer cinema, spanning lesbian, gay, bi, trans, gender diverse and multigenerational films, with special picks for niches and allies of Brisbane’s queer community.
“This year the festival celebrates its 18th birthday. Like all 18-year-olds BQFF has moved out of its childhood home, Brisbane Powerhouse, and is now ready to party as an independent festival,” said Justin Marshman. “We are thrilled to lead this exciting new episode of Brisbane’s much loved queer arts festival.”
The eighteen sessions in this year’s program include 16 features, two shorts sessions, five documentaries and a special binge screening of Brazil’s stylish four-part serial The Nest, covering everything from poignant coming out tales to groundbreaking films at the vanguard of new-wave queer cinema.
“It is very important for us that BQFF screen films that reflect modern queer life and contemporary forms of storytelling: from opening night’s dazzling NYC vogueing documentary KIKI, French Paris 05:59, and dark comedy Women Who Kill to the delightfully divisive Tomcat,” said Shanon King.
“We are really proud of the calibre, diversity and inclusiveness in this year’s program. We’re not the biggest queer festival in Australia, but our program features the best films chosen especially for Brisbane’s queers, allies and cinephiles.”
As part of the festival’s commitment to supporting Australian film, BQFF is proud to be launching and premiering Brisbane local Mary Duong’s new web series Two Weeks, to be screened across the festival and featured in the queer shorts sessions, as well as screening Craig Boreham’s coming of age film, Teenage Kicks.
Part of the festival’s coming of age is its recognition as a member of the Asia Pacific Queer Film Alliance, making BQFF a peer of international queer film festival leaders such as Shanghai PRIDE film festival, Tokyo International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and Seoul PRIDE Film Festival, and locals Sydney Mardi Gras Film Festival and Melbourne Queer Film Festival.
In 2017, BQFF continues with funding support from major partners Brisbane Powerhouse and Screen Queensland, and HIV Foundation Queensland.
“Screen Queensland is proud to continue its support for the Brisbane Queer Film Festival and celebrate diversity through screen stories,’ said Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira. “Screen is a powerful medium that can open hearts and minds and challenge thinking. It’s critical to inclusiveness to see content that reflects all of us. We look forward to seeing the compelling programming from the 2017 festival.”
BQFF is also proud to partner with HIV Foundation Queensland to present Paris 05:59, which aligns well with the HIV Foundation’s goals to reduce HIV transmission, educate about PEP, and reduce HIV stigma. Queensland Positive People will also launch the first installment of its latest film series, Talking About Stigma.
BQFF will co-present with Amnesty International Queensland the documentary Out Run – a film looking at the world’s first LGBT political party seeking election into the Philippine congress.
This year the festival returns to New Farm Cinema, which has established itself as Brisbane’s premiere venue for the moving image, from film festivals, independent, cult and arthouse screenings to popular blockbusters.
The 2017 Brisbane Queer Film Festival runs 10 – 19 March. Films are now on sale, with more films to be announced soon. For more information, visit: www.bqff.com.au for details.
Image: Miles Szanto and Daniel Webber in Teenage Kicks