
Vancouver’s second largest film festival is readying its return to screens, at-home. Vancouver Queer Film Festival (VQFF) presented by Out On Screen is returning in a virtual format this summer from Thursday, August 13 to Sunday, August 23, 2020.
Recently announced new VQFF and Out On Screen Interim Executive Director, Brandon Yan says, “I am more than delighted to continue to be of service to Out On Screen and the communities I so deeply care about. In times like these, the importance of art and storytelling is even more apparent. We must remain committed to being a platform to uplift and celebrate the LGBT2Q+ stories at the margins.”
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the 32nd annual Vancouver Queer Film Festival has adapted to an online format in order to offer at-home audiences the world of independent queer cinema as well as workshops, artist Q&As, panels, parties while maintaining that feeling of gathering with friends and family.
Curated by Artistic Director, Anoushka Ratnarajah, the theme of this year’s Festival is “Still Here”. “VQFF is on this August, and will feature films and interdisciplinary programming from queer filmmakers and artists whose work shows the many ways we fight for the fullness of our lives, for what and who we love, and for our shared futures,” says Ratnarajah. “Our theme this year is ‘Still Here’, because our survival is an inevitable miracle. Nothing can stop us from taking root; we will always reach for the light and sky.”

The largest queer arts event in Western Canada, this year VQFF opens on August 13th with a virtual celebration of our local queer community. The Opening Gala film is director Elegance Bratton’s Pier Kids, an uncut guerilla style documentary that unearths Black queer resourcefulness and resilience at its core. The film follows the life of Black Trans woman, Crystal LaBeija and other Queer and Trans youth of colour at the Christopher Street Pier in New York City. Elegance Bratton will be joining the Festival at a virtual Q&A along with producer Chester Algernal Gordon.
Lingua Franca, the Festival’s Centrepiece Gala film is an ambitious feature film that follows a trans Filipina migrant as she navigates being undocumented in a Trump-era America. The film is written, directed by and stars trans actress Isabel Sandoval, who will join audiences virtually to discuss the film in a digital Q&A.

Youth programming is a vital part of VQFF, including a Youth Gala screening of the inspirational documentary Changing The Game, which follows three boundary-breaking young trans athletes changing the face of sports in their communities and across the United States.
The Festival will continue to celebrate B.C.’s most standout emerging and established filmmakers with The Coast is Queer – an evening dedicated to local talent.

Finally, this year’s VQFF will close with the heartwarming queer Muslim romantic comedy, Breaking Fast, directed by Mike Mosallam.
Out On Screen has worked hard to ensure this year’s new-look Festival is accessible and safe for community members who are immunocompromised or part of another vulnerable sector. Tickets and the Festival Program for VQFF 2020 will be available to the public on July 13 at queerfilmfestival.ca Tickets range in price from $10 to $14 with a special COVID19 access pricing ranging from $2-$5.
CONTEST: Vancouver Queer Film Festival is giving one On The List reader the opportunity to ‘attend’ the festival with a pair of tickets to their choice of either the Opening, Centrepiece or Closing Gala.
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED : CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNER, DEIRDRE
Leave a comment below telling us which gala – Opening, Centrepiece or Closing – that you’d enjoy. (1 entry)
Tweet the Following & Tag your VQFF #Festie (1 entry) :
RT to #Win a pair of @QueerFilmFest #gala film tickets via @jminter http://ow.ly/fuun50Ay5yT #contest
Contest entries will be accepted until Noon on Tuesday August 4, 2020. One winner will be chosen at random.
I want to watch the Closing Gala.
Good luck!