PRIDE Queer Film Festival celebrates fifth edition with stellar program announced today!

With support from Screenwest, Lotterywest and Mercedes-Benz Perth, PRIDE Queer Film Festival will screen 6 feature films and 42 short films from 3 to 9 March 2021. These films will showcase the very best of International Queer Cinema, premiering in Western Australia across seven days of the festival, with proceeds going to PRIDE WA.

After a very complex 2020, Film Festival Artistic Director, Mark Reid was keen to see what level of films would be submitted for the 2021 festival.  “It was really exciting to see the number of amazing films that were submitted for consideration, and it made the task of putting the program together a real pleasure”, Reid explained.

“2021 promises to be an exciting year for PQFF as we grow and expand and determine who and what we are.  This year we will venture to Geraldton with some of our films in May and are thrilled to take the Festival to regional Western Australia.”

“We will also for the first time be holding a Masterclass for queer film makers featuring John Sheedy, the director of H is for Happiness, Erin Good, award winning writer and director, and Adam Noviello, writer, producer and star of last year’s opening night film Spencer.”

“When developing the Festival for 2021, we wanted to offer Perth audiences films that were thought provoking, emotional, funny and captivating. We are also growing and developing our local queer filmmakers with the full day Masterclass and expanding our audience as we head to regional WA.”

Documentaries, short films, love stories, features and so much more make up the program this year, with the festival excited to share another year of exceptional queer film making from around the world. This year’s program includes films from Israel, Russia, Myanmar, France, Germany, Brazil, Italy, USA, UK, Ireland, Spain, Mexico, Canada, Slovakia, India, New Zealand, Honduras and some great homegrown shorts from Australia. 24 films will have their world premiere at the PRIDE Queer Film Festival this year.

Program highlights include some incredible films chronicling what it is like to be trans in 2021, the first queer love story from Namibia Kapana and the short film Sparkles made in Western Australia with special Q&A from Director Jacqueline Pelczar on the closing night of the Festival.

Screenwest CEO Willie Rowe congratulated the festival, “It’s fantastic to see this festival continue to grow with the addition of the new Masterclass to their program. The festival’s continual support and advocacy for Queer filmmakers and wider LGBTQIA+ community is to be applauded.”

Tickets are $30 for Opening Night and include a complimentary glass of Clandestine Vineyards’ rosé for guests as well as nibbles. And all other tickets for the Festival are $20. For further information and tickets see the event link pages on PRIDE Queer Film Festival Facebook page.

PRIDE Queer Film Festival declares the show must go on! and has a refund or postponement policy for any events impacted by COVID-19. The festival works closely with its venue partner and health authorities to ensure the safety for guests and filmmakers. If you have any questions, please contact us for further information.

Event Details Festival

Date:  Wednesday March 3 – Tuesday March 9
Time: Various
Where: The Backlot Perth
Tickets: For full information on sessions see the PRIDE Queer Film Festival Facebook Page and buy tickets see the festival’s trybooking site.

Event Details Masterclass

The new Masterclass will host a mix of acclaimed in-person and zoom speakers with the likes of John Sheedy, Erin Goode and Adam Noviello, with a live audience of emerging filmmakers.

The sessions aim to cover not only the structure of film making and queer content, but also topics such as authenticity, who’s voice, and where is next for queer community storytellers.

Morning Sessions with the guest speakers followed by a lunch break including a special screening of some of the best Australian queer shorts from the Festival. The afternoon will explore topics such as pathways to screening, and also some production tips from Screenwest and other local film makers.

Date: Saturday, 6 March 2021
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm AWST
Where: The Backlot Perth

Cost: $50 per ticket for the full day Masterclass is which includes lunch and a special lunch screening
Registration: For more information read the PRIDE Queer Film Festival Masterclass announcement. To register for this limited event please email pqff@iinet.net.au.

This session has been made possible with the support from Screenwest and Lotterywest.

About PRIDE Queer Film Festival

The PRIDE Queer Film Festival is Perth’s only LGBTQI+ film festival, now in its fifth year.

The Festival began in 2016 as part of PRIDE WA, with the creators wanting to bring a range of diverse and interesting LGBTQIA+ films and documentaries to the Perth Community.

The Festival has strong links with other Australian and International queer festivals and is highly regarded from variety of international filmmaker alumni.

For more information, please visit the PRIDE Queer Film Festival 2021 Facebook Page.

Audience and Community Engagement Fund

Screenwest facilitates screen culture through the Audience and Community Engagement Fund. Activities supported through this fund – including festivals, events, and programs – provide home grown opportunities for WA practitioners to see their work on the “big screen” and to engage with Western Australian audiences.

 

Contact Screenwest

T: +61 8 6169 2100
E: info@screenwest.com.au

www.screenwest.com.au
www.filminwesternaustralia.com.au

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