Vancouver’s Queer Film Festival has put out its request for submissions for this year’s event Aug 13-23.
Director of programming Amber Dawn says it’s important for the queer community to be able to see itself reflected in the arts.
“Queer artists have a right to see their work screened in a professional setting,” she says, “and Out On Screen can provide that.
“We really encourage people from the urban centres like Vancouver but also from all over BC and Canada,” Dawn says.
The festival offers more than $5,000 in juried and audience awards.
There are no entry fees for submissions before Mar 1, 2009.
Full submissions information can be found at queerfilmfestival.ca.
This year marks’ the 21st anniversary of the festival which is now the largest queer media event in western Canada.
The festival presents more than 120 films each year, including short- and feature-length documentaries, narrative and experimental works showcasing the diversity of queer artists working in Canada and internationally.
But, stresses Dawn, the festival is first and foremost a community-based event to encourage up-and-coming artists as well as seasoned filmmakers.
“It’s not a filmmakers’ festival, it’s not a professional artists’ festival,” she says.