Woodside Energy, Herbert Smith Freehills, WAAC and Arup in collaboration with The Backlot Perth, are thrilled to support the PRIDE Queer Film Festival from 9th to 14th March 2023.
Utilising the services of Film Freeway, and a range of independent film makers, the festival will be screening 5 feature films and 43 short films. These films will showcase the very best of International Queer Cinema, premiering in Western Australia across seven days of the festival.
Film Festival Artistic Director, Mark Reid was keen to see the types of films submitted for the 2023 festival. “The past year has once again challenged all of us, and in putting together the program for the festival this year, I was driven to find some of the best queer films that had been produced over the last 12 months”, Reid explains.
“The result is one that I think offers an insight into the many and varied stories we have to share about being queer in 2023 and beyond. The range and depth of the films we have on offer this year, I think, ensures that there really is something to engage everyone.”
PQFF will once again expand into the regions, and thanks to Woodside Energy PQFF will be heading to Karratha for the first time at the impressive Red Earth Arts Precinct. And thanks to WAAC, PQFF will also be returning to Geraldton and Kalgoorlie in April 2023.
Documentaries, short films, love stories, features and so much more make up the program this year, and we are pleased to share with you another year of exceptional queer film making from around the world, including films from Belgium, Israel, France, USA, Spain, Canada, Ireland, Sweden, Philippines, Turkey, Italy, and 17 great homegrown shorts from Australia. An incredible 48 films being screened this year will have their world premiere at the festival.
Program highlights include films that ask the audience to consider their own lives, a stunning feature film on closing night chronicling the conflict between a groom and his best man on his wedding day, and the largest range of new Australian films, many making their debuts at PQFF.
WAAC are a new partner with PQFF this year, with Freedom Centre receiving a donation from PQFF last year to provide the ongoing amazing work for the young LGBTQIA+ community.
Tickets are $25 for Opening Night and include a complimentary glass of the latest new releases from Doom Juice for guests as well as pre-movie nibbles. 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. And we are also pleased to partner with Humantix as our ticketing partner this year, search PRIDE Queer Film Festival on Humantix for ticket sales.
Regional PRIDE Queer Film Festival
In 2023 we are excited to be taking the PRIDE Queer Film Festival to three regional areas in Western Australia. Dates and locations are as follows:
- Karratha : 22 to 23 April 2023
- Kalgoorlie : 6 to 7 May 2023
- Geraldton : 13 to 14 May 2023
We are thrilled to be showcasing in Karratha for the first time thanks to Woodside Energy and returning to Kalgoorlie and Geraldton thanks to WAAC as first-time sponsors.
There will be 3 sessions at each location, and we will be showcasing some of the best films from this year’s festival. For further information regarding sessions, venues and tickets see the event link on PRIDE Queer Film Festival Facebook page.
Any surplus funding from ticket sales will go to the Freedom Centre, a WAAC support service that creates safe and inclusive spaces for young LGBTQIA+ people aged 12-26 to connect, access support and freely be themselves.
Masterclass – Perth and Karratha
After the success of the first Masterclass in 2021, and PQFF is adding a Masterclass event in both Perth and Karratha in partnership with Woodside Energy.
The Masterclass will host a mix of acclaimed in-person and potentially zoom speakers, with a live audience of emerging filmmakers. The sessions aim to cover not only the structure of filmmaking and queer content, but also topics such as authenticity, who’s voice, and where is next for queer community storytellers.
The Festival has engaged a high calibre of speakers who will be a part of this event, with:
Andrew Blogg
Andrew Blogg is screenwriter, film director and film educator based in Melbourne, Australia. His film career spans 20 years, with films screening globally. His debut documentary feature film, CAMP 32 (2015) premiered at The Cambodian International Film Festival in Phnom Penh. Andrew has created numerous film productions, educational programs, music and promotional videos. His recent short film entitled POOFTA (2022) marks his return to narrative filmmaking, with the script winning the Geelong Pride Film Festival LGBTIQA+ Screenplay Commission prize in 2020. His desire to create this film came as a result of the debate that erupted during the marriage equality plebiscite/referendum in Australia in 2017. POOFTA has screened in numerous festivals both nationally and internationally, winning awards for direction and performance. Andrew currently works as a Lecturer & Subject Coordinator at VCA Film & Television, Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, The University of Melbourne.
Michael Leask
Owner of a video production company Pineapple Fingers, Michael has been a hobbyist photographer since 12. He has transferred that skill into film over the last 3 years and has working as a DoP on the short film ‘I am not like my mother’ and web series ‘Slipper Business’. Michael has also shot 10 music videos, working with RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under star Scarlet Adams. His focus is now on telling the untold GAYFL story of the only Gay AFL team and writing and developing 2 short films.
Jakob Grasa
An upcoming Gay filmmaker in the WA film industry, working in 2016 in TV Commercial’s sector before studying a Diploma of Screen and Media at North Metropolitan TAFE in 2018. During this time Jakob started working in the Unit department and was subsequently employed as a Unit Manager on the short film Featherweight and on the web-series Single Ladies. While working on these projects Jakob was approached to work on the ABC TV Series The Heights as a Unit Assistant. After finishing on The Heights, Jakob continued his work in the TV Commercial sector raising the ranks to Production, Location and Unit Manager for many TVC Production Houses. On top of this Jakob worked as a Unit Coordinator on the feature film Toxic Obsession, which is set to premiere in 2019. In 2020 Jakob started work on Season Two of the Children’s Television show ITCH slated to premiere in 2021 in the Unit department. Jakob has also received Local Government funding for his short film King of the Bush which he Co-wrote, Directed and Executive Produced. King of the Bush is premiering in mid 2021. Jakob has also recently started working on the Feature film “How to please a Woman” which started production in April 2021.
Masterclass Event Details
Morning sessions with the guest speakers will be followed by a lunch break including a special screening of some of the best Australian queer shorts from the Festival, and a light lunch.
The afternoon will explore topics such as pathways to screening, and some distribution tips from Ian Hale and Halo Films and other local film makers.
Perth Masterclass
Date: Sunday, 12 March 2023
Time: 10am to 2pm AWST
Where: The Backlot Perth
Karratha Masterclass
Date: Saturday, 22nd April 2023
Time: 3pm to 5pm AWST
Where: The Red Earth Arts Precinct
Cost: $50 per ticket for the Masterclass is which includes lunch and a special screening
Registration: For more information and registration for this limited event please email pqff@iinet.net.au, or see the event link on PRIDE Queer Film Festival Facebook page.
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PRIDE Queer Film Festival limited tickets selling through Humantix :
Tickets: $20* + 20c booking fee
*Opening Night tickets $25 + 25c booking fee
PRIDE QUEER FILM FESTIVAL
THE BACKLOT PERTH 21 Simpson St, West Perth
Wednesday 8 March, 6.30pm (7.00pm Film)
OPENING NIGHT
Required Reading (Netherlands) Iniyavan Elumala
Bare (USA) Nathan Kovar
Gloria (France) Tanguy Pochoy
Easy Tiger (Belgium) Karel Tuytschaever
Thursday 9 March, 6.30pm (7.00pm Film)
QUEER MEN
Idiot Fish (France) Hakim Mao
Virgin My Ass (Israel) Adar Sigler
Waiting For Otto (Ireland) Conor Toner
King of Spades (UK) Andri Zhuravskyi
The Death Of Oso (Spain) Xaho
Leopard (Australia) Kamil Domaradzki & Ali Zoghi
Poofta (Australia) Andrew Denham Blogg
Friday 10 March, 6.30pm (7.00pm Film)
QUEER LOVE
Views From The Airplane Window (New Zealand) Kit Reilly
CANCR (USA) Brittany Alsot
Constellations (Mexico) Jandy Ayala
7 Year Itch (Phillipines) Dolly Dulu
Dreaming, So Long (Sweden) Evelina Jacobsson
Vanner (USA) Anthony Jakobs
The Moment (USA) Summer Ward
The Wedding Car (UK) Gareth Edward Evans
Saturday 11 March, 3.30pm (4.00pm Film)
QUEER DOCUMENTARIES
The Domino Effect (Australia) Joy Leaper
Soak (USA) Desdemona Dallas
Surviving Pulse: Life after a mass shooting (USA) Alexa Sheehan
Saturday 11 March, 6.30pm (7.00pm Film)
QUEER WOMEN
Magic Trick (Canada) Chris Lennox-Aasen
A Free Run (France) Laurieanne Ligarde
Teach Me How To Fly (Australia) Samantha Harris
Under The Bridge (Australia) Rose Weaver
Sunday 12 March, 3.30pm (4.00pm Film)
QUEER TRANS
The Stranger (Australia) Phoenix K M Frost
How To Spell Dad (Canada) Kristen Anderson-Sauve
Uncovered Lives: Australia’s Fight For Funded Trans Healthcare (Australia) Kai Wharton
Call Me Soroya (Sweden) Daniel Stadelman
Sunday 12 March, 6.30pm (7.00pm Film)
DARK QUEER STORIES
Runner (USA) Ryan Harman
The Extravagant Illnesses (France) Raphael Deskandes
Uninvited (Australia) Emily James
The Monster Within (UK) Kuba Marczuk
Deep Six (Australia) Fraser Whitehead
Prairie (USA) Hope Wagner
Water Curcles Under Cotton Clouds (Spain) Roberto F Canuto & Xiaoxi Xu
Monday 13 March, 6.30pm (7.00pm Film)
QUEER AUSTRALIA
Boy Angel (Australia) Danny Adler
Welcome To The Galaxy(Australia) Suz Mawer
Reunion (Australia) Gilbert Kemp Attrill
The Length of the Field (Australia) Adam Coutts
Yannis ( Australia) James Elazzi
Why Not Both ( Australia) Mansoor Noor
Through Fault (Australia) Emily Brown
Tuesday 14 March, 6.30pm (7.00pm Film)
CLOSING NIGHT
Do You Like Me (Australia) Danielle Chan
Brother (USA) Aleksei Borovikov
Good Times and That’s Okay (Australia) Amanda Kaye
Christian ( Spain) Adan Pichardo
RSVP (Please Respond) (Turkey) Ismet Kurtulus & Kaan Arici
#PRIDEQueerFilmFest #PQFF
