22nd Queer Film Festival of Vancouver
An insight to the Vancouver Queer Film Festival
The second largest festival in Vancouver, the Vancouver Queer Film Festival (VQFF) kicked off on Thursday, August 12 with the screening of the film Undertow (“Contracorriente” in Spanish) by Peruvian director Javier Fuentes-Leon. Hundreds of people gathered at the Granville 7 cinema and were moved by the film.
What it started as a small festival with few members of the gay and lesbian community called Out of Screen Film Society in 1988 working from homes and volunteering, has reached the second place with 90 films from 12 different countries and last year, 13 thousand people attended the 11-day event.
For 2010, “ it is expected an increase of 5% in attendance,” according to VQFF Director of Development, Paul Crosby.
On the other hand, VQFF Programming Coordinator, Amber Dawn said that she believes that VQFF’S popularity is happening because “more people are recognizing the festival “and there has been a positive shift in the mentality of people in Vancouver.
“Finally we reached to be the second largest and I think that is wonderful that more people are recognizing the festival , attending the festival . I also feel like we live in a more open minded, more tolerant times than we did 22 years ago.”
In addition, as Out of Screen has grown as a art organization, they have developed various initiatives over the years such as the Queer Festival History and Out in Schools (a program for youth), and several workshops and debates , other activities that take place during the course of the festival.
“Holding Hands” to end with homophobia and hate crimes
This year the VQFF screened the documentary “Holding Hands” by directors Tonette Standford and Katherine Wilkinson, which follows the life of an Australian couple, Shane and Craig after being attacked for holding hands. As the pair start looking for justice, at the same time they struggle with the recovery and challenges with their relationship.
After the film, a community debate followed to discuss homophia and how people can make of Vancouver a safer place for queer communities and communities in general : to end with hate crimes, not only homophobia, but any hate crimes such as racism, sexism and others.
The panel was composed by Human Rights lawyer, Barbara Findlay, QC and gay-bashing victims, David Holtzman and his partner, Peter Regier (the couple was viciously attacked earlier this year by two thugs when they were trying to get inside their East Vancouver home) Qmunity executive director, Jennifer Breakspear and Diversity and Aboriginal policing inspector, Mario Giardini .
It was an eye opening opportunity to hear the GLTB community speak and interact with the panelists.
Queer Latin American Films:
On queer-themed Latin American films, Dawn said that there has been a shift on topics. While in the past a gay man was portrayed as a funny and comical, now the characters are more serious and complex and the movies in general have more elaborated stories that show their societies’ reality.
“When I first started watching [the films] I would see more comedy, and maybe the gay man would be a little bit funny, a little bit like a woman: people would see this character and maybe laugh. But now, I feel like more serious, more complex characters and more thoughtful”.
“So I think that queer issues are becoming more accepted around the world and now is time to tell the most powerful stories and I am seeing Peru, Argentina and other Latin Americans doing this as well,” Dawn added.
The films:
Undertow (“Contracorriente”), Peru: By director Javier Fuentes-Leon’s.
The movie is set in the wonderful Peruvian beaches of Cabo Blanco where married fisherman with a baby on the way, is having an affair with Santiago, a painter.
During a boating accident, Santiago loses his life and comes back as ghost to Miguel. The fisherman tries to keep his ghost’s lover in his life however, and realizes keeping “everyone happy” is not an easy task, when reality hit and has a series of internal battles between fullfiling social, religious and moral expectations and the profound love for his gay lover.
Si nos dejan (Mexico): A 4-minute short film that takes a brief glance at the imposed social taboos faced by a young gay couple while displaying their affection in public. Director: Alejandro Murillo from the Universidad Nacional de Estudios Cinematograficos.
The Fish Child (El niño pez) Argentina: Lala is a wealthy adolescent, daughter of a judge who falls in love with her 20-year old Paraguayan maid, Ailin. They concoct a plan to escape and live together in Paraguay. In the interim, Lala discovers the the horrendous life Ailin has been through including incest and sexual abuse by the judge for years. Lala takes revenge resulting in Ailin’s incarceration.
Director Lucia Puenzo does not focus on the lesbian romance, instead focus on social injustice, class division, sexual abuse and corruption that plagues the reality of Buenos Aires’ society.
Plan B (Argentina): By director, Marco Berger. In this film, Berger gets rid of clichés and stereotypes to produce this romantic comedy. On and off couple, Bruno and Laura break up –for good. At a point, Bruno feels he can finally commit to his ex, however, Laura has already a new love, Pablo. Bruno tries to get Pablo friendship in secret, trying to wreck their relationship. Furthermore, Bruno thinks it would be even a better idea to steal Pablo from Laura.
Bloomington (U.S.A): While not a film produced in Latin American or with Latin American actors, director Fernanda Cardoso emigrated from her natal Brazil to the United States in 1995 and has worked in the last nine years as an editor in programs such America’s Next Top Model and The Real L World.
Bloomintong marks Cardoso’s debut as a director.
The film is about a female professor that gets involved with a student, Jackie Kirk a former child star who moved from California to Bloomington, Minnesota to attend college. Jackie, warned by her classmates about the professor’s flings with students, yet she gets involved with her. When the relationship between the two women stars to blossom, Jackie gets the opportunity to get back to acting. Decision are made that will change their life definitely.
Fernanda Cardoso and actress Sara Stouffer (Jackie) were at the Q&A after the screening.
The Queer Film Festival is having another successful edition and it will wrap up this Sunday 22nd.
For more information on the VQFF initiatives, films and tickets visit: www.queerfilmfestival.com
