Melbourne Queer Film Festival (MQFF) is marking its 30th festival by unveiling a new brand and marketing campaign that embodies the essence of queer film. Launched today, the new festival tagline We’re Stories in Every Colour highlights the MQFF ethos of inclusion, community and celebration of LGBTIQ+ people.
“In this milestone anniversary year we wanted to ensure that we celebrate the diversity of the queer voice, while championing the people that have made it possible to bring these important queer stories to the screen over the past 30 years,” said Maxwell Gratton, Chief Executive Officer.
“Stories in Every Colour is a great way to showcase the diversity, history, talent and programming that makes MQFF such an important cultural event for Melbourne and LGBTIQ+ communities. “We are also proud, with the support of our sponsors, supporters, members and sweethearts that we can continue to fund the next generation of Australian queer filmmakers to tell the stories of our communities,” he added.
The 2020 festival programme which is spread across central, the north and south of Melbourne boasts over 140 sessions encompassing Australian and International features, documentaries and shorts, Q&A sessions, workshops and parties to unify and celebrate LGBTIQ+ culture and queer cinema.
As part of the new campaign launch, MQFF announced the first six titles that will form part of MQFF30 dynamic programming to be played across the Capitol Theatre, Cinema Nova and Jam Factory, including:
Unsound
On returning home from the UK, Noah (Reece Noi, Game of Thrones) a disillusioned musician finds creative inspiration and love via a community led dance club which is run by the headstrong Finn (Yiana Pandelis), a hearing-impaired trans-man on the cusp of transitioning. This Australian feature provides a delicate representation of love, respect, empathy and acceptance and features singer Christine Anu in a supporting role.
Sequin in a Blue Room
This debut Australian feature is a daring and provocative exploration of a young man’s sexuality in the age of social media and online dating apps.
Tell It To The Bees
This touching and romantic adaptation of Fiona Shaw’s much loved novel stars Oscar winner Anna Paquin, as a doctor in 1950s small town Scotland, who develops a passionate relationship with her young patient’s mother, played by Holliday Grainger. The two women face deep rooted prejudice as their bond deepens to love, causing scandal and recrimination amongst the close-knit community.
XY Chelsea
An urgent and compelling documentary about ex-army intelligence, WikiLeaks whistle blower and trans activist Chelsea Manning.
The Shiny Shrimps
This raucous comedy tells the ‘mostly’ true story of a French water polo team wreaking havoc at the Croatian gay games. Think Priscilla in Speedos.
Queering The Script
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Xena: Warrior Princess, The L Word, just to name a few are given the spotlight in this immensely enjoyable documentary about lesbian characters on TV and the women who love them.
“The lives, passions, struggles and successes of queer communities are as diverse as our acronym and this year’s program will showcase some of the best stories from Australian and international film-makers to our festival,” said Spiro Economopoulos, MQFF Program Director.
“Melbourne Queer Film Festival is about sharing the important stories of our community with our community. Get ready to be inspired, provoked, entertained and moved with this year’s selection of films.”
Running from 12 to 23 March, passes and special event tickets are now on sale for MQFF30 – including the limited release All-In-Pass, which gives exclusive entry to the hotly anticipated launch party, all films across the entire festival as well as special events. The full program will be released on 13 February 2020. For more information, visit: www.mqff.com.au for details.
Image: Unsound (film still) – courtesy of www.unsoundmovie.com