It all began in 1993, when a group of queer Sydney filmmakers, students and supporters approached Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras in order to establish an independent organisation with a focus on queer film and screen culture.
Fast forward 30 years, and Queer Screen continues to present memorable programming of queer stories, and films created by queer filmmakers. It's one of the top five queer film festivals in the world and is highly regarded by filmmakers across the globe.
Check out highlights from the festival's programme here, and our Passionfroot spotlight on Mia Artemis (starring in 'The Longest Weekend' at the festival) here.
To delve a little more into MGFF's history as well as talk about how Queer Screen is celebrating its 30th iteration, we spoke to Festival Director Lisa Rose.
For those unfamiliar, tell us a bit about the Mardi Gras Film Festival.
Queer Screen's Mardi Gras Film Festival is a staple of the Mardi Gras season and exists for the community and filmmakers. It is one of the largest LGBTIQ+ film festivals in the world in terms of attendance and size of the programme. 2023 sees our largest festival in over a decade with 167 films across more than 100 sessions in cinema, outdoors and on-demand at home. We will run for 16 days across eight different venues in Sydney with film screenings, talks, workshops, networking events, parties, filmmaker guests and plenty of popcorn!
This will be the festival’s 30th anniversary. What does this milestone mean to you?
Everyone at Queer Screen is incredibly proud of this milestone. From screening thousands of queer films to audiences all over Australia, to championing emerging filmmakers, lobbying for better representation, hosting visiting queer film auteurs, investing over $170,000 in Australian LGBTIQ+ productions, awarding 30 years of our country’s most significant queer film prize, My Queer Career, working with countless community members, filmmakers, partners and volunteers, Queer Screen has survived, thrived and helped to shape the history of queer film in Australia. It's my honour to have played a small part in that history and impact.
There are some retrospectives in the programme in 2023. Talk a bit about that offering.
Yes, being our 30th edition we have triple the amount of retrospective screenings with seven films on offer, including highlighting one of Queer Screen’s founders, Stephen Cummins at a retrospective gala in partnership with the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, and a day of community outdoor screenings including crowd-pleasing films from every decade of Queer Screen’s existence. We also have a celebratory screening of 1991 lo-fi cult classic 'Vegas In Space', a loving homage to science fiction B-movies starring an all-drag cast. It comes with a Q&A, performances and party, and a special screening of a camptastic episode of 'Number 96', followed by an in-depth discussion between TV historian Andrew Mercado and actor Joe Hasham, who played the first series regular gay character on TV.
How about the rest of the festival? What sorts of themes and stories run through it?
We are celebrating the festival on the global stage due to WorldPride and so we have an incredibly diverse line-up. There is an Asia-Pacific Focus with eight programmes in the line-up including the Asia Pacific Queer Film Festival Award for best short from the region, the Oscar-shortlisted 'Joyland' which won at Cannes, and the tantalising psychological thriller 'About Us But Not About Us' from the Philippines. There is also a Spotlight On Canada programme strand with six films covering a diverse range of stories, from the queer kid coming-of-age direct from TIFF, 'Soft', to the thought-provoking vigilant romance, 'Compulsus'. Australian films also feature heavily, including our stellar opening night film, 'Of An Age', 'The Winner Takes It All', a profile of Dr Bob Brown in 'The Giants' and of course don’t miss watching Cate Blanchett in 'TÁR' against the backdrop of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House at Westpac OpenAir.
A lot has changed in 30 years. When you think about the festival, what is one main thing that has always remained the same all this time?
There are so many queer stories to tell. Also, the incredibly loyal audience and support from the community and filmmakers, combined with the dedication of the thousands of volunteers who have given up their time to help us keep the big screens queer.
As Festival Director, what is the main thing you want to communicate to attendees at the 30th anniversary event?
We are here for you and want you to awaken your senses with some of the best LGBTIQ+ films on offer. Whether that be in cinema, outdoors or on demand across Australia, immerse yourself in the festival. Ask a question at any of the many Q&As we will have with visiting filmmakers. See a feel-good film, look for yourself on screen and step outside your usual fair to watch something you normally wouldn't.
And what has been the biggest challenge in your role?
Not having enough hours in the day! There is no limit to the number of things you can do to make festivals bigger and better, so getting that balance right between what my eyes and stomach can handle so to speak is a challenge. It is also an incredibly competitive landscape that the festival exists in now.
On the flip side of that, tell us the most rewarding thing about it.
It's an absolute privilege to have this role. So few of them exist in the world and so few of the roles are held by queer women. It's a position I take very seriously and although it is stressful and all-encompassing it is incredibly humbling and fun.
Why do you think people love attending the MGFF?
We showcase films you can't see anywhere else as well as playing films that you can, but the key attraction is we are here for the LGBTIQ+ community and allies and there is nothing like watching a queer film with a predominately queer audience. It just hits differently and the feeling as the lights dim and you have popcorn in hand is second to none.
Queer Screen's 30th Mardi Gras Film Festival is on from 15 February-2 March.
