From September 11 to 22, 2024, Vancouver Queer Film Festival returns and showcases 97 projects from 27 countries, with 28 features, 5 series debuts and 64 short films.
The festival features international film and episodic content authored by 2SLGBTQIA+ creators, centered on queer protagonists, and celebrating queer storytelling and joy along with parties, performances, post-screening Q&As with filmmakers, and industry events. Explore some of the featured programs below.
Opening Presentation
The festival begins with CLOSER, featuring a collection of short films that highlight the solidarity and brilliance of our diverse queer community. Familiar faces, such as Ben Whishaw (GOOD BOY, U.S.) and rising local talents like Oji-Cree-Saulteaux poet jaye simpson (I’LL TELL YOU WHEN I’M READY, Canada) star as queer heroes in this dynamic collection. First dates, beautiful friendships, and tender parent-child relationships round out this rousing call to action: be ready to party and love one another throughout this year’s Vancouver Queer Film Festival.
GOOD BOY
Centerpiece Presentation
The 2024 centerpiece presentation is the B.C. premiere of Canadian director Julia Jackman’s BONUS TRACK (U.K.), which follows 16-year-old songwriter George who longs to break free of his parents expectations and the small English town they call home. Canadian feature film premiere highlights include: Tribeca favourite RENT FREE (Fernando Andrés, U.S.) follows ageing millennials who launch a social experiment to spend an entire year living “rent-free” by couch-surfing in a rapidly changing Austin, Texas; IF I DIE, IT’LL BE OF JOY (Alexis Taillant, France) follows three rabble-rousers who contemplate and advocate for their right to recognition, love, and sexual liberation as older adults; and the powerful documentary LIFE IS NOT A COMPETITION, BUT I’M WINNING (Julia Fuhr Mann, Germany), which debuted at Venice and explores the achievements, challenges, and legacies of a group of trans, intersex, and queer Olympic athletes who create a radical utopia to challenge the rigid gender rules of competitive sports and envision a more inclusive future.
BONUS TRACK
Closing Presentation
This year’s closing presentation is the Canadian premiere of LAYLA, a narrative feature film which premiered in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Making their feature debut with raise-your-voice realness, director Amrou Al-Kadhi channels their experiences in the east London queer scene into the unforgettable saga of LAYLA: an up-and-coming Palestinian drag queen (played by newcomer Bilal Hasna) lighting up local clubs with impressive creativity.
LAYLA
Youth Filmmaker Engagement
For the first time ever, the Vancouver Queer Film Festival’s dates fall within the school year and will bring programming specifically to youth and school groups with The Future is Queer: Youth Programs co-presented by Out In Schools and The Cinematheque, two days of free youth programs that will increase young people’s access to transformative 2SLGBTQIA+ stories and support educators in building core competencies in many related subject areas. Troublemakers 8.0, the intergenerational film project returns to the big screen for the eighth year! Reel Youth and Out On Screen present four new films by youth filmmakers documenting the lives of local queer elders who inspire us through art and advocacy. This screening will be followed by a Q&A with the youth filmmakers.
Troublemakers8.0
Visit the official website for more information and buy tickets now!
