VQFF 2024. Image Credit: Alger Ji-Liang.
The Vancouver Queer Film Festival (VQFF) is one of British Columbia’s most anticipated annual film events. It offers audiences the chance to discover queer stories from around the world and participate in community gatherings and industry events—including panels, workshops, parties, and special showcases of 2SLGBTQIA+ talent. VQFF is one of Out On Screen’s two core programs, alongside Out In Schools, an award-winning educational initiative that uses film and facilitated discussions to engage youth in building safer, more inclusive communities.
Now in its 37th year, the 2025 edition of VQFF will take place September 11–21 in Vancouver theatres and online across B.C. Since its founding in 1988, the festival has championed authentic authorship and representation that uplifts, empowers, and advances the liberty, culture, and justice of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Beyond the festival dates, Out On Screen runs year-round programming, engages youth across the province, and plays a vital role in B.C.’s arts ecology and queer community building. Submissions for this year’s festival closed on April 15, and the VQFF team is now gearing up to finalize the 2025 programming slate.
To offer insight into this process, BC Creates spoke with Mary Galloway, VQFF’s newly appointed Artistic Director. Galloway is an award-winning mixed Cowichan filmmaker and actor with deep ties to the Vancouver film industry, as well as to Indigenous, Canadian, and international film communities. As a filmmaker, Galloway creates heartfelt, entertaining, and enlightening works that center marginalized voices. Her directing credits include the web series “Querencia” (2021), the APTN/Bell Fund digital series “D dot H” (2023), CBC’s documentary “THE COWICHAN SWEATER: OUR KNITTED LEGACY” (2023), and Crave/APTN’s original comedy “Acting Good” (2023).
Recognized as a TIFF Rising Star and a Whistler Film Festival Talent to Watch, Galloway has also received Women in Film and Television Vancouver’s Newcomer Award and was named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s “Breakouts Making an Impact on Hollywood.” Beyond her creative work, she has contributed significantly to the industry by volunteering on committees and serving on juries for initiatives and organizations such as the Canadian Screen Awards, Reelworld Film Festival, and GEMS Vancouver.
In her new role at Out On Screen, Galloway will lead the curation of VQFF and guide the organization’s year-round artistic programming. She is the first Indigenous and Indigiqueer person to hold the Artistic Director position in the festival’s 37-year history.
VQFF 2024. Image Credit: Alger Ji-Liang.
Interview with Mary Galloway
Congratulations on your new role! What drew you to become the Artistic Director of the Vancouver Queer Film Festival?
Thank you! It was a big draw to me reading Out On Screen’s values as an organization as well as my love for the festival! I’ve had such a great experience with them as a filmmaker and I was already a big advocate for queer stories it felt like an opportunity I just couldn’t resist!
Is there a film that changed or impacted the way you think about queer storytelling?
I had the honour of being involved in Adam Garnet Jones’ film FIRE SONG, and seeing an Indigiqueer film succeed really ignited a fire in me to keep that flame going. Also, It’s not really a queer story at all but I read a book called The Heroine’s Journey by Gail Carriger and learning how the film formulas can vary depending on if you’re telling a hero vs. a heroine’s story has really placed how I think about storytelling in general.
As Artistic Director, how would you describe your curatorial vision or philosophy?
I take great pride in being a Coast Salish woman and being the AD for a festival that takes place on Unceded Territory. I naturally have the desire to Indigenize the festival as much as possible and centre Indigiqueer and 2S stories to the best of my abilities.
Is there anything from your own creative practice that you’re bringing into the way you shape this year’s festival?
I do my best to operate in a decolonial system/mentality—that is less hierarchical and more of a circular system of support. An example of a way this has manifested is that there is no ranking system for the programming team, they are all on equal footing among other things.
What does meaningful community engagement look like to you in a film festival context?
That can mean so much! We do our best to take down barriers for folks—everything from adding captioning to all the films, relaxed screenings, online access for remote viewers, lowering the prices of tickets and being mindful to program an array of perspectives and voices so that hopefully there will be a film for everyone!
What excites you most about queer film today?
There’s a lot to be excited about—I’m excited to be able to see stories that’ve never been told before! I’m excited for people to get to witness perspectives they may otherwise never have access to. And I’m excited for the incredibly beautiful 2SLGBTQIA+ community to have their voices heard and elevated.
Are there any stories or narratives you feel are still underrepresented in queer cinema today?
There’s definitely tons of intersectional stories that have yet to be told. I know that for me as an Indigiqueer person I have a hard time just finding Indigiqueer and 2S content in general.
Lastly, what advice would you give to emerging queer filmmakers trying to get their work seen today?
Put your focus and energy into telling stories that matter to you. Don’t worry about if there’s an audience for it or if it might be considered “too niche” because I promise you it’s not. The stories that matter to you will matter to others. Put your heart into what you create and enjoy the ride!
Learn more about Out On Screen and Vancouver Queer Film Festival on their websites. Keep up with VQFF on Instagram and join the mailing list to get updates on 2SLGBTQIA+ films, industry opportunities, community events, and news for educators (Out In Schools). Stay tuned for the 2025 festival program announcement!
This post is part of our Pride Month series, highlighting queer stories and creators from British Columbia’s creative industries.
