Humanity Hallows Issue 4 Out Now!
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By Liam Bodle
Returning to the city on the 5th November 2016, the Queer Media Festival will be hosted by HOME, Manchester this year. The festival celebrates the history and personal stories of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities and will be showing a handpicked selection of the best LGBT+ short films from around the world.
The Queer Media Festival is not just a film festival and its aim is to inspire the next generation of LGBT+ storytellers. Open to all age groups, the festival aims not only to entertain but also to inspire its visitors to learn and create.
The event will host a vast line-up of professionals from the arts and film industry, including Tris Reid-Smith, Founder of Gay Star News, Jonni Learoyd, Channel 4 HR Project Leader and Co-Chair of Channel 4 Pride, and Aziz Rashid, Head of BBC North West. The festival will also feature the World Premiere of the 60 second documentaries created during the first ever Queer Media’s Mob Doc Workshop, held at the festival from 31st October to 1st November. The workshop will be led by Rikki Beadle Blair and Geertje Algera.
Q&A sessions will be held with leading community figures such as Lady Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, Executive Director and Co-founder of UK Black Pride, Rosie Hastings & Hannah Quinlan, creators of the @Gaybar project, commemorating the fight for queer spaces and mourning their loss, Abigail Ward, DJ and co-founder of the online Manchester District Music Archive and much-loved Manchester trans performer Kate O’Donnell
Screenings will include such delights as the 2016 hit from the London Film Festival Jewel’s Catch One – a fascinating look at the incredible Jewel Thais-Williams, who broke down racial and cultural barriers while running the oldest Black-owned gay disco in America.
Bringing the festival to a close, will be a screening of the iconic inside story of Madonna’s backing dancers Strike a Pose, including live vogueing. This will be followed by an after-party thrown by legendary Manchester club nights HomoElectric and Black Angel.
For a full list of films and guests and for ticket information, visit queermedia.org.uk or the HOME website.
Liam Bodle is a postgraduate student studying journalism. His interests include film, gaming and writing about LGBT+ issues.
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