Muskoka Queer Film Festival Remains Virtual For Third Annual Event

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Muskoka Queer Film Festival: A still from the film Stories from Land Back Camp by director Shawn Johnston.
A still from the film Stories from Land Back Camp by director Shawn Johnston.

The Muskoka Queer Film Festival (MQFF) Committee is proud to announce the lineup for the third annual film festival, which will be taking place online again this year.

The MQFF Committee had hoped to be able to hold this year’s festival in-person, but unfortunately with the uncertainty of public health restrictions, the decision was made to hold it as a virtual event.

On March 18, 19, and 20, MQFF will present 14 films (3 feature, 11 short) celebrating different sides of queer life, produced both in Canada and internationally including the United States, Spain, Australia and a total of seven countries. Each day will also feature chats with directors and festival jury members, and other exclusive content, as part of the broadcast.

“This is an exciting and ambitious project that builds on the success of our first two year’s festival. We’re thrilled to be showing these films to the world from Muskoka,” says Merv Taylor-Morin, President of Muskoka Pride. “It was hard to choose from all the great films submitted for selection to our festival, however, we believe we’ve created a diverse lineup of short and feature films that will resonate with the people who tune in to see them.”

Muskoka Queer Film Festival: A still from the film Before the Eruption by director Roberto Perez Toledo.
A still from the film Before the Eruption by director Roberto Perez Toledo.

He adds that while disappointed the film festival can’t be live and in person, this is an opportunity to build on the success of the 2020 and 2021 online festival, which each had over a hundred attendees.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite on a “Pay What You Can” basis with a recommended donation of $25. Ticket holders will be emailed access information to a private Facebook Group for the broadcast.

Muskoka Queer Film Festival will also honour directors with two awards. The Festival Favourite will be selected by the MQFF jury while the Audience Choice award will be voted on by festival-goers online.

Michelle Emson and her partner Lenny Emson of Sanctuary Studios, a multi-media production company based in Muskoka, are international human rights activists and filmmakers, and they were integral to making the online presence of the festival a reality.

“In these times of isolation, we understand how important it is to stay together united by common views and sharing common values,” says Michelle Emson. “We are happy to apply our technical skills and make Muskoka Queer Film Festival happen despite all the odds and to be available for everyone regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or place of residence. We welcome everyone to join us online and share the festival atmosphere of an historic event for Muskoka.”

Muskoka Queer Film Festival: A still from the film My Mother’s Girlfriend by director Arun Fulara.
A still from the film My Mother’s Girlfriend by director Arun Fulara.

The films selected for MQFF 2022 are: The Power of We, The Commitment, Before the Eruption, Fallacy, Stories from Land Back Camp, We All Lie My Darling, Emergence – Out of the Shadows, Safe Distance, Parental Guidance Suggested, The Clinic, TRANS – I Got Life, WorkWear, My Mother’s Girlfriend, and The Out-Fit.

While the festival can be viewed on any device, the festival committee strongly recommend the use of a computer for interactive segments and for discussing the films as they play.

The Muskoka Queer Film Festival is a collaboration of Muskoka Pride and Sanctuary Studios Inc., and is sponsored by the Government of Canada through Heritage Canada’s BCAH grant and McMaster’s Muskoka Fine Foods.

For details about the films and to purchase tickets to join the festival online, please visit mqff.ca.

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