With the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival slashed: Could you help us do a DIY one in East London?
by Petit Fours
We’re pretty cut up that this year’s London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival has shrunk down to half its normal length because the funding has been choked. Thanks Tory government. But we were thinking – instead of just moaning about it – it would be fun to pull together a quick alternative gay film festival and run it for the weekend that has been cut.
Oh my goodness
I say we, I mean me, Anna from The Most Cake, but also one of my friends who has a bit of experience in film festivals. It’s not a Most Cake thing but the website will give it backing.
Currently codenamed AprilFilmFest – we’re just envisaging a small DIY thing, the weekend after the official one – the 8th, 9th and 10th of April and held largely around the east end. It will just show a few films in some quirky venues and hopefully provide film fun plus some cheapish socialising for the gays of London.
The topslicing of the LGFF is a real shame for film. Hosted by the BFi on the south bank, and running since 1985 it has gone down from its usual two weeks, to just one, cutting the number of films and parties in half. It was one of the best and biggest gay film festivals in Europe and the third biggest film festival in the UK.
Anyway back to our idea. CAN YOU HELP US?
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Would anyone be up for helping? We need a couple of volunteers to join our core team of organisers and creatives who want to be part of creating what will be a homegrown mini queer fest that picks up the baton from the SouthBank and celebrates who we are and the amazing quirky scene around the east.
We need people who could be available for these places and times:
Date: 8th,9th and 10th April
Location: East London
Specifically we’d like:
1) Someone with technical skills
2) A producer type to help with programming and planning
3) A web and/or graphics person who could set up a site for us and help us with branding
Then we’ll also need a bunch of perky volunteers on the weekend we run it.
We’re looking for queers of all flavours –boys and girls.
Pop us an email asap on aprilfilmfest@gmail.com telling us a short bit about yourself, what skills you have and why you’d like to be involved. We’ll get back to you pronto.
Everyone will be recompensed with – well – free films, job satisfaction, drinks certainly, some expenses possibly and sex (that’s a joke).
Can’t believe that the Tories got their hands on the festival, although it’s hardly surprising. Your alternative idea sounds amazing though! Last year, I came all the way from NYC to see the festival (and, granted, to go to a conference in Cambridge, but I chose the conference because of its coincidence with the festival). Unfortunately, I am supremely unskilled at all things technical, and living across the pond is slightly unfortunate, but I’ll gladly send happy thoughts and American candy (if it’s of any help) in support.
Thanks for this initiative, as a lesbian filmmaker I appreciate it.
Still wondering why BFI didn’t get in grant writers to find the extra money from philanthropists/ organizations – maybe they had no time?
Amazing plan!!!
fyi – its the Birds Eye View Film Festival, celebrating women filmmakers on the centenary of International Women’s Day!