Queer City Cinema is an annual film festival in Regina, Saskatchewan, which presents a program of LGBTQ film.[1] Established in 1996 by Gary Varro, the festival was presented every two years at first before becoming an annual event. In recent years, the main festival has been presented concurrently with Performatorium, a festival of LGBTQ performance art.[2]

In addition to the main event in Regina, the festival also presents a touring LGBTQ film minifestival presented in selected other cities across Canada, including Victoria, Yellowknife, Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Thunder Bay.[3] The touring minifestival was organized for the first time in 2001.[4]

In 2000, the event faced some controversy when the Saskatchewan Party criticized a government grant to the festival, on the grounds that some of the festival's content was allegedly pornographic.[5] Although an anti-gay lobby group led by Christian evangelist Bill Whatcott picketed the festival that year, the festival took place without major incident.[6] The 2001 launch of the touring festival was criticized in the House of Commons of Canada by Saskatoon MP Jim Pankiw,[7] but was also staged without incident.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Artistic director addresses racism with 15th Queer City Cinema festival". Regina Leader-Post, September 19, 2018.
  2. ^ "Performatorium presents the world of oral expression". Regina Leader-Post, January 10, 2013.
  3. ^ "A Qaleidoscope of queer film being screened in Victoria". Monday Magazine, January 14, 2019.
  4. ^ "Queer film fest to hit the road". Prince Albert Daily Herald, February 5, 2001.
  5. ^ "Gay filmfest funds anger Opposition". Cornwall Standard Freeholder, April 29, 2000.
  6. ^ "Protesters picket gay film festival funded by Sask. Arts Board". Moose Jaw Times-Herald, May 15, 2000.
  7. ^ "Saskatoon film festival under fire from Christian group and Canadian Alliance". Canadian Press, February 7, 2001.
  8. ^ "Arts council chairman defends grant to gay film festival in Regina". Canadian Press, September 13, 2001.
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