The 2020 Long Beach QFilm Festival, is a celebration of the rich diversity and experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities, is going worldwide for the first time. Queer films are in the spotlight from Long Beach to living rooms around the world.
The 27th annual Long Beach QFilm Festival returns this year as a streaming festival instead of an in-person event. More than 40 LGBTQ films can be streamed anytime from September 10-13 through the festival.
Highlights include Gossamer Folds, produced by and featuring actress Yardley Smith of The Simpsons, a tender tale of friendship between a lonely boy and his grown-up transgender neighbor, Gossamer; Breaking Fast, a love story develops over the holy month of Ramadan between a practicing West Hollywood Muslim and an All-American guy; Tahara which explores two best girlfriends who find themselves distracted by the teenage complications of lust, social status, and wavering faith; and Welcome to Chechnya from the director of the Academy Award nominated, How to Survive A Plague. This searing documentary shadows a group of activists who risk unimaginable peril to confront the ongoing anti-LGBTQ pogrom raging in the repressive and closed Russian republic.
“We made lemonade out of lemons this year,” said Andrew Dorado, interim executive director of The LGBTQ Center Long Beach. “COVID-19 was not going to stop The Center from presenting unique queer stories and storytellers while raising funds to serve the community.”
The LGBTQ Center Long Beach (The Center) supports more than 25,000 people a year through programs including youth services, senior services, counseling, legal services, domestic violence support, trans health programs, HIV and STI testing, and more than 20 weekly support groups. Currently many of these services are offered online during the pandemic.
“We are excited that this year, QFilms has the potential to not only reach our local community but also reach the LGBTQ community and our allies all around the world,” said Robert Cano, the founder of the festival.
Two new short film categories are being introduced this year. Queer Activist shorts will inspire the LGBTQ community and its allies in the ongoing fight for rights to live your truth, love whom you want, or serve in the military. Dance like Everyone is Watching channels one’s inner Beyoncé. This collection of narrative and documentary style shorts celebrates the beauty and many movements of dance.
Films will be available to view from 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, September 10 through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, September 13. Each film is $10 and an All-Access Pass is $50.
For a complete list of films, visit www.QFilmsLongBeach.com.
