Vancouver Queer Film Festival Reveals Creative Theme: ‘Make It Yours’

Presented by RBC, the 34th Annual Film Festival Returns with More In-Person and Online Screenings

August 11– 21, 2022

VANCOUVER - Out On Screen is bringing back the highly anticipated Annual Vancouver Queer Film Festival (VQFF) for its 34th edition. The festival will run August 11-21 this year online and in person with a creative theme of “Make It Yours” inviting audiences to return to the political grassroots. The Festival expands a provincewide video-on-demand selection with 2-3 theatre screenings per-day in Vancouver. The Festival is also pleased to announce its continued partnership with its Presenting Sponsor RBC Royal Bank. Passes are on sale now at www.queerfilmfestival.ca with full programming and tickets for the VQFF 2022 available in July.

The crowd favourite is celebrating its 34th year more fabulous than ever with more impactful films that raise awareness about the struggles, joys and journeys of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Inspired by this year’s submissions, VQFF’s programming aesthetic and curatorial vision will draw upon the fearless and fierce politics, visual style, and grassroots creativity of queer subcultures and the 'zines that kept the communities informed and connected. Thematically, this year's Festival shares stories told from an autobiographical perspective, leaning further into the trend of experiential and experimental filmmaking, community building, and self actualization through artistic expression.

Commenting on this year’s theme, Artistic Director Anoushka Ratnarajah said: “‘Make It Yours’ is an invitation into empathy and a reminder of the tools and powers that are accessible to us in the fight for our personal and collective freedom. Moving through and living within a colossal shift in our global queer communities, filmmakers are reflecting upon what brought us here and what kind of new worlds we can build. After the disorienting experience of the last two years, we turn to art once again for solace, cheer, reflection, and inspiration. The films emerging from this time are filled with hope and unrelenting determination.”

“We approached planning this year's Festival with community care in mind. While we are very excited to finally support our local theatres and gather in person after two almost entirely online Festivals, we know we're not out of the woods yet. We hope everyone will find an option that works for them this year. And as always, we continue to appreciate the support of our communities, supporters, and sponsors. In particular, the support of RBC, our presenting sponsor for 2022,” adds Out On Screen Executive Director Brandon Yan.

“At RBC, we strongly believe in our role to help communities prosper and it is this guiding purpose that draws our involvement to organizations that truly make a difference” says Martin Thibodeau, Regional President, British Columbia, of RBC Royal Bank. “That is why we are proud to once again sponsor the 34th annual Vancouver Queer Film Festival. We have seen the important impact this festival has had, as it continuously sheds light on stories that inspire us to help amplify and celebrate the voices of 2SLGBTQIA+ people across the province and around the world. We are thrilled to continue our ongoing relationship with Out On Screen and are truly grateful to serve these communities!”

“An update that we are not so excited about sharing with you is that Anoushka Ratnarajah, Out On Screen’s Artistic Director since 2017, will be leaving us in June this year,” said Executive Director Brandon Yan. “We would like to thank Anoushka for the remarkable job that she did curating our Festival and working to support independent 2SLGBTQIA+ filmmakers locally and internationally. Under her leadership, Out On Screen’s forward-thinking, values-based artistic programming has pushed boundaries and kept VQFF ranked as one of the top three best film festivals in Vancouver. We are grateful for getting the chance to work with her and see her creativity unfold, and we cannot wait to see what she does next.”

“I am very grateful for all the opportunities to learn and grow while I have been working here at Out On Screen,” said Artistic Director Anoushka Ratnarajah. “I have been honoured to work alongside some of the most passionate, empathetic, and thoughtful people in our beautiful queer community because of this job. There are many joyful memories of this work I will carry with me. I truly believe in the importance of the work we have done together, and I am hopeful for the future of the organization.”

“Although we are sad to see Anoushka go, we are also excited to announce Festival Programmer Nya Lewis as the incoming Interim Artistic Director,” said Executive Director Brandon Yan. “Nya has been an important part of the Out On Screen team since 2020. Her dedication and passion in engaging QTBIPOC filmmakers and artists reassure us of the success she will bring to her new role. Additionally, Nya is an independent curator whose hybrid practice reflects the diversity of intersectional, intergenerational, global indigenous, Queer critical discourse and its many forms of expression. We are looking forward to witnessing Nya’s fantastic work as Out On Screen seeks out its next Artistic Director.”

For more information, please visit the following platforms:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/queerfilmfest

Facebook: www.facebook.com/VancouverQFF

Twitter: www.twitter.com/queerfilmfest (#VQFF2022)

About Out On Screen

Out On Screen is a charitable organization that illuminates, celebrates, and advances queer lives through film, education, and dialogue. The Vancouver Queer Film Festival creates a dynamic platform for queer cinema that reflects a diversity of experiences while connecting and strengthening our communities. The award-winning Out In Schools program brings age-appropriate queer cinema into school classrooms to combat homophobia, transphobia, and bullying, and to provide the language and tools for inclusion. Out On Screen is proud to be among the leaders in Canada working to create an equitable society where sexual and gender diversity are embraced. www.outonscreen.com

About RBC

Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 89,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.