April 2010

IN THIS ISSUE:

Festival Update

Who's off to Hollywood?

MQFF Award Winners

Member's Giveaway - Eating out 3

The Jacko Awards - Volunteer Recognition

Member's Giveaway - The Cullen Hotel

Sponsors Thanks

Festival Update

Did I dream it or has one jam packed, adrenaline fuelled, 20th queer film spectacular just been and gone before our very eyes? I recall something about lots of darkened rooms and people transfixed by Brazilians and orgasmically crafted pastry cakes. There’s also this hazy image of packs of glamorous homosexuals at every turn and an abundance of hysterically overjoyed prize winners….. is this ringing any bells for anyone?

Well, according to my figures, it should be ringing 24 236 bells, as that’s how many of you attended over 104 sessions (37 of which were sell outs, FYI). What an amazing feat! 2010 was one heck of a big year for MQFF, and we’re thrilled with the turn out. You all play a pivotal part in the success each year, and we can’t express how important and appreciated your support is!

And while we’re dishing out thank you’s – it simply must be said what a fabulous bunch of vollies came on board this year. We all had a queer load of fun and everyone worked their little hinies off! The Board and Staff are looking forward to the Volunteer Thank you party to really lay on the compliments. Special accolades must of course go to our ravishing interns, Alex and Ross. Three cheers for the boys who dipped their fingers into more pies than Tom Thumb and Simple Simon combined!

But alas, in sadder news – it is with a heavy heart we must officially announce the departure of our sponsorship manager, Kylie Eddy, who is leaving for grander shores after 3 incredible festivals with MQFF. Kylie has done wonders in increasing MQFF’s sponsorship and advertising revenue in her time, and although she will be sadly missed, we are proud to see her move on to the new challenges that await her, and we shall hunt her down like a lion hunts it’s prey should she not keep in touch.

Now before signing off, a big congratulations to all the hard-working folk involved with putting on a fantastic Bendigo Queer Film Festival.  It was another fabulous event and its great to see this amazing and very important community event go from strength to strength. So make a note of it to chug on down there next time if you can, it's well worth the trip, and a funneth time you shall undoubtedly have!

Only 332 Days till our 21st Party!

Cheers,

Rowena and the team
 

Who's Off to Hollywood?

The very lucky Wayne Woods, that’s who. He and a friend are being jetted off to Hollywood courtesy of V Australia after securing our ‘most memorable MQFF moment’ prize! And, as an added bonus, Wayne will also receive four free nights accommodation at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in West Hollywood. What a way to touch down post festival! Congratulations Wayne. And now let’s all read Wayne’s competition entry and smile….

The Treasury Theatre, 1996. Freshly out, with a boyfriend I'd met online; too shy and awkward to go to pubs and clubs. Packed into that tiny theatre foyer with hundreds of other "people like me" gave me my first feeling of belonging, of Community. And I'll never forget it.

Awwwww…….. how could we resist?

And now that we’re in the mood, here’s some honourable mentions we also received in no particular order....

Tim and I have been together for just over 20 years. We first met when I was 20, and one of our very first dates was at the mqff - seeing queer films was very important to us when were both coming out, and we love the mqff even more now! (David Chye)

My favourite MQFF moment came from the festival lounge, where one queen spat at the other (over the Gaultier documentary) "that bitch is fierce"! (Carla Sammut)

During each & every movie over the years I feel an overwhelming sense of belonging. To live in a city where we can celebrate our community and its diversity as reflected in the narratives during the festival. We’re not invisible & these are our stories. (Ben James)

What I'll remember most about the 2010 Festival was attending for the first time with enough confidence in who I am to have my head held high & not care who saw me there.
(Ryan Busekist)

We planned our 2009 London holiday around the MQFF festival. On 29 March 2009 we saw the closing film ‘Affinity’, and then our friends waved us off in a cab to Melbourne airport. Arriving in London, flying Virgin Atlantic, we found the MQFF ticket stubs in our pockets and smiled. (Laura Beckett)

Thanks to all those who entered!

Members Giveaway - Eating Out 3

A crowd-pleaser at both Melbourne Queer Film Festival and Mardi Gras Film Festival this year, Eating Out 3: All you can eat is the third instalment in this riotous, raunchy series of mistaken-identity romps.

Blonde bombshell Tiffani is distracted from her brief moment of grief at the funeral of her close friend by the arrival in town of hunky, but unlucky in love Casey. With some encouragement he attends the local Gay and Lesbian Centre and bumps into hottie Zack. After a disastrous attempt to nab a date with Zack, Casey finds deception suits him best when he pretends to be someone else on a dating site to lure the none-the-wiser Zack. Of course it all goes horribly wrong, but the revolving beds and barely clothed hot boy action that ensue make for laugh outloud fun along the way to the ending we all hope for an expect.

To win one of 5 copies of Eating Out 3: All you can eat, simply email your name, membership number and 'Eating Out 3' in the subject line to info@mqff.com.au. Entries close 5pm on Friday 23 April. All entries will go into a draw with the winners chosen at random and notified. If you don't win you can always buy the DVD from Hares & Hyena's and while you're there you can check out the rest of the titles from Love Films.

The Jacko's

Volunteers are the backbone of this organisation and one of the main reasons for it’s continued growth and success. As part of our 20 years celebration, the festival has introduced volunteer recognition awards. The aim of these new awards is to recognise the incredible contribution of volunteers who have worked tirelessly for 5 years or more, with further recognition after 10 years of continued service. The volunteers will be formally recognised at the volunteer thank-you party and enshrined on the website’s virtual honour board.

The awards are a tribute to the festivals longest serving volunteer Claire Jackson. Claire has inspired so many of us involved with queer film with her selflessness, passion and dedication to the festival, a willingness to do the hard work, enthusiastic leadership and an overriding sense of fun. Claire represents all we look for in our volunteers. So in honour of Claire Jackson the volunteer recognition awards will forever be known as “The Jacko”.

Firstly, we would like to congratulate and thank these volunteers with 5 years service to the festival: Ayan Dasvarma, Karen McVean, Damien Rundell, Feigy Grosman, Kim Montgomery, Mel Nelson, Willow Blackwood, Hannah Reid, Geoff Williams, Beth Gibbins, Paul Trigg, Warwick Dew, lachlan Mulcahy, Paul Andrew, Leo Heimburger, Roberta Armitage, Carol Christensen.

We also have several volunteers who have dedicated 10 years of service to the festival in numerous roles, often unglamorous but oh-so vital. To these volunteers we would like to bestow not only The Jacko but also perpetual festival membership.

Congratulations Leo Heimburger (office maestro), Roberta Armitage (former long-term board member) and Carol Christensen (former board member and now selection panel member).

So to the volunteers who have made these 11 days so wonderful and all the volunteers who have contributed over the last 20 years – we thank you!

Sponsors Thanks

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