Reelout is a collective arts project that presented a beautiful rainbow of groundbreaking films celebrating gender and sexual diversity in Kingston!
Introduction
Cinema has been tackling the theme of sexual identity with freedom and rigour for several years now, putting a spotlight on certain issues in order to tackle and overcome prejudice towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. They also aim to encourage people with sexual orientations that differ from the heterosexual “norm” typically portryaed in film, to get to know themselves and share the emotions and stories that are close to their hearts. There is proof of that this movement is growing with increased LGBTQ+-themed film festivals in major cities around the globe including the Reelout Queer Film Festival in Kingston, Ontario. Now in its 21st year, the festival is a collaboration between different queer communities in the city as well as the larger community as a whole. From academics to artists, this festival provides a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment that highlights the talent and beauty of the LGBTQ+ community which “not only acknowledges intersectional identities but makes them/us the star of the show” – The Reelout Programming Committee.
This festival offers moviegoers an enhanced viewing experience over the traditional, mainstream theatre including hosts and special guests presenting. Before the film The Garden Left Behind directed by Flavio Alves was shown, a transgender man and transgender women spoke to the audience about their negative and positive experiences being transgender and how this had affected their lives. This allowed the audience to feel more connected to the film they were about to see about a transgendered woman. This personal experience made the movie more enjoyable and understandable. By being in a small theatre, it really allowed the audience to feel like they were a part of a close-knit community, which is, at times, rare for Queen’s University students who often do not get the opportunity to experience any meaningful connection to their city. This really highlighted the stark contrast between other theaters like Cineplex that do not foster this same sense of connection at all. There were other respectful actions taken for the audience including trigger warnings before certain films were shown. They also provided instructions on what to do if the audience was bothered by any of the content, which was comforting to know and not something that would be considered in a regular theatre. The film festival organisers also spoke briefly at the beginning of each film, mentioning the tireless work of so many individuals that went into its production. This again gave the festival a personal feeling, where it was evident how important this event was to them and how much time and energy is spent into making it as special as it was. They also included the audience in other ways such as allowing us to particpate in judging the films.
Overall, the experience of attending this festival was incredibly special. Not only did the heartfelt speeches of the organizers and the beautiful films make this event unique, but the sense of inclusivity and and connection that was fostered was unlike anything we had ever experienced. This festival allowed students to be exposed to groundbreaking, talented art that we would otherwise likely never have the pleasure of seeing, and for that we are truly grateful.
Reelout: Kingston, Ontario's Queer Film & Video Festival 