Queer Screen’s Mardi Gras Film Festival will host 10 international guests over the next two weeks.
The filmmakers will present their films, discussing their work and host masterclasses (supported by Screen NSW) with local talent.
The guests include: Nneka Onuorah – director, The Same Difference (USA) who is showcasing her documentary on the black, lesbian and bisexual community on Friday 19 Feb at 9pm, and also presenting a masterclass on production.
Claudia Lorenz – director, What's Between Us (Switzerland) will present her feature directorial debut on Monday 22 February at 7pm as well as hosting a free screening on Tuesday 23 February at 11am at Event Cinemas supported by the Consulate General of Switzerland and City of Sydney.
Marçal Forés – director, Everlasting Love (Spain) screens his winner of the International Dramatic Feature Award at Outfest and Best Feature Film of Queer Lisboa, supported by Acción Cultural Española (AC/E) and Sydney Underground Film Festival, on Saturday 20 February at 9.30pm.
Christina Zeidler – director, producer, screenwriter, Portrait of a Serial Monogamist, (Canada) introduces one of the most talked-about queer films of 2015 supported by SGLBA – Lemons with a Twist on Sunday 21 February at 6pm.
Kostja Ullmann and Marco Kreuzpaintner – the actor and director of Coming In and also Summer Storm (Germany) will present their comedy on Friday 26 February at 7pm, and Summer Storm and on Saturday 27 February at 4:30pm presented with The Bookshop Darlinghurst.
Andrew Steggall – director, screenwriter, Departure (UK) will present his first feature in association with the British Council and Sydney Film Festival on Sunday 28 February at 8pm.
Chowee Leow – co- producer and Ray Yeung – director and screenwriter of Front Cover (Hong Kong) will present their feature on Sunday 27 February at 9.30pm and also discuss current trends in LGBTIQ cinema with other visiting filmmakers at the event Industry Forum – Trends in LGBTIQ Cinema.
Andrew Martin – the actor of Fire Song and a First Nation person from Ontario (Canada) will present the thoughtful and moving Canadian feature, on Wednesday 2 March at 6.30pm in association with the Consulate General of Canada Sydney and the ACON Aboriginal Project.
Festival director, Paul Struthers, said he was absolutely thrilled to host 10 international guests.
“Not only is it difficult for queer and community based festivals to have the resources to attract international guests, it’s also a big ask for people to travel all the way to Australia so we are very grateful to our guests and also see it as the high regard in which Queer Screen’s Mardi Gras Film Festival is held across the world”.
The festival runs from February 18 to March 3 and tickets are on sale including flexi passes to 5 or 10 films.