Join us at Festival Lounge

The queerest place to eat and meet

10 days only

MQFF Festival Lounge takes over the heart of Melbourne’s Federation Square at Beer DeLuxe. For 10 days only it will be the queerest place to eat and meet. Drop in for a quick hello, talk film for hours with friends or find a comfy seat to soak up the Festival atmosphere.

We’ll be serving delicious meals, quick snacks and real coffee. You can also enjoy a drink and formal tastings from one of our lovely beverage partners Picante Espana Wine, Mildura Brewery Beer or Lucky Duck Cider.

For the first time this year the Festival Lounge will host a range of special events. There will be GLBTI community nights, film student networking and speed dating. Every Friday and Saturday night DJ’s will entertain you with great music and it will be the party destination for Closing Night. Take a look below for event information.

So if you need a break from the cinema, there’s always something (or someone!) else to pique your interest.

Beer DeLuxe Federation Square

Festival Lounge Opening Hours

Monday to Friday 5pm until late.

Weekends 11am until late

Entry is free, except for some special ticketed events.

MQFF SPEED DATING

Looking for a special someone to share a film and a box of popcorn? MQFF is here to help!

Meet new friends in our private Festival Lounge speed dating bar, upstairs at Beer DeLuxe. Your ticket includes a complimentary drink to help loosen tongues! Our fabulous MC’s Luke Gallagher & Michael Dalton will also be there to keep proceedings moving along smoothly.

Tickets are limited so first in, best dressed!

Lesbian Speed Dating (hosted by Luke Gallagher & Michael Dalton)

Wed 20 March 6:30pm – 8pm

Gay Men Speed Dating (hosted by Luke Gallagher & Michael Dalton) SOLD OUT

Thur 21 March 8:30pm – 10pm

Sex & Gender Blind Speed Dating

This event didn't reach the minimum required RSVP's so unfortunately we have had to cancel it. We will try again next year!

Tickets: $20 and include a complimentary beer, wine or cider on arrival.

RSVP: email info@mqff.com.au with a contact name and the session you wish to attend. Tickets are limited so be quick.

Please note: each session requires a minimum of 8 participants. If there are not enough participant rsvp’s the event will be cancelled and an email sent to all who have reserved a ticket. Each session allows for a maximum of 30 participants. RSVP's will close the day prior to the event if not booked out before this date. Payment for ticket is cash only at the door on the night of the selected session.

Slide Night With The Archives

MQFF goes to the Archives! As part of its 35th Anniversary celebrations, the Gay and Lesbian Archives has pulled the slide projector out from under the bed and invited some of its special friends to share some of their most precious queer historical pics with you. We’ve given them each five minutes on the stopwatch to tell us the story of their slides in a race against time! For one night only, join us for a fast and sweaty evening of tales of the raunchy, the remembered and the ridiculous. Anything could happen! A cash bar and Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives Stall will also feature at the event. Donations support ALGA. A must for all queer history geeks!

Presented by Carla Donnelly and Daniel Marshall for ALGA.

Tuesday 19 March 8pm

Free Entry

Meet the Selection Panel

The MQFF Selection Panel waded through a record 600 plus submissions over dumplings and rice to decide on which films are part of the program. They also chose a film that elicits a strong emotional response from the group to highlight as their choice pick. This year our panel has selected a relationship comedy from Singapore, When Hainan Meets Teochew, which heralds a new era of filmmaking for our Asian neighbours. Join the MQFF selection panel for an informal chat and a drink immediately following the Selector’s Choice film screening. They’ll be happy to answer all questions about the MQFF selection process.

Sat 16 March 5:30pm - downstairs in the beer garden