2024 Public Programs
Catch up with friends and fellow cinephiles, have a cute little date night (wink) and enjoy fabulous hospitality between screenings along with a range of fascinating free public programs in our mirror ball-lit lounge. In line with the “Formative Sound and Vision” theme of this year’s festival, we’re treating MQFF’s audience to 10 days of music video jukebox and queer karaoke shenanigans. Get your vocal cords in order, people, because we want to hear you sing!
MQFF’s Festival Lounge is located at ACMI in the bar behind the kiosk and is open during screening times throughout the festival.
Registration is required for some events.
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100+ Years of LGBTQIA+ MusicFri 15 Nov – 7:00 PM—8:00 PM Gandel Lab, ACMI Prolific author Darryl W. Bullock is a font of knowledge when it comes to queers in music and inspired this year’s theme of “Formative Sound and Vision” with his book, David Bowie Made Me Gay: 100 Years of LGBT Music. Join MQFF Program Director Cerise Howard in conversation with Darryl and treasured, queer-run label Chapter Music’s Guy Blackman as they excavate hidden queer histories and look to glorious queer musical futures! BOOK NOW |
Symposium: My Formative QueersSat 16 Nov – 2:00 PM—5:30 PM Gandel Lab, ACMI In keeping with the Festival’s “Formative Sound and Vision” theme, My Formative Queers turns its gaze — and gays — to music videos, those short films that captured the soundtracks of our youths. In particular, those queerly beloved music videos that reflected our emerging queer selves back at us for what might have been the first time. Featuring a keynote by international guest of the fest, Darryl W. Bullock, author of David Bowie Made Me Gay: 100 Years of LGBT Music, this free event brings together speakers from university professors to national treasures, presenting short, moving and hilarious tales of the music videos whose queer representations, overt or otherwise, ignited, informed or, indeed, confirmed the glorious queer they were to become. Limited capacity – registration required. BOOK NOW |
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MQFF Speed DatingSat 16 Nov – 4:30 PM—5:45 PM Festival Lounge, ACMI Seeking a little… romance? Or just want to make some new buddies to experience MQFF with? We got you, boo – this Saturday social hosted by Tina Del Twist will set you up – perhaps in more ways than one. Read into that what you will. Limited capacity – registration required. BOOK NOW |
Camp-As KaraokeSat 16 Nov – 7:30 PM—10:30 PM Festival Lounge, ACMI On Saturday nights, we sing! Come to the MQFF Festival Lounge to indulge in a prime selection of festival-favourite tunes from our jukebox karaoke. Don’t be shy – grab the microphone and let your voice shine. No booking is required – show up and rock the house. |
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MQFF Industry DaySun 17 Nov – 10:30 AM—5:30 PM Gandel Lab, ACMI This year MQFF, in collaboration with queer filmmakers Timothy Despina Marshall, Steph Parsons and Vee Shi, is thrilled to present a revamped and extended Industry Day open to the public again for a second year! This year we’ll have three industry panels and masterclasses where experts will offer invaluable insight to LGBTQIA+ creatives on everything from starting your career as a writer and making a low-budget queer film to the ins and outs of copyright and contracts. The day will conclude with networking drinks open to all LGBTQIA+ screen creatives and professionals and their allies. We’re excited to yet again provide a space for queer creatives to mix, mingle and maybe even form collaborations for the future! BOOK NOW
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Queer Film TriviaSun 17 Nov – 7:00 PM—8:15 PM Festival Lounge, ACMI Are you a cinephile overflowing with queer film and TV knowledge? Gather a group of your favourite mates for a fabulously campy evening of queer film trivia hosted by Melbourne drag icon Frock Hudson (aka Dean Arcuri). Limited capacity – group booking essential. BOOK NOW |
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Meet the Commissioner for LGBTQIA+ CommunitiesFri 22 Nov – 7:00 PM—8:00 PM Gandel Lab, ACMI Recently appointed to the role, Joe Ball works to support the rights, safety, and wellbeing of Victoria’s LGBTIQA+ communities and plays a leading role in implementing the Victorian Government’s Pride in our future strategy. Join MQFF CEO, David Martin Harris, in conversation with our new Commissioner to discuss the issues affecting us today and what the future holds for LGBTQIA+ social justice. BOOK NOW |
Queers in Sport – Rules and RightsSat 23 Nov – 4:00 PM—5:00 PM Gandel Lab, ACMI Jacqueline Shields, host of JOY 94.9’s sports program Game On!, will moderate a panel including Proud2Play Community Development Officer, Kade Matthews and Vice President of Melbourne Frontrunners LGBTQIA+ running and walking club, Nicole Norris. Speaking to themes in Power Alley and Life Is Not a Competition, But I’m Winning, they’ll discuss body autonomy and how LGBTQIA+ athletes’ participation in sports can be on their own queer terms. Limited capacity – registration required. BOOK NOW |
