Queer Media Festival 2018 – 3rd & 4th Nov

So that concludes the 5th Queer Media Festival in all its fabulousness where we are left inspired by the beautiful people who came with their enthusiasm, love, aspirations, ambitions, community spirit and amazing creativity! We are blown away by people’s gorgeous inquisitiveness and involvement in the digital Why Don’t You…? workshops at The Sharp Project.

The beauty and spirit of DEEP in VOGUE documentary which was confirmed by the enormous thunderous standing ovation Amy Watson and Dennis Keighron-Foster quite rightly deserved. Even surviving the fierceness of Darren Pritchard, Mother of the House of Ghetto’s questions, following his vogue performance, as the spirit of being yourself and telling your story came through in the film and in their answers.

And after the straight-washing of Freddie Mercury’s life in the Bohemian Rhapsody film we were really honoured to have Jack Lad and Vin Dicktiv, celebrate his queer life in pure Manchester drag awesomeness at Battle of the Freddies: Black & White Ball, ending Saturday watching a documentary that focused on the powerhouse that was Freddie, dear!

Sunday to close the festival was our collaboration with Black Gold Arts Festival with a hot and sexy stripper screening of the Shakedown documentary, celebrating a black lesbian strip club, with the hottest, sexiest up-close performances thanks to their beautiful dancers. Now to relax and chill and absorb it all as it has been an amazing hectic whirlwind and we truly appreciate everyone who supported the 5th Queer Media Festival. Big love #Manchester!!! 💖

We were back at HOME arts centre for the third year with a sold out screening of a work in progress documentary. Deep In Vogue celebrated the colourful, queer, emotional and political stories of Northern Vogue and its people. Synonymous with the black, gay ballrooms of 1980s New York this documentary asked why we need Vogue in Manchester now more than ever.

Queer Media Festival were delighted to present a screening of Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender: Director’s Cut plus drag performances from Jack the Lad and Vin Dicktiv as Freddie Mercury.

Freddie Mercury was one of the most charismatic, complex and fascinating characters in British rock music. Using extensive unseen archive footage, this film celebrated the man who was very different to his flamboyant onstage public persona the week the Queen biopic is released.

While our audience dressed to impress in black and white like it was Freddie’s 39th Birthday in 1985!

The festival closed with a screening of the film – Teddy Award nominated documentary – Shakedown (2017), in collaboration with Black Gold Arts Festival, that chronicled explicit performances in an underground black lesbian club in Los Angeles. Filmed from 2002 – 2015 the story functions as a legend where money is both myth and material. The hostess for the evening was Hip Hop artist extraordinaire Onye OneDa Ezeh and House Of Ghetto, Manchester’s premier Vogue house, who brought a unique and special live performance experience complimenting the documentary.