Queer Resource has grown out of a research project titled Queer Film Festivals as Activism that took place between 2013 and 2015.
The project was conceived and conducted by Dr Jon Binnie and Dr Christian Klesse, both researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK, and funded by RCASS (Research Centre for Applied Social Sciences).
In this project, Jon and Christian examined the role of queer film festivals as key sites for the production of LGBTQIA+ community and visibility in a wide range of geographical contexts in Europe.
They sought to understand the challenges and rewards in organising these events and their distinctive contribution to queer life in the cities and regions in which they are located. Their focus on networking between queer film festivals developed a theme from their previous project Transnational Activism and Sexual Politics in Poland.
The film festivals in their more recent study included:
- Sicilia Queer Film Festival in Palermo
- GAZE International LGBT Film Festival in Dublin
- Lesbisch Schwule Filmtage/Hamburg International Queer Film Festival
- Mezipatra Queer Film Festival in Prague and Brno in the Czech Republic
- Merlinka International Queer Film Festival in Belgrade
Jon and Christian undertook in-depth interviews with festival organisers at each of these festivals – including directors, programmers, members of the organisational committees and other volunteers.
They were fascinated by the originality and vitality of the events they participated in and the creative vision and energy of the people they spoke to.
Inspired by the vibrancy of queer film activism in Europe, they organised a series of research and knowledge exchange events with European festival organisers, including two high profile international events:
- Queer Film Festivals as Activism: An International Symposium
5 and 6 February 2016
The idea to create a practical resource for the organisers or queer film events came out of these collaborations. Jon and Christian have been thrilled to have the opportunity to realise Queer Resource in partnership with the Queer Film Network (QFN).
Gareth Ford Williams, BBC. In this video and article Gareth talks about his ADHD and how inclusive design can make websites easier to use.
Articles
We will soon be publishing a list of articles relating to the project.
Dr Jon Binnie
Jon is Reader in Human Geography in the Department of Natural Sciences at Manchester Metropolitan University.
His research is mainly concerned with the urban, global and transnational politics of sexualities, particularly in relation to class, activism, sexual citizenship and the politics of Europe.
Further information
Dr Jon Binnie, Manchester Metropolitan University
Dr Christian Klesse
Christian is Reader in the Department of Sociology at Manchester Metropolitan University.
His research is primarily concerned with gender and sexual politics, with a particular focus on bisexuality, consensual non-monogamy and polyamory.
Further information
Dr. Christian Klesse, Manchester Metropolitan University
Queer Resource team
Bird la Bird
Bird la Bird is a performance artist and accessibility specialist. Bird has supported the Queer Resource project throughout – from UX and content to video post-production.
Bird participated in the ‘QFF as Activism’ symposium, and has recently produced her first queer film “Breaking the Spell”.
Jayne Graham-McMorrow
Queer Resource logo and banner image.
Quiplash
Audio description and accessibility consultants.
Mathilde Marinet
Video post production.
Emily Goodier
Top tips interviewer.
Daniel Morrell
Top tips filming.
Acknowledgements
Queer Resource would have not been possible without the support provided by the Research Centre for Applied Social Sciences and the Arts and Humanities Research and Knowledge Exchange team at Manchester Metropolitan University.
At Manchester Metropolitan University, we would like to thank the following:
- Helen Darby, Research Impact and Public Engagement Manager/Research in Arts and Humanities (RAH!) Co-ordinator for her help with this resource and for her outstanding support in organising public engagement events over many years.
- Emily Goodier and Daniel Morrell of the Arts and Humanities Research and Knowledge Exchange team for conducting and recording the ‘Top Tips’ videos at the ‘Organising Queer Film Festivals and Screenings’ workshop in June 2019.
We would also like to thank Jayne Graham McMorrow and Joan Burnett of the Queer Film Network for partnering up on the Queer Resource.
In addition, we would like to express our warm thanks to all the participants of the ‘Organising Queer Film Festivals and Screenings’ workshop at Manchester Metropolitan University in June 2019, particularly those who gave their time to be interviewed for their ‘Top Tips’ for organising queer film events.
Special thanks go to our interviewees for generously giving us their time and for sharing their rich insights on organising queer film events:
- Will Dai, CINEMQ Queer Cinema Collective, Shanghai
- Dr. Leanne Dawson, University of Edinburgh,
- Popo Fan, Love Queer Cinema Week, Beijing
- Jayne Graham McMorrow, Queer Film Network
- Paul Struthers
Queer Resource would also not have been possible without the support of the following external consultants:
- Dr. Hongwei Bao, University of Nottingham
- Dr. Leanne Dawson, University of Edinburgh
- Dr. Skadi Loist, Professor for Production Cultures in Audiovisual Media Industries, Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf, Potsdam, Germany
Who would like to thank those responsible for the production of Queer Resource:
- Bird la Bird for managing the production of the resource; for designing the resource for accessibility; for recording the voice-overs as well as her unstinting support with all aspects of the project throughout
- Amelia and Al Lander-Cavallo at Quiplash for acting as accessibility consultants for the resource and in particular for providing interview participants with guidance on audio self-description
- Mathilde Marinet for editing the videos
- Jayne Graham-McMorrow for designing the fantastic Queer Resource logo and banner image
A final word of thanks for all those who organise queer film and other events whose generosity of spirit, political commitment, kindness and resilience has been inspiring.
Jon Binnie and Christian Klesse, Manchester Metropolitan University, December 2020.