Strange Creatures.

Queer Screen Film Fest is coming to lure us out of hibernation and warm our hearts with 35 fresh films, representing every continent in the world*.

With Spring just around the corner and the zing of LGBTIQ+ love in the air, this Festival is decidedly flirty. “We’re bookending the festival with two fabulously fun and romantic films, on opening and closing nights,” Festival Director Lisa Rose reveals. “And we’re continuing that theme with the one incredible documentary feature. 

Queer love, in its many forms, flows through every film in the program.”

2024 Queer Screen Goes to Cannes selection Strange Creatures has its World Premiere during the Festival and 2024 Queer Screen Completion Fund recipient Videoland has its Australian Premiere, following its win in the Comedy Series Competition at the prestigious 2024 Series Mania Festival in Lille, France in March. 

Strange Creatures filmmaker Henry Boffin will be in attendance for a Q&A on his touching comedy-drama film, which sees two feuding brothers set out on a road trip – in a hearse – to scatter their ashes at the old family home in remote Narrabri. 

Writer and director of Videoland Jessica Smith and producer Scarlett Koehne will also be guests of the Festival, together with lead actor Emmanuelle Mattana, who plays hapless video store clerk Hailey. Serving 1990s nostalgia at every turn, the series sees Hailey watching every Sapphic film ever made in a bid to research ‘how to be a lesbian’. When she develops a crush on a customer, it’s time to put her research to the test.

“I’m excited about Australia being so well-represented in the program this year,” said Rose, herself a hapless video store clerk in the 1990s. “Please don’t miss our two Australian films!” 

Tickets for the 11th Queer Screen Film Fest are available now at queerscreen.org.au for 28 August to 1 September in Sydney and for the popular on-demand program, which streams nationally from 2 to 8 September. 

*Except Antarctica, which is not known for its filmmaking. 

Strange Creatures

Written and directed by Henry Boffin
Produced by Rachel Forbes and Riley Nottingham
Starring Riley Nottingham, Johnny Carr, Lyn Pierse, Sophie Ross, Francesca Waters and  Lucy Barrett

Riley Nottingham (Thank God You’re Here) and Johnny Carr (Five Bedrooms) play estranged brothers in this amusing yet poignant Australian feature debut from Henry Boffin (Metro Sexual).

Proud pansexual Nate hasn’t spoken to his brother Ged in over four years following an intense falling out. But when their mother passes away, the brothers must set aside their differences to fulfil her dying wish: to scatter her ashes at the old family home in remote Narrabri. Setting out across Australia in a black hearse – courtesy of Nate’s funeral director boyfriend – they’re forced to finally face the ghosts of their past in this wry comedy-drama that will have you feeling all the feels.

Are you heading to CinefestOZ? Click here for everything you need to know about Strange Creatures’ screening at CinefestOZ. 

Videoland.

Videoland

Written and directed by Jessica Smith
Produced by Scarlett Koehne
Starring Emmanuelle Mattana, Chi Nguyen, Tahlee Fereday, Jessica Smith and Toby Blome

Be catapulted back to 1998 in Videoland, a fun and heartwarmingly enjoyable ride with a strong dose of impeccably executed nostalgia.

Video store clerk Hailey researches how to be a lesbian by watching every sapphic film she can get her hands on, with the help of her supportive straight best friend Tanya. When Hailey develops a crush on a customer, she embarks on a series of hapless misadventures in her attempts to come out, navigate complicated friendships and maybe even find love. Spot homages to classic cinema and indulge in the memories of growing up gay in the ‘90s with this sweet, funny coming-of-age series.

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