Reelout Queer Film Festival
| Reelout Queer Film Festival | |
|---|---|
| Locations | Kingston, Canada |
| Years active | 1999-present |
| Founder | Marney McDiarmid |
Most recent | Opening: January 29, 2026 Closing: February 7, 2026 |
| Website | reelout.com |
The Reelout Queer Film Festival is an annual LGBTQ film festival in Kingston, Ontario.[1][2]
In 2010, the festival was briefly the subject of controversy when its application to present a program of short films directed by women at the Kingston Women's Art Festival was denied.[3]
History
Founding
The festival was established in 1999 by Marney McDiarmid, a Queen's University graduate, with resource assistance from both the university and Ontario Public Interest Research Group.[4] In the first year, films were screened at the city's gay bar, Club 477.[4] In its second year, the festival moved to the Screening Room theatre, which has remained its primary venue ever since;[4] the volunteers at the 2000 festival included Matt Salton, now the festival's director.[5]
Recent years
In years after the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival has been facing financial struggles. The festival's latest instalment, in 2026, saw a big decline in funding. Matt Salton, the executive director, shared that the festival has lost a lot of its private-sector funding. At the same time, the festival was recently removed from Queen's University's Alma Mater Society ballot in the 2024-2025 school year.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ "We're parading our colours to attract gay American tourists". Ottawa Citizen, April 23, 2005.
- ↑ "'Reelness' focus of annual film festival". Kingston Whig-Standard, January 26, 2018.
- ↑ "Queer community up in arms following application denial from Women's Art Festival". Kingston Heritage, July 22, 2010.
- 1 2 3 "Festival plugs gap in film programming". Kingston Whig-Standard, April 4, 2000.
- ↑ "Reelout 2013 focuses on youth interaction and involvement". Kingston Heritage, January 31, 2013.
- ↑ Hendra, Peter (2026-01-28). "ENT: This year's ReelOut festival could be 'The End'". The Kingston Whig Standard. Retrieved 2026-06-03.