The Reelout Queer Film Festival is an annual LGBTQ film festival in Kingston, Ontario."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.
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."Queer community up in arms following application denial from Women's Art Festival". Kingston Heritage, July 22, 2010.
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."Festival plugs gap in film programming". Kingston Whig-Standard, April 4, 2000. In the first year, films were screened at the city's gay bar, Club 477. In its second year, the festival moved to the Screening Room theatre, which has remained its primary venue ever since; the volunteers at the 2000 festival included Matt Salton, now the festival's director."Reelout 2013 focuses on youth interaction and involvement". Kingston Heritage, January 31, 2013.
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.
See also List of LGBT film festivals List of film festivals in Canada
References
External links