Queer City Cinema is an annual film festival in Regina, Saskatchewan, which presents a program of LGBTQ film."Artistic director addresses racism with 15th Queer City Cinema festival". Regina Leader-Post, September 19, 2018. Established in 1996 by Gary Varro, the festival was presented every two years at first before becoming an annual event. In recent years, the main festival has been presented concurrently with Performatorium, a festival of LGBTQ performance art."Performatorium presents the world of oral expression". Regina Leader-Post, January 10, 2013.
In addition to the main event in Regina, the festival also presents a touring LGBTQ film minifestival presented in selected other cities across Canada, including Victoria, Yellowknife, Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Thunder Bay."A Qaleidoscope of queer film being screened in Victoria". Monday Magazine, January 14, 2019. The touring minifestival was organized for the first time in 2001."Queer film fest to hit the road". Prince Albert Daily Herald, February 5, 2001.
Controversies In 2000, the event faced some controversy when the Saskatchewan Party criticized a government grant to the festival, on the grounds that some of the festival's content was allegedly pornographic."Gay filmfest funds anger Opposition". Cornwall Standard Freeholder, April 29, 2000. Although an anti-gay lobby group led by Christian evangelist Bill Whatcott picketed the festival that year, the festival took place without major incident."Protesters picket gay film festival funded by Sask. Arts Board". Moose Jaw Times-Herald, May 15, 2000. The 2001 launch of the touring festival was criticized in the House of Commons of Canada by Saskatoon MP Jim Pankiw,"Saskatoon film festival under fire from Christian group and Canadian Alliance". Canadian Press, February 7, 2001. but was also staged without incident."Arts council chairman defends grant to gay film festival in Regina". Canadian Press, September 13, 2001.
See also List of LGBT film festivals List of film festivals in Canada
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