Summer Qamp is a 2023 Canadian documentary film, directed by Jen Markowitz.Pat Mullen, "Mr. Dressup, Fred Wiseman Lead TIFF Docs Line-Up". Point of View, July 26, 2023. The film profiles Camp fYrefly, a summer camp program in Alberta that provides a safe space for LGBTQ youth.Andrew Jeffrey, "Exclusive: Jen Markowitz, Michelle Mama board feature doc 'Summer Qamp'". RealScreen, September 22, 2022.
Background The film profiles Camp fYrefly, a summer camp program in Alberta that provides a safe space for LGBTQ youth. According to Markowitz, "it’s important to show the public at large that this is a community of regular kids with regular kid problems. They are all regular kids at heart, they just happened to be really weighed down by a lot of this other stuff that is put on to them by the world."Addie Morfoot, "‘Summer Qamp’ TIFF Documentary Highlights LGBTQ+ Youth in Safe Space". Variety, September 7, 2023.
The project was first announced as a documentary television series in 2021,Justin Anderson, "Exclusive: Cineflix, Hello Friend Media developing 'Summer Qamp' docuseries". RealScreen, November 5, 2021. and was later revised into a feature documentary film.
Release The film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, and will be distributed principally as a television broadcast on Super Channel in English and TVA in French.
Awards At TIFF, the film was named first runner-up for the People's Choice Award for Documentaries.Steve Pond, "‘American Fiction’ Wins Toronto Film Festival’s Audience Award". TheWrap, September 17, 2023.
At the 2023 Calgary International Film Festival, the film received a special jury citation from the Best Canadian Feature Documentary award jury,Aryn Toombs, "Winners of 2023 CIFF competitions unveiled". LiveWire Calgary, September 25, 2023. and was the winner of the Audience Choice award for best Canadian documentary."Summer Qamp, Drawing a Life audience favourites at CIFF". LiveWire Calgary, October 3, 2023.
Derek Esposito and Cecilio Escobar received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Editing in a Documentary at the 12th Canadian Screen Awards in 2024."BlackBerry Leads CSA Nominations". Northern Stars, March 6, 2024.
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