FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Denver Film Media Contacts:
Ambriehl Turrentine: ambriehl@denverfilm.org
Marty Schechter: marty@schechterpr.com
DENVER – July 1, 2024 – Denver Film announced today the lineup for its 16th Annual CinemaQ Film Festival, Aug. 8-11 at the Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave. Festival passes, available now, are $60 for Denver Film members/$75 non-member. Individual film tickets are $12 for Denver Film members/$15 non-member and are available beginning today at 10 a.m. at denverfilm.org.
The CinemaQ Film Festival, presented by William LaBahn, begins at the Sie FilmCenter with the Aug. 8 Opening Night presentation of My Old Ass. Making its CinemaQ debut ahead of its theatrical release in September, this comedic coming-of-age story follows the 18th birthday mushroom trip that brings free-spirited Elliott (Maisy Stella) face-to-face with her 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza). The Festival will conclude on Aug. 11 with a presentation of All Shall Be Well, a family drama exploring the legal rights of a same-sex couple, Angie and Pat, in Hong Kong after Pat’s sudden death.
In addition to an exceptional film lineup, this year’s festival includes an Opening Night Sweet 16th Birthday Party on Thursday, Aug. 8 at 5:30 p.m. to celebrate CinemaQ’s 16th anniversary and the CinemaQ Marketplace featuring goods from local, queer-owned businesses on Sunday, Aug. 11 in the Sie FilmCenter lobby from noon to 5 p.m..
The Festival will also feature two events in a new CinemaQ program – BLQ – which partners with Black Pride Colorado to produce impact screenings of films that focus on Black queer stories.
“Working with Dr. Tara Jae and watching their tireless efforts through YouthSeen and Black Pride Colorado to improve and spotlight the lives and voices of Black and Indigenous people of color who are trans and queer – one of the most underserved populations of our community, especially when it comes to self identity within film and creative arts – made me excited to open up the platform of CinemaQ and provide a home for a focus on amplifying Black queer lives,” said Sie FilmCenter Artistic Director and CinemaQ programmer Keith Garcia. “Together we have created BLQ, a new track at CinemaQ to explore Black Lives Queerly and ensure that all folks in the community have the opportunity to see themselves and come together to celebrate, watch, and discuss.”
The Aug. 10 panel BLQ Disruptors will feature a discussion and Q&A by creatives from multiple disciplines as they share their experiences navigating a creative world as a Black queer creator.
In addition, the BLQ program will include screenings of two films on Saturday, Aug. 10 including, fresh off of its World Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival, I’m Your Venus and Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story.
“Paris is Burning left us on a cliffhanger. I’m Your Venus is the next chapter of the complex and intersectional aspects of what healing means in the community,” said Black Pride Founder and Executive Director, Tara Jae. “When we take the time to learn our true history, we find that representation was available to us without the context. Jackie Shane was breaking barriers and blazing a trail in music before we knew the deeper story. Any Other Way is a lyrical proposal to the world that shares the truth of her journey, and yet it took us until now to understand she was sharing her story her entire music career.
Following the panel, A BLQ Creative Affair, a mixer event, will be held in the Sie FilmCenter lobby for guests to mix and mingle with one another.
“I have been a big fan of Keith and his vision behind Cinema Q for quite some time,” said Jae. “When we first started talking about what it could look like to amplify Black Queer voices we kept pointing to festivals that were on the coasts. To collaborate with Keith and Cinema Q on BLQ is an opportunity to showcase and represent queer, transgender and non-binary individuals and their stories, ensuring that the most under-represented members in our community are seen, heard, celebrated and remembered.”
Founded in 2009, the CinemaQ Film Festival was created to leverage the power of film to celebrate queer voices, queer visions, and queer visibility. The four-day festival is designed to showcase the best in new and classic LGBTQ+ cinema from around the world to Colorado audiences. The full schedule of film screenings, Q&As, events, and panels will be announced in the coming weeks.
Click to purchase tickets and passes.
MY OLD ASS
Writer, Director: Megan Park
Opening Night – Thursday, Aug. 8, 7 p.m.
In this fresh coming-of-age story, an 18th birthday mushroom trip brings free-spirited Elliott (Maisy Stella) face-to-face with her wisecracking 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza). But when Elliott’s “old ass” starts handing out warnings about what her younger self should and shouldn’t do, Elliott realizes she has to rethink everything about family, love, and what’s becoming a transformative summer.
THE TEACHES OF PEACHES
Directors: Philipp Fussenegger, Judy Landkammer
Friday, Aug. 9, 6:30 p.m.
Seamlessly weaving together exclusive archival gems with dynamic tour footage, this documentary captures the transformative journey of Canadian Merrill Nisker into the internationally acclaimed cultural powerhouse that is Peaches.
HAZE
Director: Matthew Fifer
Friday, Aug. 9, 9 p.m.
A young gay man returns home after rehab and uncovers the secrets of his town’s abandoned psychiatric center.
S/HE IS STILL HER/E
Director: David Charles Rodrigues
Friday, Aug. 9, 9:15 p.m.
Genesis P-Orridge lived her art and died three times for it. Persecuted by Queen Elizabeth, a disciple of Burroughs, Leary, Nepalese monks and African witch doctors; Gen influenced and revolutionized music, art and gender—all without most of the world even knowing. At least not the full-story.
ANY OTHER WAY: THE JACKIE SHANE STORY
Directors: Michael Mabbott, Lucah Rosenberg-Lee
Saturday, Aug. 10, 1 p.m.
Jackie Shane was one of music’s pioneering Black trans performers. On the edge of stardom, why did she disappear? Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story hands the mic over revealing her extraordinary journey, in her own unmistakable voice.
Screening as part of BLQ
THE JUDGMENT
Director: Marwan Mokbel
Saturday, Aug. 10, 4:15 p.m.
An Egyptian gay couple return from the U.S. to Egypt for a family emergency and have to force themselves back into the closet and pretend to be just friends. When they fall prey to witchcraft as punishment for their “homosexual sins,” one of them falls into religious terror and exposes his unhealed past.
RENT FREE
Director: Fernando Andrés
Saturday, Aug. 10, 6:30pm
After hitting emotional and financial rock bottom, best friends Ben and Jordan come up with a scheme to spend an entire year living “rent-free” with the help of friends, family, and strangers alike in a rapidly changing Austin.
I’M YOUR VENUS
Directors: Kimberly Reed
Saturday, Aug. 10, 7 p.m.
A moving and timely documentary following the unsolved murder of Venus Xtravaganza, star of the legendary film Paris Is Burning, as Venus’ two families – biological and ballroom – come together to seek answers and celebrate her legacy.
Screening as part of BLQ
QUEER SHORTS AFTER DARK
Saturday, Aug. 10, 9:30 p.m.
Films and presentations include Taylor James’ ILY, BYE, José Luis Zorrero’s ¡Beso de lengua!, Clari Ribeiro’s If I’m Here It Is by Mystery, Samira Elagoz and Z Walsh’s You can’t get what you want but you can get me, and Arthur Cahn’s Totems.
CARNAGE FOR CHRISTMAS
Director: Alice Maio Mackay
Saturday, Aug. 10, 10 p.m.
A fast-paced, blood-soaked whodunit, which follows a true crime podcaster – returning to her small hometown years after transitioning – who has to solve a series of gruesome murders, which the local police seem to be ignoring.
YOUNG HEARTS
Director: Anthony Schatteman
Sunday, Aug. 11, 12 p.m.
14-year-old Elias develops feelings for his new neighbor Alexander. He soon realizes he’s falling in love for the first time.
QUEER SHORTS PROGRAM
Sunday, Aug. 11, 2:30 p.m.
Films and presentations include Ila Pittaluga and Zelda Fitzgerald’s So You Wanna Vogue Huh?!, Tyler C. Peterson’s Stan Behavior, Kimberly Reed’s Seat 31: Zooey Zephyr Lindsey Dryden’s The Callers, Sarah Sellman’s Gillyfish, and Isa Schieche’s The Robbers.
DESIRE LINES
Director: Jules Rosskam
Sunday, Aug. 11, 2:45 p.m.
An Iranian-American transman, Ahmad, searching for his place in history, finds more than just a link to the past in the archives. Drawing from first-person accounts, as well as fictionalized segments, filmmaker Jules Rosskam explores the lines of desire as they intersect with identity for many transmen.
ALL SHALL BE WELL
Director: Jules Rosskam
Closing Night – Sunday, Aug. 11, 5 p.m.
Angie and Pat have been together for over four decades but after Pat’s unexpected death, Angie finds herself at the mercy of Pat’s family as she struggles to retain her dignity and the home that both had shared for over thirty years.
Members of the press interested in covering the CinemaQ Film Festival may contact Ambriehl Turrentine at ambriehl@denverfilm.org or Marty Schechter at marty@schechterpr.com.
Sponsors
CinemaQ is presented by William Labahn with additional support from:
AMC Networks, AOR, arc Thrift Stores, Black Pride CO, Bonfils Stanton, The Center on Colfax, COFTM, Consulate General of Canada in Denver, Eldorado Natural Springs Water, HITS 95.7, Jane E. Rosenbaum, Jodi Asarch & Cammie Redpath, Liberty Global, SCFD, Sheila K. O’Brien, Topo Chico, Visit Denver, Wana Brands, Wana Foundation, Youth Seen
About Denver Film
Founded in 1978, Denver Film is a membership-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural institution that produces film events throughout the year, including the award-winning Denver Film Festival and the popular, summertime series Film on the Rocks. With a vision to cultivate community and transform lives through film, Denver Film provides opportunities for diverse audiences to discover film through creative, thought-provoking experiences.
The permanent home of Denver Film, the Sie FilmCenter is Denver’s only year-round cinematheque, presenting a weekly-changing calendar of first-run exclusives and arthouse revivals both domestic and foreign, narrative and documentary – over 600 per year, all shown in their original language and format. Denver Film’s one-of-a-kind programs annually reach more than 200,000 film lovers and film lovers-in-training.
