30 Years of CanQueer

This program offers up three decades of our nation’s best in queer storytelling. From the political, to the deep end, this program is bound to inspire some great conversation with a dash of nostalgia.

 

WE’RE TALKING VULVA, directed by Shawna Dempsey (Canada 1990)

A five-foot, six-inch rappin’ vulva, in an unexpected parody of the music video genre, leads the viewer on a complete description of female genitalia.

 

DANCE TO MISS CHIEF, directed by Kent Monkman (Canada 2011)

Dance to Miss Chief – a playful critique of German fascination with North American “Indians” that is guaranteed to make you want to get up and shake your booty! This remix of contemporary and vintage footage celebrates Miss Chief’s on-screen romance with leading man, Winnetou, fictitious “Indian” from Karl May’s German Westerns.

 

REX VS. SINGH, directed by Richard Fung, John Greyson and Ali Kazimi (Canada 2009)

In 1915, two Sikh mill-workers, Dalip Singh and Naina Singh, were entrapped by undercover police in Vancouver and accused of sodomy. This experimental video stages scenes from their trial, told four times: first as a period drama, second as a documentary investigation of the case, third as a musical agit-prop, and fourth, as a deconstruction of the actual court transcript.

 

HELPLESS MAIDEN MAKES AN I STATEMENT, directed by Thirza Cuthand (Canada 2000)

A helpless maiden is tiring of her consensual s/m relationship with her lover, and “evil” queen. She wants to break up. An impassioned monologue in a dungeon with our heroine in wrist cuffs quickly becomes an emotionally messy ending in flames. 

 

AUDITION TAPE, directed by Benny Nemerofsky Ramsay (Canada 2003)

Gay white male, 5’11”, 155 lbs, 29 years old, good singing voice and co-ordination, desperately seeks job as performer in a Russian girl pop group. History, sexuality and identity collide in a musical monologue inspired by outtakes from American Idol competitions.

 

DEEP END, directed by Bretten Hannam (Canada 2012)

When 13-year-old Dane’s older brother comes out as gay, he spends the day at the community pool trying to figure out what it means for both of them. 

 

SWERVE, directed by Andrea Dorfman (Canada 1999)

Swerve tells the story of a group of friends who embark on a road trip which winds up in an uncomfortable lesbian love triangle.

 

WHY I HATE BEES, directed by Sarah Abbott (Canada 1998)

Why I Hate Bees is a comedic journey into a young girl’s memories of near death, based on the short story by Canadian writer Nancy Jo Cullen.

 

THE MAN THAT GOT AWAY, directed by Trevor Anderson (Canada 2012)

A musical documentary that tells the true life story of Trevor’s great-uncle Jimmy in six original songs.

Please note that you can access films for 48 hours after your ticket purchase. After 48 hours, the films will no longer be available.

May 25 to June 30, 2020

Online

Beginning Monday, May 25th and going to June 30th, a curated selection of short films will be available to screen exclusively on Inside Out’s website.

The 30th anniversary committee, led by Director of Programming Andrew Murphy, includes Jenna Dufton (Programming Manager), Chris Chin, Michele Pearson Clarke, Scott Ferguson, Nik Redman, and Sonya Reynolds.