Horror Highlights At MELBOURNE QUEER FILM FESTIVAL
MELBOURNE QUEER FILM FESTIVAL (MQFF) returns for its 32nd edition from November 10 – 21 across four venues at ACMI, Cinema Nova, Village Cinemas Jam Factory & Rooftop Cinema.
As always the program includes some great genre films and cult classics among the line-up.
HYPOCHONDRIAC
Addison Heimann | USA 2022 | 96 minutes
Thursday 17 November 8:15pm | Cinema Nova
Tickets
Will (Zach Villa, AMERICAN HORROR STORY) is a young Hispanic artist with a loving boyfriend (Devon Graye, NOPE) and a good life, but when his bipolar mother (Marlene Forte, KNIVES OUT) re-enters his life after a 10-year absence, her presence begins to erode the sturdy foundations on which he’s built his life. Afraid of becoming his mother, and tormented by past traumas, Will spirals into obsession and despair. Can will confront his own mental illness before it’s too late?
Screens with Short GHOSTED
Nathan Lacey & Nick Lacey | Australia 2022| 12 mins
FREAK OUT – Short Film Program
Saturday 19 November 8:30pm
Tickets
Just as horrifying as they are Queer, the 2022 Freak Out! shorts are sure to make you scream and gag. Between serial killers, gay ghosts and terrifying homophobes, enjoy the thrills and horrors of all things bone-chilling.
BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER (DIRECTOR’S CUT)
Jamie Babbit | USA 1999 | 90 minutes
Friday 11 November 7:30pm
Tickets
Jamie Babbit’s cult classic, BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER, is BACK for a Director’s Cut. In this macabre comedy, High school cheerleader, Megan (Natasha Lyonne), is forced to attend a conversion therapy camp to “cure” her lesbianism. There, she meets self-assured Graham (Clea DuVall). Will romance and rebellion ensue at True Directions? How long can Megan deny her true feelings? With support acts from RuPaul and Cathy Moriarty, BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER is a seminal 90s satire that cannot be missed.
PINK FLAMINGOS
John Waters | USA 1972 | 93 minutes
Friday 18 November 8:45pm
Tickets
50, filthy and aging disgracefully, the notorious cult classic Pink Flamingos is just as criminal as you remember it. You’ll be gagging and gasping as the iconic Divine travels across the outskirts of Maryland in her quest to be crowned “the filthiest person alive” — a challenge that is not only met but surpassed in its jaw-dropping finale.
FLIPPING THE CHANNELS
BISEXUAL REPRESENTATION IN TV FROM THE 70s TO 90s
Talk by Lee Gambin
Wednesday 16 November 6pm
Tickets (Standby)
Exploring early examples of bisexual representation in seldom discussed works such as Love, Sidney to the ground-breaking episode of Taxi entitled “Elaine’s Strange Triangle”, this presentation will detail the efforts of writers, producers and filmic creatives in bringing bisexual visibility to the small screen. With a focus on the heyday of landmark television, the discussion will look at male sex work in cult classics like Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn; heterosexual women being bi-curious in shows such as L.A. Law and Roseanne; the treatment of iconic queer characters like Jodie Dallas from Soap and Steven Carrington from Dynasty; to how AIDS paranoia penetrated the bisexual lens with controversial entries such as the episode “After It Happened” from Midnight Caller. Featuring many clips and stills, this will be an enlightening look at on-screen representation of bisexuality.
You check out the entire MQFF program here
