The full programme has been announced for GAZE 2021. Dublin’s biggest LGBTQ+ film festival revealed the full list of films on offer for this year’s return to cinemas, all set to take place from 29 September – 3 October.
Tickets for films showing at GAZE 2021 will be available to buy from 11am tomorrow morning (2nd September) via the Light House Cinema and the Irish Film Institute, dual hosts for the 29th edition of the festival, one of Ireland’s longest running and most diverse film festival offerings. We’ve already seen the announcement of some of the highlights, but this evening’s livestream revealed even more of the exciting films on show.
This year all shorts programmes are available on IFI@Home from the same time they screen in the cinema. After more submissions than ever, GAZE 2021 has expanded to include 6 programmes of shorts, including set of films inspired by the night – ‘a time for dancing, hiding, exploring and devilment!’ And here’s to hoping for more devilment in the months ahead.
The festival’s annual Vanguard Award to honour those who have contributed to the community in Ireland will be presented this year to Mark O’Halloran. A titan in the Irish industry, O’Halloran has worked as a writer, and actor for decades on the Irish screen and stage, performing in Adam and Paul, writing Garage, Viva, Rialto and more. He is currently writing on the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Conversations With Friends for the BBC and Hulu.
O’Halloran won’t be the only one awarded at the festival, which will present its usual Jury and Audience prizes. Best International Narrative Short Film, Best International Documentary Short Film and Best Feature Documentary will be awarded by the GAZE 2021 Jury, which includes artist Pradeep Mahadeshwar, performer Wren Dennehy (best known as drag performer Avoca Reaction), TENI Community Aid Officer Noah Halpin and writer/director Eleanor Rogers.
15 features will be on show during the festival from Ireland and abroad, a mix of old and new that will include the Director’s Cut of Jamie Bobbit’s iconic cult classic But I’m A Cheerleader and the 25th anniversary of coming of age story Beautiful Thing.
This year’s Closing Film will be the documentary No Straight Lines, which charts the rise of queer comic creatives Alison Bechdel, Howard Cruse, Jennifer Camper, Rupert Kinnard, and Mary Wings. To celebrate the film, Small Trans Library and GAZE will present a DIY Comix-Making Workshop on Sunday 3rd October. This online event will allow developing artists Participants to see a short history of queer comix, check out the Small Trans Library’s curated selection of Trans and LGBTQ+ comix for inspo and participate in a workshop covering how to write, sketch, ink, letter, edit and self-publish your own comics. Note that this event is scheduled to take place online currently. Pending any relaxation of Covid restrictions, it may take place in person at the above time. Check www.gaze.ie closer to the date or reserve your spot by contacting caoimhe@gaze.ie.
You can read through the full programme of GAZE 2021 now HERE.