Full Lineup Announced for 27th Seattle Queer Film Festival

The festival's centerpiece is a double feature of two very diverse yet equally captivating comedies. Winner of honorable mention for North American narrative feature at LA's Outfest, "Youtopia" is a comedic and music-filled social commentary about Scout, who, after a devastating breakup, inadvertently becomes the leader of a hipster millennial cult. Feature film debut from writer/director Daniel Montgomery, "The Jessica Cabin" is a queer ghost story about love, loss, and connection, told through a darkly comedic lens.

The festival's closing night gala is on Saturday, October 22, at the Egyptian Theatre, with the US premiere of "Golden Delicious," the first feature from award-winning Canadian alumni filmmaker of SQFF Jason Karman. A classic queer first love story set in the social media-obsessed digital age, the film centers on high school senior Jake, who, to his father's delight, tries out for the basketball team after he meets his new basketball-obsessed and openly gay neighbor, Aleks.

Another festival highlight is a preview of the first three episodes of "High School," premiering on Amazon Freevee (formerly IMDB TV) on October 14. Executive produced, co-written, and directed by Clea DuVall ("Happiest Season," "But I'm A Cheerleader," "Veep," "The Handmaid's Tale"), "High School" is a fictionalized adaptation based on platinum recording artists Tegan and Sara Quin's New York Times best-selling memoir of the same name. Told through a backdrop of '90s grunge and rave culture, the series tells the story of finding your own identity — a journey made even more complicated when you have a twin whose own struggle and self-discovery so closely mimics your own.

On October 5, Three Dollar Bill Cinema will present a special preview screening of "Please Baby Please," directed by Amanda Kramer and starring Demi Moore.

Several special programs are a part of this year's film festival, including a series of free podcast events. Screen Drafts, where experts and enthusiasts competitively collaborate on creating screen-centric "best of" lists, and Disability After Dark, which centers on disability and sexuality with topics rarely discussed publicly, will be presented online via YouTube and Facebook. Locally produced Gal Pals Watch, a fun conversation about lesbian, queer, and trans cinema, and Fruitbowl, an oral history of queer sex, will happen live at the W Hotel Seattle's Sound Suite. Additionally, beginning last year, SQFF hosts a series of community-centric meetups in partnership with various local queer-owned businesses such as, The Wild Rose, Footprint Wine Tap, and Pony.

"Motorbike/Superdyke" is a collaborative multimedia installation that will be on view at the Museum of Museums from October 19-23. Created by Cheryl Hamilton and lisa g based on lisa g's diaries about coming out and queer stereotypes circa 2000 and includes illustrations, art prints, an animated film, and a zine.

"SQFF27 shines a spotlight on what it means to be queer utilizing varied mediums from film to music to visual art to podcasts," said Kathleen Mullen. "I love to see how our festival has evolved to include so many additional art forms, but at its foundation is film. Over 25+ years of amplifying queer stories, there is nothing like being in a theatre with a full audience of LGBTQ+ people and our allies seeing our identities reflected on screen."

Featured Screenings

Opening Night

World Premiere
Thursday, October 13, Egyptian Theatre
"What the Funk?!"
Adriana Guiman; 2022; USA; 99 min
"What the Funk?!" is the story of the first inaugural What the Funk?! BIPOC Burlesque Festival, held here in Seattle Washington, over a three-day period in August 2019. Follow producer and founder Kia Puckett, a.k.a. Mx. Pucks A'Plenty (the Femme Daddy your Mother didn't know to warn you about), in this labor of love as they explore what it means to rewrite the rules of burlesque to build a supportive community of performers for personal and professional development. See excerpts of live festival performances as well as intimate behind-the-scenes footage. Hear performers speak about the inspiration that drives their performances as well as lingering challenges to inclusivity and accessibility. Explore what it means to question cultural norms, utilize the body as an artistic medium, and live life on one's own terms.

Centerpiece Double Feature
Saturday, October 15, Broadway Performance Hall

"Youtopia"
Scout Durwood; 2022; USA; 92 min.
Scout just can't get it right! After a devastating breakup, she inadvertently becomes the leader of a hipster millennial cult. But when members of the cult start to disappear, she soon discovers that her journey of self-discovery could trigger the end of civilization as we know it and is forced to take on her biggest opponent yet: herself. Featuring eleven music videos, a dog with eyebrows, and lots of jumpsuits, there's something for everyone in "Youtopia." A social commentary in a hilarious and bedazzling package, you don't want to miss this whip-smart, angsty, millennial comedy. From director and comedian Scout Durwood in her debut feature-length comedy musical.

"The Jessica Cabin"
Daniel Scott Montgomery; 2022; USA; 72 min.
Sometimes, less is more. Writer/Director Daniel Montgomery made this film during the pandemic starring only himself and his two recently out friends, somehow managing to make something intimate feel so expansive. In this supernatural comedy, a young man (Chase Williamson from "John Dies at the End") and his boyfriend show up at a cabin, only to find that they aren't truly alone but being observed by two sassy entities with their own supernatural baggage. As bizarre occurrences start plaguing both the living and the dead, the line between the two becomes smaller and smaller. If you've ever wanted to see human on ghost romance (minus the pottery kiln), this film has you covered; a firm reminder that friends usually make the best art. In his "spirited" debut, Montgomery blends humor, deep introspection, and a cinematic malaise that washes over the viewer; well, when they're not laughing their asses off.

Closing Night

U.S. Premiere
Saturday, October 22, Egyptian Theatre
"Golden Delicious"
Jason Karman; 2022; Canada; 120 min
Everyone wants something from high school senior Jake: his father is pushing him to try out for the basketball team, and his girlfriend Valerie wants to take their relationship to the next level. When Aleks, a handsome, basketball-loving, shamelessly-out gay kid, moves in across the street, Jake's world turns upside down, sending him headfirst into the throes of jock-dom. With a sensitive hand, director Jason Karman (SQFF 2019) explores the innocence and trepidations of falling in love for the first time. Karman gives us a queer love story with a broad focus on family, legacy, and authenticity. Set in the modern digital age, Jake and his friends are finding themselves through social media, forging real connections, and figuring out who to take to the prom. In a time where queer coming-of-age films are finally part of the conversation, "Golden Delicious" feels like something extra special.

The festival takes place from October 13 - 23. Screening venues include SIFF Cinema Egyptian, Northwest Film Forum, Broadway Performance Hall, Erickson Theatre, Ark Lodge Cinemas, The Beacon, and MoPOP's Sound and Vision Theater. Hybrid passes, which include access to all film festival programs, range in price from $200 - $295. Virtual only passes are $150 for individuals and $199 for households. Discounts on passes are available for Three Dollar Bill Cinema members. Single tickets are available on a sliding scale from $13-$30, and single Gala (opening, closing, and centerpiece programs) tickets are available on a sliding scale from $25-$100. Mix and match (virtual and in-person screenings) six and 10 ticket packs are available for $65 and $110, respectively.

For the full film lineup, film descriptions, tickets, passes, and more, visit https://threedollarbillcinema.org/sqff.