Vancouver Queer Film Festival 2016 to feature Beyoncé's Brazilian Beyhive, Brokeback meets Rambo

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      The Vancouver Queer Film Festival announced today (May 9) that its 28th edition will run this year from August 11 to 21.

      Artistic director Shana Myara stated in a news release that the festival's 2016 focus will highlight pioneers and activists.

      "This year, we’re investigating queer histories and key ‘troublemakers’ who’ve endured great hardships while paving the way for change,” she stated.

      The lineup will include over 80 films from over 20 countries.

      One of the selections announced for this year is North Mountain by Métis filmmaker Bretten Hannam from Nova Scotia. The film, described as "Brokeback meets Rambo", follows a young Mi'kmaq hunter who develops feelings for a wounded fugitive ex-con that he nurses back to health. Their relationship is put to the test when a vindictive, corrupt policeman arrives on the scene.

      Members of the Beyhive will be interested in the Brazilian documentary Waiting for B. (A Longa Espera), which chronicles Beyoncé fans camping outside a São Paulo stadium for two months. The film delves into not only celebrity worship but queer culture as well.

      The festival will kick into party mode with an opening gala screening followed by an outdoor sunset celebration at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza on August 11. The full lineup will be revealed in July on the VQFF website

      While you wait for the festival to arrive (presumably not camped out for two months like the Beyhive), VQFF is presenting a screening of the documentary Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures.

      The film examines the controversial American photographer and his work, which has been branded obscene by opponents. Famed for his photography of flowers, celebrities, and nudes, his homoeroticism and sexual subject matter (such as BDSM) sparked a debate about public funding of art.

      The film includes a generous sampling of famous names, including Carolina Herrera, Brooke Shields, Debbie Harry, Fran Lebowitz, and Sam Wagstaff.

      It'll be screened at Vancity Theatre on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia on May 17 at 6:30 p.m. More details are available at the Vancity Theatre website. 

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at twitter.com/cinecraig. You can also follow the Straight's LGBT coverage on Twitter at twitter.com/StraightLGBT.

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