Out on Screen has announced that it has hired not one but two artistic directors for the Vancouver Queer Film Festival.

The previous artistic director Shana Myara resigned from her position in December. She had held the position since 2013.

Today (March 15), OOS announced that the position will be filled by two local queer artists: Anoushka Ratnarajah and Amber Dawn.

Ratnarajah is a writer, performer, and arts organizer. She is an associate artist and facilitator at ShapeShift Arts, and works as a producer, director, playwright and filmmaker. She is working on Toasted Marshmallows, a documentary about being a mixed-race woman in North America and an upcoming production for the 2017 Vancouver Fringe Festival.

Amber Dawn is a writer of poetry, memoir, and fiction who teaches at the University of British Columbia and Douglas College. Current projects include directing the Thursdays Writing Collective, a Downtown Eastside creative- writing group, and teaching Tough Language, Tender Wisdoms, an ongoing memoir writing workshop. 

Amber Dawn previously held the position for four years until 2012.

Ratnarajah and Amber Dawn begin their positions today and will curate Out On Screen’s 29th Vancouver Queer Film Festival, which will be held from August 10 to 20.