George Michael party launches Queer Vision 2022

Had he lived, Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou would have been 59 on June 25. So this year, the Queer Vision film festival is kicking off with a big birthday party in honour of this late stubbly superstar.

Following a screening of the new documentary George Michael Freedom Uncut, there’s a DJ set from Jo Kimber. The follicularly impoverished who wish to join in with some careless whispering will be overjoyed to find that the event also includes a ‘beard bar’ offering an opportunity to “channel your inner drag king”.

Tramps: yes, kids, this is how your parents/grandparents used to dress (possibly)

His Georgeship isn’t the only throwback to the 1980s in Bristol Pride‘s annual celebration of LGBT+ filmmaking. Another highlight for those who wish to raid the dressing-up box is a screening of Tramps! Kevin Hegge’s feature-length documentary debut celebrates the movement that’s remembered either with affection or horror, according to taste: the New Romantics. The screening will be followed by a New Romantic DJ set.

Non-musical documentary highlights include Angela Washko’s Workhorse Queen, which tells the story of Rochester’s Ed Popil – telemarketeer by day and drag queen Kasha Davies by night. Ed’s life changed at the age of 44 when he was selected to appear on RuPaul’s Drag Race. But Workhorse Queen doesn’t just tell a feelgood yarn. The film delves deeper into the nature of reality TV fame and its aftermath, while exploring the growing gulf between the lives of smalltown drag queens who’ve been on telly and those who haven’t.

Me and You and Everyone We Know writer/director Miranda July’s hugely enjoyable 2020 feature Kajillionaire also makes a welcome return to the big screen. July tackles the grifter genre in idiosyncratic style in what was her first film in nearly a decade. Con artist duo Robert and Theresa Dyne (Richard Jenkins, Debra Winger) have raised their naïve, emotionally stunted, oddly named 26-year-old daughter Old Dolio (Evan Rachel Wood) to be part of the crappy scams that fuel their hand-to-mouth existence. But when the dysfunctional family encounter a stranger (Gina Rodriguez), everything starts to fall apart. To get you in the mood, Queer Vision’s screening will be preceded by a suitably quirky performance by Roseanna Anderson, co-founder and director of Impermanence.

Elsewhere in the suitably diverse programme, Harriet from Trans Creative Meet Up presents a selection of trans short films followed by a screening of Death and Bowling. Billed as the first long-form film to feature an almost entirely transgender cast in both transgender and non-transgender roles, Lyle Kash’s drama follows a white trans actor who struggles with the challenges of being seen as representing trans identity on screen and as an outsider among amateur-bowling lesbian pals who meet as the Lavender League.

Those who are fed up with endless outdoor screenings of Grease will be delighted to learn that Queer Vision has chosen something else for its al fresco event at the Trinity. That’s right: they’re showing Grease 2, which is billed as “arguably better and camper than the original”. Don’tcha just love that ‘arguably’? Hosted by Tom Marshman, the event also includes queer poetry and a queer retelling of characters from both Grease flicks.

German animation ‘Flamingo Pride’: screening in the Queer Joy programme

Fittingly, this year’s festival concludes with Queer Joy. Programmed in association with Encounters, this is a selection of short films that put aside drama in favour of a celebration of identities. Glitter will be involved.

Queer Vision runs at various venues from Friday 24 June until Sunday 10 July. Go here for the full programme and ticket details.

All images supplied by Watershed.