First Pride in Hull LGBT+ Film Festival needs donors

ORGANISERS of the first film festival for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community are appealing for support from cinema fanatics.

Pride In Hull LGBT+ is holding its first three-day film festival, showing a line-up of films and documentaries made about, and for, people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

It will take place from Friday to Tuesday, September 23.

As a not-for-profit organisation, the organisers are appealing for donations from businesses and individuals to help with the costs of the venue and licence fees.

Trustee and festival organiser Graham Jenkinson said: "As a voluntary organisation we have little financial resources as we have no official funding streams and we organise the events in-house.

"We are asking local businesses and individuals to help us with donations to pay for the venue and licence fees for the film festival.

"Events like this are important for Hull. It is well documented that cities around the world that have really vibrant sections in the LGBT communities – New York, San Francisco – attract people, so, hopefully, by putting on events like this, we will attract people to the city too."

As well as showing the diverse range of films at Kardomah 94 in Alfred Gelder Street, including titles by award-winning Peccadillo Pictures, they are inviting directors and producers to visit the city for a Q&A session.

It is billed as an alternative night out for members of the LGBT community, who say there is little for them to do as a way of socialising. They also want to show films they can relate to.

Mr Jenkinson, a film fanatic, said: "There was an award-winning film released called Weekend but it was never going to be shown in Hull so I had to go to London to see it.

"People in our community are all about inclusivity. We have worked really hard on our programme to make sure we have covered all the initials of LGBT."

Emma Wilkinson, a trustee of Pride In Hull, said: "The social scene for the LGBT community in Hull basically consists of going clubbing and not everyone wants to do that. The mainstream cinemas don't cater for LGBT at all. They go for the films that make the big bucks.

"We wanted to put on films that are relevant to their lives, rather than them having to travel out of Hull.

"There will be films that are gay men-specific, some lesbian, some transgender. We have tried to cover all themes.

"It will be partly watching films, partly socialising, a place where people can meet and support each other."

They have set up an online crowd-funding website, which asks for small donations from strangers, to raise the £1,200 needed for the event, having already raised £1,050.

Mr Jenkinson said: "We are inviting directors and producers to visit Hull for Q&As sessions and will be covering their general expenses.

"Therefore, our appeal via a crowd-funding website is to raise sufficient funds.

"We offer free tickets as rewards and festival passes available to pledgers sponsors.

"Additional funding for the festival is required for marketing and advertising purposes and to secure funds to cover the licence fees for the film titles."

The festival is not exclusively for members of the LGBT+ community but for anyone who enjoys film and has an interest in cinema.

Pride In Hull LGBT say inclusivity is at the heart of its ethical policies and aims to "enrich the lives of everyone".

Ms Wilkinson said: "It would be great to have support from the straight community so they can share in some of the things we are experiencing and understand what is still relevant to our lives.

"We want anyone who likes film to come along."

Visit crowdfunder.co.uk/pride-in-hull-film-festival to donate.

Here are the top 20 films for the LGBT community, according to arts organisation Advocate.

• Brokeback Mountain (2005).

• Milk (2008).

• Paris Is Burning (1990).

• Cabaret (1972).

• The Boys In The Band (1970).

• Philadelphia (1993).

• Bound (1996).

• Desert Hearts (1985).

• Boys Don't Cry (1999).

• Parting Glances (1986).

• Making Love (1982).

• The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994).

• But I'm A Cheerleader (1999).

• Maurice (1987).

• Gods And Monsters (1998).

• Beautiful Thing (1996).

• Longtime Companion (1990).

• All About Eve (1950).

• The Celluloid Closet (1995).

• Weekend (2011).