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The Virginia Queer Film Festival returns to ODU this weekend

Michael Ridley stars in the short film, "Cowboy Boots," which is showing at the Virginia Queer Film Festival at ODU this weekend.
Courtesy of Eric Delehoy
Michael Ridley stars in the short film, "Cowboy Boots," which is showing at the Virginia Queer Film Festival at ODU this weekend.

The third annual film fest runs from Friday to Sunday. The organizers state that the festival's purpose is to foster social dialogue with a focus on Southern voices.

The Virginia Queer Film Festival, the only film festival of its kind in the state, kicks off its third year on Friday with a lineup by, for, and about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people and their families. It is also a conference for LGBTQ+ filmmakers to share and discuss their work with audiences. The festival runs through Sunday.

While the fest welcomed work from all filmmakers, it stated on its website that its focus was to “foster local and regional community engagement by showcasing queer film programming, educational experiences, and social dialogue with a focus on Virginia and Southern voices.”

It features music videos, short films, and full-length features, along with activities and screenings at the Goode and University theaters.

The entries include “Pages of Protest,” which follows a young, queer Black student activist fighting against bans on books featuring ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ individuals, and “Red Lights and Civil Rights: the LGBTQ History of Hampton.”

Tickets are available at festival.vaqff.org.

Compiled by WHRO newsroom staff