Muskoka Queer Film Festival

The Muskoka Queer Film Festival is a joint project of Muskoka Pride, FedNor(Canadian Experiences Fund), and Sanctuary Studios Inc. It is built on the success of the 2020 festival and several mini-festivals screened as part of Muskoka Pride's annual events. Located in the heart of Ontario's cottage country, MQFF attracts audiences from Toronto to North Bay, from Haliburton to London, and far beyond.

The goal of MQFF is to bring a queer brightness to Muskoka and to make diverse queer life more visible in the region. We are aiming to show the public all the bright sides of queer life and to inspire and support the local LQBTQI2S community with positive role models. With this, we are looking for the queer film stories that will carry an uplifting attitude and show the examples of overcoming the challenges of existing in the cis-gendered heterosexual (cis-hetero), world, or would demonstrate the beauty and spirit of lesbian, gay, bi or trans life, culture, and relationships.

We welcome applications from filmmakers of all genders and sexual orientations from all over the world. There is no limit to the number of films one person or collective would like to submit. The length of one item must not exceed 90 minutes. English is an official language of MQFF and all films presented must be in English or with English voiceover or subtitles.

MQFF will present the Festival Favorite Award and Audience Choice Award.

The festival curators, Michelle Emson and Olena Semenova are the human rights documentary filmmaking team behind "Pride of Ukraine” (2015) and "Transgender Life in Slovenia” (2016) are joined by Shawn Forth from Muskoka Pride. The entire MQFF team are excited to screen films from LGBTQI2S filmmakers about our community, in all its breadth and diversity.

We shall be inviting a select number of directors, actors, actresses, and producers to join us at the festival for presentations and Q&A.