This week will see the return of the mighty Scottish Queer International Film Festival to the
cinema screens of Glasgow. Championing marginal and independent voices in LGBTQ+ film,
the (endearingly abbreviated) SQIFF is entering it’s 9th year of programming and, despite
the currently challenging landscape for arts funding, is offering up a expansive programme of
short films, new features and lost relics from the 8th to the 12th of October.
Leading the features programme is the documentary ‘Lesvia’, exploring the sapphic
relationship to the Greek island village of Eressos and a 50th anniversary screening of the
surreal Japanese road trip film ‘Bye Bye Love’. A film both of and beyond its time, this 70s
indie is an absurd and acrylic exploration of relationships, gender and intersexuality;
exploring ideas of gender-fluidity and identity long before the discussion became an open
one. While the basic structure of the film hits the same beats as any Bonnie-and-Clyde story,
‘Bye Bye Love’ ‘s queer reframing and intriguing visuals set it apart. Much like its central
characters, ‘Bye Bye Love’ ‘s frames are constantly contending with their own duality and
dichotomy and though the symbolism can sometimes be unclear and muddled, these bold,
dreamlike vignettes are remembered long after the final scenes. The film is an intriguing
journey through Japan and an intimate look at queer identity, with a look as bold as a pair of
red lacquered lips.
SQIFF is also the proud home for a whole host of short films which, as they describe, cover
all aspects of queer life. The festival’s opening night at Glasgow Film Theatre is dedicated to
short films exclusively by Scottish filmmakers and audience members can expect everything
from a community film from the Govanhill chapter of ‘Food Not Bombs’ to the tantalisingly
titled ‘Hot Young Geek Seeks Bloodsucking Freak’. On the penultimate day of the festival,
the selection chosen for the ‘In Rage, In Grief’ screening offers harrowing, hopeful and vital
perspectives into the continuing battle for queer visibility and acceptance. There is an
confronting aspect to ‘Beirut Dreams in Colour’ far beyond homophobia; A saddening
realisation for the audience that even the simple act of getting to view and experience queer
media and get to exist as LGBTQ+ is a right which still many are forcibly denied. But as
great queer activists have channelled their rage into action so have the filmmakers, and the
determination explored in ‘Mother’ and ‘The Pride Liar’ look forward with hope and
unfaltering resolve.
The festival is more than its films and the week’s programme also boasts a craft fair at the
Centre for Contemporary Arts on Sauchiehall Street. The festival and its team are dedicated to full and comprehensive accessibility and all events at SQIFF offer full captioning and BSL interpretation. The festival also operates a sliding ‘pay-what-you-can’ basis for tickets, giving everyone an opportunity to see the films on offer regardless of means.
Dedicated to championing queer cinema and Scottish film, and a joyful and varied
celebration of LGBTQ+ life, The Scottish Queer International Film Festival will be taking
place at the CCA and Glasgow Film Theatre from the 8th- 12th of October. Remaining
tickets to the events can be found here: https://www.sqiff.org/events/
And donations to help support the festival can be made here: https://www.sqiff.org/donate/
Tilly Holt, Film Editor
qmunicatemagazine.co.uk 