What Will You Become? A look inside the 2018 Eau Queer Film Festival
UW-Eau Claire will host its ninth annual Eau Queer Film Festival Oct. 9-13. The five-day film festival will feature more than 25 films from around the globe.Each film will address prevalent issues in the LGBTQ+ community and relate to this year’s festival theme: “Becoming.”
“There are so many facets of people that are ‘becoming,’ ” explained Clara Neupert, EQFF’s student public relations director.The theme of becoming is communicated within the festival’s four short film series, showing Wednesday through Saturday. Each short series explores the process of self-acceptance, the existence of being and the importance of social identity.
Californian filmmaker PJ Raval will kick off the festival Tuesday night with his film Call Her Ganda. Following the showing, he will lead a discussion session. Raval has been recognized as an up-and-coming independent filmmaker. He earned the 2016 NGLJA Queer Journalist Excellence in Documentary Award for his film Before You Know It. Raval uses filmography to explore overlooked subcultures and identities within the already marginalized LGBTQ+ community, according to his website.
One of the festival’s films, Alone in the Game, will screen in Schofield auditorium to accommodate a large viewing audience. The film addresses the marginalization of queer athletes and the pressure placed on them to conform to gender norms – on the field and in the locker room.
For the first time in the festival’s history, the UW-Eau Claire athletic director will require student athletes to attend the viewing of Alone in the Game.
“Just seeing that support, from athletics especially, is something I could have never imagined,” Neupert said.
Anyone in the community is welcome to attend the festival. Showtimes have been pushed back this year for convenience. The festival strives to address relevant issues within the selected films.
“I’m excited for everyone to see The Miseducation of Cameron Post,” Neupert said. The film, which addresses the issue of conversion camps, which still are legal in some areas, will close the festival Saturday at 8pm. The film has earned recognition globally, winning the dramatic category of the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and “Best Film” in the 2018 Sydney Film Festival.
The Eau Queer Film Festival has celebrated diversity in the LGBTQ+ community since 2010. Through the art of film and community discussion, the festival aspires to create a space of acceptance, equality and activism in the community.
To learn more about this year’s Eau Queer Film Festival, visit www.eauqueerfilmfestival.com. The festival runs Oct. 9-13 at UW-Eau Claire and is free and open to the public.
EAU QUEER FILM FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
OPENING NIGHT
Tuesday, October 9 • Woodland Theater • 7pm • Call Her Ganda • Director PJ Raval • Documentary • 93 min
Wednesday, October 10 • Woodland Theater
12pm • SHORTS: BECOMING UNBOXED
5pm • THE REST | MAKE UP • Director Michelle Memran • Documentary • USA • 79 min
7pm • WILD NIGHTS WITH EMILY • Director Madeleine Olnek • Feature • USA • 84 min
Thursday, October 11 • Woodland Theater & Schofield Auditorium
12pm • SHORTS: BECOMING OURSELVES • Woodland Theater
5pm • MAN MADE • Director T Cooper • Documentary • USA • 93 min • Woodland Theater
7pm • ALONE IN THE GAME • A film by David McFarland • Directors Natalie Metzger & Michael Rohrbaugh • Documentary • USA • 95 min • Schofield Auditorium
Friday, October 12 • Woodland Theater
12pm • SHORTS: BECOMING VOCAL
4pm • THEY • Director Anahita Ghazvinizadeh • Feature • USA, Qatar • 80 min
6pm • 1985 • Director Yen Tan • Feature • USA • 85 min
8pm • MARIO • Director Marcel Gisler • Feature • Switzerland • 119 min
Saturday, October 13 • Woodland Theater
2pm • SHORTS: BECOMING RESISTANT
3:30pm • CLOSE-KNIT • Director Naoko Ogigami • Feature • Japan • 127 min
6pm • BELIEVER • Director Don Argott • Documentary • USA • 101 min
8pm • THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST • Director Desiree Akhavan • Feature • USA • 91 min
