On Connection: Queer Festival Curation, Practice and Experimentation

The cultural sector was among the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, and though the pandemic has officially ended, its impact lingers. Cultural habits have shifted, audiences have not yet fully returned, and many cultural practitioners still face uncertain conditions. At the same time, the pandemic has highlighted the vital role of culture as a key source of resilience, connection and recovery. In this context, Marijke de Valck, Cyd Sturgess and Dianora Hollmann, in partnership with the Queer Film Festival Utrecht (QFFU) and the Open Cities Platform, are organizing the event On Connection. Happening on Friday, November 8, this event focuses on how film festivals can help rebuild and strengthen ties with the queer community, while positioning the city as an open, inclusive meeting space.

“On Connection is our attempt to rekindle and reimagine the moments of bonding we lost during the pandemic and explore the broader theme of connection through film festivals.”

On Connection takes place at the Department of Media and Culture Studies at Utrecht University, Parnassos Cultural Centre and various locations in the city. The event begins and closes with public program parts. In between is reserved for a closed meeting on post-pandemic queer curation practices with local scholars, practitioners and invited international guests:

• In the opening keynote Prof. Skadi Loist will speak about the history of queer film festivals, their objectives and challenges, and curation after COVID (12:00-13:00, Grote Zaal, Kromme Nieuwegracht 20, Utrecht)

• The closed programme part brings (queer) scholars and (festival) practitioners together to network, exchange, learn and connect on the shared mission to rebuild and strengthen ties with local queer communities through film. It is curated in three parts - ‘conversations on practice’, ‘embodied engagement’ and the ‘queer city walk’ - that allow participants to explore the theme of connection through verbal, physical and spatial approaches. 

• The day closes with a public screening of queer shorts at Parnassos. This curatorial experiment is co-created with the Queer Film Festival Utrecht and is set up to test if the communal viewing experience that is at the heart of film festivals can be strengthened further through curation of audience engagement. Read more about and register for the public screening. (19:30-21:30, Parnassos)

It is clear that there is a great need for personal contact and physical connection after COVID-19, in particular in queer communities. On Connection is our attempt to rekindle and reimagine the moments of bonding we lost during the pandemic and explore the broader theme of connection through film festivals.