Out On Screen Announces New Artistic Director, Mary Galloway

Vancouver, BC, February 11, 2025 – Out On Screen, a leading organization dedicated to 2SLGBTQIA+ media arts and education, is pleased to announce Mary Galloway as the new Artistic Director, effective February 4, 2025.

Galloway is an award-winning mixed Cowichan filmmaker and actor with deep roots in the Vancouver film industry as well as the Indigenous, Canadian, and international film communities. She brings over a decade of artistic leadership as a writer/director/producer in film and TV and over five years of experience in film festivals and on award juries selecting films that champion diverse voices.

As Artistic Director at Out On Screen, Galloway will lead the programming of the annual Vancouver Queer Film Festival and other year-round programming. She is the first Indigenous and Indigiqueer person to assume the role of Artistic Director in the Festival’s 37-year history.

As an Indigiqueer cis female artist, I have always believed in the transformative power of storytelling to foster empathy, ignite change, and amplify the voices of those who are too often silenced. I have dedicated my career to uplifting my queer, Indigenous, and neurodiverse communities. As the new Artistic Director, my goal is to help shape a festival that challenges harmful mainstream portrayals and fosters thoughtful, intersectional representations of our beautifully queer identities. – Mary Galloway (she/they), Artistic Director

“As a matriarch of the local and national film industry and a fierce advocate for Indigenous and queer communities, Mary is a natural fit to lead the next chapter of the Vancouver Queer Film Festival. In this moment, it feels more important than ever that we build solidarity across our communities for our collective liberation. Mary does just that, bringing an impressive wealth of cross-departmental industry experience, a collaborative and empowering approach to leadership, and a deep commitment to our values to her work.” – Eli Morris (they/them), Executive Director

The upcoming 37th edition of VQFFwill take place from September 11-21, 2025 in Vancouver and online BC-wide. VQFF is currently accepting film entries: the regular deadline for submissions is February 28, 2025, and the late deadline is April 15, 2025. Learn more at https://outonscreen.com/entries/

As a filmmaker, Galloway bravely tells stories that represent marginalized communities in a heartfelt, entertaining, and enlightening manner. Her 2021 web series Querencia about a love story between two Indigenous queer women was nominated for two Canadian Screen Awards for Best Web Series and the Cogeco Audience Choice Award 2022. Galloway’s other director credits include the APTN/BellFund digital series D dot H (2023), the CBC documentary The Cowichan Sweater: Our Knitted Legacy (2023), Crave/APTN original comedy series Acting Good (2023).

Galloway was previously named a TIFF Rising Star and Whistler Film Festival Talent to Watch, a recipient of WIFTV’s Newcomer Award, and on The Hollywood Reporter’s list of Breakouts Making An Impact on Hollywood. She is a graduate of the prestigious Canadian Film Centre’s Director’s Lab 2021, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and TV’s Executive Residency Program in 2022, and Canadian Academy x Warner Brothers Discovery Director’s Program 2023/2024.

On top of her own filmmaking work, she has spent years volunteering on committees and serving on juries for initiatives like the Canadian Screen Awards, Reelworld Film Festival, GEMS Vancouver and many others.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:
media@outonscreen.com

About Out On Screen

Out On Screen illuminates, celebrates, and transforms 2SLGBTQIA+ lives through film, education, and dialogue. We pursue our mission with two core programs: The annual Vancouver Queer Film Festival celebrates and promotes authentic authorship and representation that uplifts, empowers, and furthers the liberty, culture, and justice of 2SLGBTQIA+ people. The award-winning Out In Schools program brings age-appropriate 2SLGBTQIA+ cinema into school classrooms and communities across BC to combat anti-trans and anti-gay sentiments and bullying, and to provide the language and tools for inclusion. Out On Screen works to create an equitable society where 2SLGBTQIA+ people are respected, valued, and protected across all our intersections of identity. www.outonscreen.com

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