Relaxed Screening: Then. Now. Forever.

Sept 14, 2025
12:15 PM

Location
International Village

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Sept 22, 12 AM - Sept 28, 11:59 PM

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A repeat, relaxed screening of our Opening Presentation shorts program.

From 18th-century queer sanctuaries to disco-era revolutions, stolen luxury in gentrified cities to tender archives and lesbian joy—our opening shorts program Then. Now. Forever. retraces lost histories and spotlights unsung trendsetters. Through fashion, rebellion, chosen family, and ancestral memory, these films illuminate the bold, buried, and beautiful stories that have shaped queer pasts—and continue to mold queer futures.

This relaxed screening will include the following accommodations:

  • Doors remain open to the lobby/foyer
  • House lights remain on but slightly dimmed
  • Film audio is slightly reduced
  • No trailers or ads play before the film
  • Reduced capacity to increase seating selection and distancing
  • Audience noise and movement is permitted during the show
  • Audience may enter and exit the theatre as needed
  • A chill out space outside the theatre
  • Sound reduction headphones may be provided upon request, dependent on availability
  • Extra staff and volunteers on-site to answer questions
  • Complimentary ticket for a companion

Learn more about accessibility at VQFF. If you have questions or would like to make an accessibility request, please contact boxoffice@outonscreen.com.

SHORT

It’s 1970s Los Angeles, and rebellious teen Margaret (Ava Lalezarzadeh) gets thrown out of yet another foster placement. Forced to travel the city with a mysterious social worker (Vic Michaelis) tasked with finding her a new home before daybreak, Margaret realizes that running may not be her only option.

SHORT

A beloved photographer reflects on her 50 years documenting the Nova Scotian queer community, including “Wild Women Don’t Get The Blues”—an intimate camping getaway for lesbian and bisexual women in the 80s & 90s.

SHORT

As San Francisco’s tech boom gentrifies their city, Tati, Angel, and Gemini decide to take matters into their own hands by staging a heist targeting the city’s most exclusive luxury brands.

SHORT

When Shelly Bauman, a young exotic dancer, loses her leg in an accident, she uses the settlement money to open Seattle’s first gay nightclub. Narrated by Kathleen Turner, this film is as eccentric as Shelly herself.

SHORT

A documentary short about the iconic cut-out catsuit designed by Ballroom legend and designer Douglas Says for artist Moi Renee’s 1992 televised performance of “Miss Honey”. A glimpse into queer fashion history and a proof of concept for a forthcoming feature.

SHORT

A nervous newcomer discovers a molly-house in 18th-century London where “effeminate men” meet in secret to dress, perform, and play freely.

SHORT

Transmissions of creation among the echoes of our Ancestors guide new waves of storytelling in this unconventional 16mm film.