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SEARCHTwo days of transformative 2SLGBTQIA+ stories and film screenings for school groups and youth under 25.
We invite school groups and youth under 25 to attend two days of FREE youth programs this fall as part of The Future is Queer: Youth Programs at VQFF on September 18 & 19, 2025.
Co-presented by Out In Schools and The Cinematheque, this program aims to increase young people’s access to transformative 2SLGBTQIA+ stories and support educators in building core competencies in related subject areas.
School groups are invited to register now at the link below! Individuals may register for free tickets on the event pages linked below.
Thursday, September 18, 2025
The Cinematheque
1131 Howe St
10:00 AM: Shorts: True To Yourself
In-person screening for school groups only, also available to watch online.
Specially curated for Grades 5-12, this program explores themes of identity, family, culture and expression. Facilitators from The Cinematheque and Out in Schools will host a post-screening Q&A. Curricular connections to Physical Health Education, English Language Arts, Arts Education, Social Studies, and more.
Top Three BIG IDEAS:
- Developing healthy relationships helps us feel connected, supported, and valued.
- Exploring stories helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and the world.
- Questioning what we hear, read, and view contributes to our ability to be educated and engaged citizens.
1:00 PM: Speak.
In-person screening for school groups only, also available to watch online.
Best suited to students in Grades 8-12. Curricular connections to Physical Health Education, English Language Arts, Arts Education, Social Studies, and more.
Top Three BIG IDEAS:
- Exploration of story deepens our understanding of diverse, complex ideas about identity, others, and the world.
- Voice is powerful and evocative.
- Disparities in power alter the balance of relationships between individuals and societies.
Friday, September 19, 2025
Cineplex Odeon International Village
88 W Pender St
3:00 PM: Shorts: Family’s A Drag
Open to individuals to attend. Also available to watch online.
4:15 PM: Ballroom Workshop for Youth
Open to individuals to attend. In-person only.
About Out In Schools
Out In Schools delivers peer-led presentations and workshops for students and educators about 2SLGBTQIA+ experiences throughout British Columbia. Our team uses film as a way to engage students in learning about themselves and the experiences of others. Founded in 2004, the Out In Schools is an award-winning program that has been proven to foster greater inclusivity and feelings of safety for all participants.
About The Cinematheque
Bringing more than 25 years of experience to their practice, The Cinematheque‘s team of knowledgeable filmmakers and educators regularly host interactive field trips at The Cinematheque, during which students watch and discuss films in their state-of-the-art theatre. Film is an interdisciplinary art, and analyzing film provides students with opportunities to build core competencies in many subject areas.
The Cinematheque previously collaborated with Out In Schools for the Reaching Out youth filmmaking program (2017-2019) and the Creative Outlets online filmmaking program and free resource (2021-2022), and both organizations are dedicated to promoting cinema as a tool of self-discovery and exploration.
Who is this program for?
The Future Is Queer is for students and youth approximately ages 12 and up. The matinée screenings will be especially relevant to course material in Film Studies, Media Studies, Social Justice, Drama, and English. We also welcome GSA’s and Pride Societies to attend.
All youth programs at VQFF are curated with a young audience in mind and will additionally be rated by BC Consumer Protection.
What is the cost to bring my students?
Group bookings for youth and accompanying adults are free of charge on both days. Educators and administrators are invited to reserve group tickets now via our Group Booking Form. Our team will follow up to confirm additional details in late August.
Individual youth under 25 may also attend programs on Friday, September 19, 2025 for free. Accompanying adults may book tickets at the Festival’s regular sliding scale prices. Individual tickets for all VQFF programs will go on sale in mid-August.
How do I reserve tickets to a screening for my class or group?
Educators and administrators can reserve tickets now for screenings on September 18 & 19, 2025 by filling out the Group Booking Form.
What kind of films and programs can I expect to see?
Go to the event pages linked above to see detailed program descriptions and film details for this year’s programs.
Check out last year’s inaugural The Future is Queer on our Festival Archive!
You can expect to see a collection of short films and at least one feature film, specially curated for youth by educators from Out In Schools and The Cinematheque. We prioritize films made by 2SLGBTQIA+ filmmakers and will invite local and international filmmakers to join our facilitators for post-screening discussions.
What other youth programs will be available at VQFF?
All youth-friendly programs are now available to view on our online Programme.
We especially recommend the Troublemakers 9.0, an annual inter-generational filmmaking program by Reel Youth in which youth filmmakers make short documentaries about local 2SLGBTQIA+ elders. The final films will premiere at VQFF.
Book Out In Schools
Since 2004, Out In Schools has brought 2SLGBTQIA+ stories, films and facilitated discussion to schools and communities across BC.
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