Festival Overview

Kingston’s Reelout Film Festival was created in 1999 by Marney McDiarmid through a humble start in the backroom of the city’s only gay bar. It began as, and has continued to be, formed of a collective of professionals, artists and activists aiming to celebrate Canadian and international queer art. From its beginnings, Reelout has showcased films that are not otherwise seen, that target issues of race, sexuality, gender and so on. The week-long event is able to “[draw] … the community together through a common appreciation of quality cinema” (“Reelout Organizational Mandate” 2012) and the opportunity to feel represented by the media they watch. Reelout has sustained an impressive 21 years of educating and celebrating the diversity within the Kingston community and across the world. (2012)

The Screening Room is a 3 screen independent movie theatre located in Kingston, Ontario. The theatre screens all different movie genres, but they specialize in art-hour, indie, foreign, and classic cinema (“Now Playing”). The partnership between the Reelout Film Festival and the Screening Room started in 2000. It has now remained the primary venue for the festival and is directed by Matt Salton. (“Reelout Queer Film Festival” 2019) The Screening Room is also wheelchair accessible, as described on its website. This information provided obviously on its website as well as its hosting of the Reelout Film Festival illustrates this theatre as a very inclusive space for art to be shared and enjoyed in.

Each film highlighted different issues and brought to light many that go unseen in our daily lives. The films and documentaries brought forward the voices of those who are often repressed and kept silent. Speakers created a welcoming environment by stating that all were welcome to enjoy the festival and emphasized the importance of supporting minority filmmakers as reelout does. They also pointed out how reelout focuses on a broad range of issues such as those of the LGBTQ+ community and those of indigenous Canadians. Reelout highlighted how it was important to move beyond how the LGBTQ+ community is often portrayed from a singular white perspective. Reelout breaks down these barriers by featuring indigenous and refugee members of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Through attending the film festival at the screening room the viewer experiences a more personalized connection to the film they are watching. Prior to the screening the movie is introduced by a staff member who gives you an idea about the film you are about to watch. The audience seemed to have a further connection and interest towards the film due to the smaller venue and more interactive approach both before and after the movie. With my own personal experience I felt as though the documentary was better received when viewed in a smaller, more intimate theater. It seemed as though individuals with actual interests in the topics were more present, respectful and attentive to what was being showcased by the theater.

Work Cited

“Now Playing.” The Screening Room, screeningroomkingston.com/.

“Reelout Organizational Mandate.” Reelout Arts Project Inc., 25 Nov. 2012, www.reelout.com/about/introduction/.

“Reelout Queer Film Festival.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 Aug. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reelout_Queer_Film_Festival.