12:15 ENCOUNTERS - SHORTS  AT BRADFORD ARTS CENTRE

This shorts series showcases stories featuring unexpected encounters and celebrates the power of new and surprising connections. 

Buena vida y poca vergüenza (Live large no shame)
Ana Colato, Guadalupe Sanz, Argentina, 9:00, Spanish
A young trans woman gets locked out of the apartment she's supposed to be watching and has no choice but to ask for help from the building's superintendent, leading to an unexpected encounter.

Proximates
Corn Baum, Germany, 15:00, German
On a deserted island in the middle of the ocean sit two Victorian houses and the infantile 68-year-old Harold takes the love of his life, the sensible Frank (70) to the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Thin Lines
Mickaël Yip, France , 11:43 , French
A body-conscious young man accepts an invitation on a gay dating app to be a model for a painting session.

Man Cured
Kyle Heiner, Johan T. Anderson, USA, 17:55, English
It’s a regular Friday evening and Lucas is on his way to his babysitting gig. Only there’s one problem: a new babysitter, Frankie, is already there, and he really sees Lucas.

13:30-15:15 - FILMMAKER IN FOCUS - Shorts + In Conversation with Pratibha Parmar

Khush (1991)
Pratibha Parmar, UK, 24:00, English
KHUSH means ecstatic pleasure in Urdu. For South Asian lesbians and gay men in Britain, North America, and India the term captures the blissful intricacies of being queer and of color. Inspiring testimonies bridge geographical differences to locate shared experiences of isolation alongside the unremitting joys and solidarity of being “khush”.

Reframing AIDS (1987)
Pratibha Parmar, UK, 35:00, English
A radical response to  the politics surrounding AIDS and the media backlash felt by the lesbian and gay communities in the late 1980s. Cultural critics, activists and media commentators wrest the discussion away from the conservatives and place the focus on the experiences, feelings and activities of lesbians and gays who talk frankly about how they have been affected and how they are challenging dominant perceptions of AIDS as a ‘gay plague’.

Wavelengths (1997)
Pratibha Parmar, UK, 15:00, English
Mona’s girlfriend has left her with a broken heart, an empty goldfish tank, and—in her altered state—the ability to pick up other people’s conversations. Stuck in the post relationship blues, Mona just can’t seem to move on…that is until she discovers “cybersex”.

With thanks to Pratibha Parmar and Kali Films

5:45 TOO DESI TOO QUEER @ BRADFORD PLAYHOUSE
In collaboration with Indian Film Festival UK

Before I Do
Gitika Butto, UK, 11:00, English
On the morning of her wedding day, Mona, a British-Indian woman, questions her rushed marriage and reflects on a period of self-discovery from her past.

Jasmine That Blossoms in the Wild
Charandeep Das, India, 14:00, Hindi & Bengali
Love blossoms secretly between two old women at an elderly care home while the spectre of patriarchy looms large overhead. 

Zari
Shruti Parekh, USA, 19:00, English
Amidst preparations for her sister’s wedding in India, young American Neelu forges an unexpected connection with Zeyb, a quiet sari store clerk with a secret.

The Witch of Vihar Lake
Joey Kaushik, India, 15:00, Marathi
In a village near Vihar Lake, where fearsome tales of a witch keep people away, young Mitthu and his sister Ishita grow up in the shadow of dread. One fateful night unravels life-altering truths – about Ishita, himself, and the witch.

Poreless
Harris Doran, USA, 13:00, English
A fabulous, queer Muslim beauty entrepreneur must figure out how to compete in a Shark Tank-like product pitch contest after suffering an untimely allergic reaction.

Automagic

Ashok Vish, India/ France, 13:00, Kannada

On his return home, androgynous-looking Madhu attempts to seduce Ratnakar, his rickshaw driver, who is practicing celibacy in preparation for a religious pilgrimage.

18:00  FILM FEAST X FILMMAKER IN FOCUS @ BRADFORD PLAYHOUSE 

Nina’s Heavenly Delights (with meal by Sonia Sandhu)
Pratibha Parmar, UK, 94:00, English
When young Glaswegian cook Nina returns home for her father’s funeral after three years living in London, she reunites with  Lisa, an old childhood friend who now owns half of Nina’s late dad’s Indian restaurant, The New Taj. Together, the two lovers seek to save the restaurant from closing by conspiring to defend the national ‘Best in the West Curry Competition’ title in this charming and feisty feature from this year’s Filmmaker in Focus Pratibha Parmar.

We have commissioned the wonderful Sonia Sandhu to create meal inspired by Nina’s Heavenly Delights - all food will be vegan. This event will last for approx 3 hours including food serving time. 

Sonia Sandhu is a Bradford born & based chef and artist. Catering for retreats, gatherings and gigs, and creating edible responses as part of theatre, film and installation art shows, her plant forward menus are global-inspired, thoughtfully prepared, seasonal, and vibrant. She co-runs Edible Archives, an emerging arts company, creating multi-sensorial interventions which tell heritage stories through playful menus, sound and set.

This will be Sonia's second Film Feast event with BQFF. Sonia says "I am so excited to create a live and edible experience as part of the ‘Nina’s Heavenly Delights’ film screening. There will be spices, colour, and edible references to particular scenes to create moments we can taste together in the room as we watch the film. Expect all the heavenly delights!"

21:00-LATE  - DJ RITU @ BRADFORD PLAYHOUSE

We’re delighted to welcome international turntablist, former BBC Radio presenter, and host/producer of iconic global music show ‘A World in London’ DJ RITU to Bradford Queer Film Festival to get the party going at our Saturday Social. DJ Ritu is a co-founder of Club Kali the world’s first LGBTQ+ Bollywood night and an all around legend of the scene.

Championing marginalised music for 4 decades, Ritu is a key catalyst of the UK Asian Underground and Bhangra scenes, co-founding Outcaste Records, signing Nitin Sawhney and Badmarsh &; Shri. Ritu has toured in over 35 countries, performing at major festivals/venues such as Glastonbury, Boiler Room, Jazz Café, Boxpark, Ministry of Sound, WOMAD, We Out Here, and Roskilde. Previous radio residencies include BBC London, Kiss 100, BBC World Service, National Swedish Radio, BBC Asian Network. Ritu compiled 10 albums for the Rough Guides showcasing South Asian music. Ritu’s diverse DJ repertoire includes Soul, Disco, Motown, House, Afrobeat, and lots more. 

DJ Ritu will play in the basement bar area, the screening theatre will remain open for shorts reruns throughout the evening including a screening of our animation block which will also be available to view all weekend on a loop at Common Space.

Animation

In Your Eyes
Helia Gillon, France, 3:00, French
An explorer sees the life of a woman through her eyes, offering an insight into her inner world, and how memories can shape identity.

Alyssum
Alex King, USA, 6:26, English
Alyson is trying  to craft the perfect bouquet for her wife, Lilith. Overwhelmed by anxiety and self-doubt, she battles her inner critic. As she spirals deeper into self-doubt, she must decide: will she push forward and embrace imperfection, or will her fears consume her?

High Diver
Oscar Bittner, Germany, 4:58
Since early childhood, Tuan and Felix have been inseparable. As they train to become Olympic high divers, however, their budding love for each other suffers under the weight of the competition. Professional sport is a harsh business, and Tuan will sacrifice everything for it ... or will he?

Hot Mess
Tortor Smith, UK, 3:09, English
Hot Mess offers an insight into ADHD in a compact and creative way, highlighting the damage and anxiety that can be caused by a well-meaning, but ultimately toxic, parent.

Doll Searching
Felix Cheng, UK, 3:27, English
A boy enters a toy store and tries to find the perfect thing to play with, which ultimately turns out to be a doll.

Life on the Moon
Dirk Hornschuch, Germany, 5:56
The moon is our constant companion in life, always there to be stared at, always fascinating and mysterious. Is there life on the moon? Is it made out of cheese? What is happening on its dark side?

The 2007 Miss Southern Diva Pageant
Levi Maxine Johnson, USA, 4:57, English
On the night of the 2007 Miss Southern Diva Pageant, Sasha Cunt & her best friend Balls are RUNNING LATE! One dead deer, a car chase, and a gay singalong later can the two drag artists make it on time for the pageant?

Stardust & Camp
Jayden Van Win, Australia, 12:00, English
A wandering cosmonaut interviews artworks in an abstract art gallery, talking about queerness, identity and the artistic process.