GenQ

Clapham Junction - One of the full length films included with the 2008 festival.

1,200 cinema goers are expected this evening at the launch of Sydney’s Mardi Gras Film Festival. Not only will the winners of the world’s largest queer short film competition My Queer Career be announced, but special valentines messages from the around the world will be shared on what is expected to be an unprecedented evening for Australian queer cinema.

Late last month, Queer Screen announced ‘Queer Eye for my Valentine’, a chance for anyone queer, bisexual and/or transgender to dedicate a thirty second message to their special someone, with the best to be shown at tonight’s film festival launch.

Mardi Gras Film Festival Director Lex Lindsay described the digital display as “a guerilla style Tropfest with a queer twist where the unifying theme is the equality of all love.

“While the nation’s laws may prohibit us from publicly legitimizing our relationships, the internet offers us the opportunity to bypass the bigotry and shout our love out to the world.”

Messages created will also be added to Queer Screen’s YouTube channel.

For those wanting to leave a last minute message to their special someone on Valentine’s Day, here’s how it’s done…

Video: Queer Eye for my Valentine

The Mardi Gras Film Festival runs from 14 to 28 February.

Tags: glbt community, Mardi Gras Film Festival 2008