The Hollywood Queer Short Film Festival (HQSFF), which is adding cash prizes for filmmakers this year, today announced yet another cash prize that will be awarded this year. The prize will go to the film that the Festival Jury deems Most Expressive of the Festival Theme.
The theme this year is “Join the REEL Community. VISIBILITY IS RESISTANCE.” The winning filmmaker will receive a cash award of $250, provided by Festival Marketing Coordinator Darryl Tillman.
As the only boy growing up in a Black family with five sisters, Darryl learned early the importance of being seen and accepted for who you are. That experience shaped his belief that visibility—especially for LGBTQ+ people—is an act of courage and resistance.
“To live openly, love freely, and stand proudly in our truth creates space for others to do the same,” Tillman said. “Join the REEL Community. Be seen. Be heard. Be unapologetically you.”
This prize joins the already established cash awards now in place. Parent sponsor CMEN (Community of Men Enjoying Naturism), the world’s largest gay naturist organization, is funding a cash award for Most Sex-Positive Film. Longtime festival sponsor Tom Rosa, owner of Cake and Art, will sponsor the Sweetest-Themed Film award.
Prize funders Ed Salm and John Hagman are underwriting a prize for the film with the “Best use of Music,” and Funders Steve Green and Roger Edwards are endowing an award for Best Film Featuring Older Adults.
And the director of the best local film will win a pair of adult tickets to Disneyland.
Festival Director Jim Hoffman provided an elaboration: “We’re continuing to welcome businesses and individuals as prize funders,” Hoffman said. “By the time the festival opens in October, we expect to have an exciting and diverse collection of awards that celebrates the creativity and originality of our filmmakers.”
The festival will present four screening programs at the Hudson Theatres, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles:
- Friday, October 2, at 7:00 p.m.
- Two programs on Saturday, October 3.
- Sunday, October 4, at 2:00 p.m.
The HQSFF Selection Committee has now done its work and Hoffman promised the complete film lineup will be posted by the end of this month, along with a link to buy tickets. Currently festival fans can have a look at last year’s programs by visiting the festival website, hqsff.com.
