FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Hollywood Queer Short Film Festival (HQSFF), which is adding cash prizes for filmmakers this year, today announced another prize that will go to the best local director. The prize is a pair of adult tickets to Disneyland in Anaheim. To be eligible, a director has to attend the screening of their film at the festival and participate in the Q+A session following the screening.
The two Disneyland Park Hopper tickets, donated by Chard Gonzalez, are valid through December 17, 2027. “HQSFF means so much to me because it creates a space where queer filmmakers can tell our stories in all their complexity, stories that can make us laugh, challenge us, surprise us, and help us see one another a little differently,” Gonzalez said. “Disneyland has always represented a special kind of magic to me, and I wanted to share a little of that magic with an artist who is contributing their own creativity to our community.”
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.
At least one more award will be announced next week, Hoffman added. “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.
