FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Hollywood Queer Short Film Festival announced today that they will be giving two more cash awards at their upcoming festival. The new awards are Best Use of Music; and Best Film about older people (any gender).
These will be added to the already funded awards for Most Sex-Positive film and Sweetest Themed film. “We hope to continue adding prizes right up to festival time,” said Festival Director Jim Hoffman. “I think we’re going to have an interesting collection of awards that will be of great interest to our audiences and to our filmmakers.’
The HQSFF plays this year October 2 through 4 at the glamorous Hudson Theater (6539 Santa Monica Blvd, LA 90038). A full lineup of festival films should be posted at the festival’s website (hqsff.com) by the first of next month, Hoffman added. Tickets will go on sale when the lineup goes public.
Dr. Edward Salm and John Hagman are sponsoring a cash award for Best Use of Music. Dr. Salm works for the Tom of Finland Foundation, is a local opera singer and church musician, and a long time member of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles. Mr. Hagman is an avid bridge player and supporter of the Arts. His husband is an accomplished pianist. Together they travel for fun and entertainment and always on the lookout for a little piece of art they didn’t know they needed.
Steve Green and Roger Edwards are funding an award for Best Film Featuring Older Adults. Steve is a retired medical social worker who has worked with hundreds of geriatric patients in his career. “Too often,” he says, “older LGBTQ adults are relegated to the shadows and rendered invisible in a broader community that can be ageist.
“The winning film in this category brings LGBTQ elders to center stage, giving voice to their authentic stories and honoring their hard-earned wisdom.”
Hoffman added that allowing prize funders to name their own category is new this year, and there’s still room for more of them. “The price is low, and funders who enter the game early enough qualify for an array of benefits including placement in festival collateral materials and free admission to festival programs.”
For details, Hoffman said it’s best to email him directly at hoffmanjamm@gmail.com.
