Queer Film Jamboree returns ‘bigger and better’

By Kayla Jones

Sep 12, 2024

The Shepparton Queer Film Jamboree is back, and organiser Joel Male is excited. Photo by Megan Fisher

After a successful first year, the Shepparton Queer Film Jamboree is gearing up for it’s return to Shepparton screens and swimming pools.

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A celebration of queer filmmakers, and an inclusive event for all queer people and allies, the event hopes to create a safe space in front of the screen for people of all ages and backgrounds.

The jamboree kicks off with film-based trivia on Thursday, September 12 at GOTAFE.

From there, it’s time to dive in to the movie marathon ahead.

On Saturday, starting at 5.30pm, enjoy a showing of the Wizard of Oz from the water at Aquamoves.

“We’ve got the whole place booked for the night. It’s just an all ages, gender inclusive swim type of thing, and it’s all free,” Event organiser Joel Male said.

It was important to Joel that the Aquamoves session remained free, with the added option of a gold coin donation, to ensure the event was as inclusive as possible.

“We wanted for people who could normally not afford to take their family to Aquamoves to be able to have that option,” Joel said.

“We fought very hard to make that a free event, and if people want to donate, they can.”

Donations will go toward a good cause, with ticket sales going toward Shepparton FoodShare, to help put food on the tables of those doing it tough.

The nights to follow are packed full of exciting films including Frakenstein, Lord of the Rings, and all five Twilight films (in a row) to name a few.

But why Twilight?

“We wanted to show movies that weren’t sort of your typical, queer film,” Joel said.

Aside from its obvious cultural impact, it’s undeniably “such a gay movie,” as it’s heroine, Kristen Stewart told the Los Angeles Times in an interview in 2024.

Joel shared this sentiment.

“One of the things was picking actresses, and things like that,” Joel said.

“So, Kirsten Stewart, a bisexual actress, and the person who directed some of those Twilight films (Bill Condon), is an out gay man.”

And who doesn’t want to watch 10 hours of vampire epic?

“We try to have a marathon at the end of every year, and it seemed like it would be very popular, and it has been.”

Joel said that being able to create that safe space is also critical.

“Last year, we were able to create that sort of safe space for people, bring some of the things you normally would only see down in the more metro areas,” Joel said.

“This year it’s the same, just bigger and better.”

Ticket prices range from free to $10.

For the full schedule, and to book your spot, visit tinyurl.com/queerfilmjamboree