STAMPED Movie Pageant is returning to Pensacola for its eleventh yr of celebrating LGBTQ+ artwork, illustration in movie and the sharing of queer tales.
Since 2012, STAMPED Movie Pageant has introduced among the greatest LGBTQ+ movies to the Pensacola group. STAMPED started as a technique to help LGBTQ+ people in the neighborhood and educate allies on how they will help and uplift their queer neighbors. The competition continues to be doing so immediately, however on a a lot bigger scale. 2023’s STAMPED Movie Pageant will happen from September 28 to October 1 and is ready to be the biggest one but.
“STAMPED LGBQTIA+ Movie Pageant brings the group collectively by way of the artwork of storytelling, and that features an array of individuals, from LGBTQIA+ distributors and companies to native and visiting members of the queer group,” STAMPED President, Sid Williams-Heath stated. “Going into STAMPED’s eleventh yr, it’s loopy to see the expansion of each the competition and Pensacola’s LGBQTIA+ group over the past decade. Having a constant illustration and celebration of LGBTQIA+ tales has actually boosted Pensacola as a queer-friendly vacation spot, and STAMPED has grown to be a useful resource in the neighborhood.”
Although the competition is just a few decade outdated, STAMPED will get its identify from occasions that occurred virtually three a long time in the past. The competition’s identify stems from native LGBTQ+ historical past. Memorial Day Weekend has all the time been a well-liked time for each LGBTQ+ vacationers and locals alike to return to Pensacola their money with the phrases “Homosexual Cash” or with a pink triangle to indicate the town and companies simply how a lot that group members had been contributing to the native economic system—$25 million a yr.
STAMPED Movie Pageant adopted the identify “STAMPED” to pay homage to those occasions, and since it’s the competition’s purpose to lift consciousness for the LGBTQ+ group, similar to the vacationers did again within the 90s. As posted on the competition’s web site, STAMPED’s mission is to offer “a vibrant cultural expertise to Pensacola through the use of the distinctive expression of movies with a selected give attention to the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, transgender, and queer group to foster consciousness, inclusion and variety.”
This yr’s STAMPED schedule can be chock-full of movies that target the LGBTQ+ group and their experiences. The competition reveals quite a lot of movies from many alternative genres. STAMPED additionally awards the perfect movie from a number of classes. A number of the classes up for grabs in earlier years embody, Greatest Documentary Function Movie, Greatest Animated Movie, Greatest Narrative Brief Movie and Greatest Narrative Function Movie.
Because of the overwhelming variety of submissions, movies are nonetheless being reviewed so, the total competition lineup has not but been launched, however will develop into out there shortly. “We’re nonetheless finalizing the ultimate rundown after being inundated with completely improbable submissions this yr. It’s gotten so expansive that STAMPED has really introduced on knowledgeable filmmaker and competition skilled, Chris McNeany, to assist curate the ultimate picks. On the whole, you’ll be able to anticipate Friday night, all day Saturday, and Sunday afternoon to be jampacked,” Williams-Heath defined.
One side of the competition that’s already confirmed on the schedule to return this yr is the Sunday “Household Day.” Household Day gives one thing for each member of the household; it gives dad and mom of LGBTQ+ youth with alternatives to find out about how they will greatest help their youngsters, and it gives youngsters the chance to get inventive and interact with the humanities.
“Every closing day of the competition has develop into a day devoted to movies for all ages, and thru the fantastic help of Sunday’s Youngster this yr, we’re increasing that programming. You possibly can anticipate youngsters’s movies, improv workshops, story time and a colourful lineup of supplemental packages, whereas additionally incorporating new actions for adults to take pleasure in concurrently,” Williams-Heath stated.
There can even be a panel of notable queer dad and mom for the adults to listen to and be taught from. One mum or dad collaborating on this yr’s panel is Jake Graf, who’s a widely known transgender father and the filmmaker of Our Child: A Trendy Miracle, which can even be showcased on the competition.
STAMPED encourages everybody to take part within the competition, whether or not they’re LGBTQ+ or not. “Data is energy, and whereas it’s so pretty to see somebody on the silver display that appears and loves such as you do, it’s typically much more highly effective to expertise and have a good time another person’s story who doesn’t look or love such as you,” Williams-Heath defined. “That’s what all attendees can take away from the competition: a chance to share in another person’s story to witness it firsthand by way of beautiful internationally-submitted filmmaking and go away feeling validated and educated on how others can love otherwise than you.”
The Pensacola group has been receptive and supportive of STAMPED over time. Go to Pensacola reported that the 2019 competition attracted almost 700 attendees, with round 15 % of these attendees coming from out-of-town particularly to attend the competition. As a nonprofit, STAMPED is ready to exist and hold competition admission freed from cost due to this group help. STAMPED additionally hosts a kickoff celebration yearly for sponsors who make a donation of $100 or extra to the competition.
“STAMPED is and solely may be free to the general public due to the group’s generosity in supporting our nonprofit,” Williams-Heath stated. “I’m grateful for the way nicely the competition is obtained. Our fame as a free, inclusive alternative in the neighborhood has grown, and we’re all the time so moved on the fantastic suggestions we obtain from attendees on how a lot the competition has meant to them.”
The 2023 STAMPED Movie Pageant can be hosted on the Clark Household Cultural Middle, situated at 400 S. Jefferson Road in downtown Pensacola. For full occasion particulars and to be taught extra in regards to the upcoming STAMPED Movie Pageant, go to stampedfilmfest.com or take a look at @StampedFilmFest on social media.
