Tinseltown’s Queer documentary gets a 30-year refresh

This year, the Our Pride Shorts & Arts Fest celebrates a rich tapestry of LGBTQ+ stories from around the globe, while marking the 30th anniversary of ground-breaking TV show Tinseltown’s Queer with a new documentary. The event is organised by the non-profit Rainbow Advocacy and powered by the cutting-edge streaming platform, Entertainment Oxygen (eo) via eoFlix.

Originally launched in the 1990s by Nicholas Snow, Tinseltown’s Queer was a trailblazing cable television show that aired across Los Angeles, reaching up to 600,000 households. The programme, which courageously showcased LGBTQ+ issues during a time of limited representation, is now celebrated with a retrospective documentary, Tinseltown’s Queer: 30 Years Later.

John Boswell, founder of Rainbow Advocacy, describes the film as “an authentic snapshot from a historic time in the emerging transformation of the media”. Boswell praises both the boldness and sensitivity of Snow’s work, as he creatively broke new ground amidst the technological constraints of the 1990s.

The festival, which is available on eoFlix for a $20 all-access pass, will also support global LGBTQ+ causes. Proceeds will benefit Liberation Designs, a youth economic development initiative in Uganda under the Troy Perry Legacy Grants. This reflects a commitment to helping LGBTQ+ individuals in regions where they continue to suffer discrimination and criminalisation.

In addition to Tinseltown’s Queer: 30 Years Later, the festival offers over 30 hours of content, including the notable Queer2Queer series. This unique feature presents intergenerational conversations among pioneering LGBTQ+ icons such as Cleve Jones, and younger influencers. The festival will also open dialogues by hosting a live Q&A session with these changemakers.

Films featured at the festival span more than 25 countries, showcasing diverse stories that range from award-winning documentaries to features with joyful LGBTQ protagonists. The lineup is complemented by artistic performances, including video poetry and musical acts.

Reverend Troy Perry, the founder of the Metropolitan Community Church, praised the event, stating, “Your generosity will help our talented group of LGBTQ creatives in Uganda to continue designing beautiful merchandise which they plan to sell through their online marketplace.”

Entertainment Oxygen, the festival’s hosting platform, offers a digital ecosystem for filmmakers to present works, connect within the industry, and explore new revenue streams. “Our Pride Shorts & Arts Fest is a testament to the tremendous stories of the LGBTQ community that need to be told and shared with the world,” said Apple TungFong, eo’s founder and CEO.

The festival runs until October 31, 2024, and is accessible through major streaming services like Apple TV, Fire TV, and The Roku Channel.

Source: Noah Wire Services