FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: TJ Murphy, Director of Programming
films@reelq.org

Reel Q 36th Season: Now Virtual and Live

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 17, 2021) — Reel Q is back for our 36th season, bringing the best in Queer cinema to Pittsburgh once again. The venue for this year’s annual film festival is your favorite easy-access location: your own home, Oct. 8-16th. Following health and safety guidelines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Reel Q will present the majority of our films online — with the exception of several special events in-person across the city.

FILMS ONLINE

The provocative line-up for season 36 includes: Cloris Leachman’s final film about a drag queen’s relationship with his feisty grandmother (“Jump Darling”); a charming and controversial rom-com about a family fallout after an Israeli woman brings home her German girlfriend (“Kiss Me Kosher,” our closing night feature presented at Row House Cinema); a documentary about an unstoppable lesbian punk gang in ’80s London (“Rebel Dykes”); a heartfelt and captivating film about college lovers who meet years later after one has transitioned to male (“See You Then”); and a semi-autobiographical movie that’s funny and surreal — think Wes Anderson meets gay Russians(“Potato Dreams of America”).

As always, Reel Q 36 features a diverse line-up of LGBTQ+ shorts programs inviting the audience to laugh, cry, and learn. During this virtual Reel Q, all shorts programs will be available on-demand throughout the festival’s full festival duration with a Quickies Pass, as well as individual tickets. Highlights include: “Teen Dreams,” a compilation of shorts for the young and young at heart; “Black Excellence,” a program centered on the Queer Black perspective, and “Asian Voices,”spotlighting Asian stories from across the globe.

IN-PERSON EVENTS

On October 8 Reel Q kicks off at Central Outreach Wellness Center (127 Anderson St) with a drive-in screening of the film “Sexplanation” and drag performances and food trucks.

Oct. 9 we’ll screen the edgy continuation of the film-turned-web-series “Boy Culture” about a rent boy trying to balance love with work, at True T Studios (4623 Liberty Ave), followed by a Q&A with the cast and creators, moderated by True T Co-Founders John Easter (Dez’manian) and Duane Binion (Naheen).

Oct 15th at 7pm, we’re very excited to present a film created by local filmmaker Angela Washko, “Workhorse Queen”. Followed by an in-person Q&A with the documentary’s star Mrs. Kasha Davis, Steven Levins (AKA Mr. Davis), and the director Angela Washko, moderated by John Musser (Veronica Bleaus). Followed by a Warhol lobby party with DJ Jellyfish and performers: Akasha L. Van Cartier, Anna Azizzy, Dixie Surewood, and Mrs. Kasha Davis herself. Cash bar and masks required.

Our Closing Night event rounds out the festival at Row House Cinema on Oct. 16th with a screening of the unique film “Kiss Me Kosher”. A post film reception will take place at Beirport with complimentary drinks and local desserts. Proof of vaccine is required.

The complete schedule of dates and feature films follows. Full film guide is available at reelq.org:

*Friday, October 8: A Sexplanation
Friday, October 8: Raw! Uncut! Video
*Saturday, October 9: Boy Culture, The Series
Sunday, Oct 10 through Wednesday, Oct 14: Boy Meets Boy
Sunday, Oct 10 through Wednesday, Oct 14: Firebird
Sunday, Oct 10 through Wednesday, Oct 14: Jump, Darling!
Sunday, Oct 10 through Wednesday, Oct 14: No Straight Lines
Sunday, Oct 10 through Wednesday, Oct 14: Potato Dreams of America
Sunday, Oct 10 through Wednesday, Oct 14: Rebel Dykes
Sunday, Oct 10 through Wednesday, Oct 14: See You Then
Sunday, Oct 10 through Wednesday, Oct 14: Extinction of Fireflies
Thursday, Oct 14: Made On The Rooftop
*Friday, October 15: Workhorse Queen
*Saturday, October 16: Kiss Me Kosher

*in-person screening

A selection of films will be shown only on one night; several movies may be viewed over 24-hours after purchase. Pre-recorded Q&As with directors and actors follow several films. Individual tickets are available for $10 and $7 for students. All virtual access “Diva Passes” are available for $90 and the “Quickies Shorts Pass” is available for $40. Tickets for individual films can be purchased on the film’s page at: watch.eventive.org/reelq. Passes can be purchased at: reelq.eventive.org/passes/buy. Tickets for in-person events are sold separately at: reelq.eventive.org/schedule

About Reel Q 

Reel Q was created in 1985 to organize and manage year-round cinema that serves the educational and cultural needs of its audiences and is an organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and LGBTQ-supportive persons. Reel Q is made possible because of the generous support of: The Heinz Endowments, The Pittsburgh Foundation, Opportunity Fund, The Fine Foundation, Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, UPMC and UPMC Health Plan, and Allies for Health and Wellness.