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(Re)Defining Queer

Although the festival is student-run, it does draw audiences from beyond the university, and advertising efforts are focused both on and off campus. Martin, who still advises coordinators and volunteers for the festival, believes that "the climate and amount of queer film has changed dramatically" in the 12 years that the competition has existed. Queer issues are being addressed in a more open light. "There is much more going on in the mainstream," she said.

Martin considers the University of Oregon's Queer Film Festival "cutting edge," because it is open to less mainstream submissions, and because it addresses transgender issues, in addition to gay, lesbian and bisexual issues.

"The very fact that 10 years ago it was called the 'Queer' Film Festival was cutting edge," she said.

Even the festival's submission guidelines have changed over the years, becoming broader to allow for submissions from gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender filmmakers whose work may not have a specifically "queer" theme, and also because "queer" is not easily defined, even by those who have been integral to the festival.

Adkins said that the University of Oregon's Queer Film Festival's submission guidelines are much broader than other festivals'. "Some festivals are much more direct about it and limit it in clear ways," Adkins said. But, most submissions "are about queer people," he said. June used her experience with the festival as inspriation for her master's thesis, Defining Queer: The Criteria and Selection Process for Programming Queer Film Festivals. The theme for the 11th festival, when June was the coordinator, was "Redefining Queer Cinema." June continues to serve in an advisory role for the festival, although she has since relocated to Portland.

Looking ahead

The students at the University of Oregon have kept the festival running for 12 years, and those who have been a part of it would like to see the tradition continue.

Adkins said that Douglas Hopper, the coordinator for the 12th festival, has focused on making the festival more accessible, something that can be highly dependent on funding.

Hopper said he would like to see the event become free to students. Until that can happen, he and other festival coordinators have worked to keep admission costs low.

Audience turnout for the 12th festival was some of the best Hopper had ever seen, he said.

In 2004, little controversy seems to surround the Queer Film Festival, although any impact that it may have on the community beyond the University of Oregon is unclear. So, where is this festival headed?

"It's a cutting-edge festival," Martin said. "You can't see where it's going."

June echoed Martin's sentiment. "The fact that the events continue to exist and receive the kind of community support that they do is testament to the need for such events."

For those looking to attend future festivals, information is available through the University of Oregon Cultural Forum, or at http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~qff

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