Paula Hammond - Features EditorThis Summer, Peccadillo takes their POUTfest roadshow nationwide to showcase the best in contemporary LGBT cinema from around the world. From June to September a provocative and entertaining selection of international feature films and brand new British gay short films will be touring cinemas up and down the country prior to some receiving theatrical releases.
Supported by the BFI with National Lottery funding, the POUTfest tour aims to develop and diversity audiences and content across the UK. It is an important chance to grow a national audience for new LGBT cinema, with emphasis on providing access to regional audiences who in many cases have not previously been able to enjoy LGBT cinema locally.
Whilst talent from the films are expected to attend screenings, there are also skype Q&As, pre-recorded interviews, additional content and local personalities who will host panels and discussions related to the films.
Tom Abell, MD of Peccadillo, says, “When it comes to watching a film there is nothing better than sitting in a cinema and sharing the audience experience. Peccadillo Pictures distributes a wide variety of LGBT films and while all of our films are worthy of the big screen experience only a small portion of these titles can receive a full cinema release.
“And that is why we launched POUTfest, the travelling festival to bring a diverse selection of LGBT films to a wider audience.
The festival travels to Art cinemas and multiplex screens, to film clubs, societies and social groups where possible we have speakers or additional material at the screenings to give the audience that little bit extra. Our aim is to bring alternative film to new cinemas and new audiences to existing screens.”
POUTfest 2016 takes the audience on a journey through time, from the adventures of Queen Christina in 16th Sweden to the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and contemporary urban life. It includes Holding The Man, the powerful Australia drama of gay love in 1980s; The Girl King, a true-life Scandinavian royal lesbian love story; Girls Lost, a magical gender-swopping thriller from Sweden; Closet Monster, a turbulent Canadian teenage drama with a talking hamster, and a sexy selection of British shorts by the rising stars of UK cinema.
Further information about Pout tour: www.poutfest.co.uk
Facebook.com/POUTfest Twitter: @POUTfest #POUTfest
