Successful LGBTQ+ Film Festival Held At Lumiere Cinema.

Last weekend, March 15 and 16 at the Lumiere Cinema in Romford,  saw the success of the second East London LGBTQ+ Film Festival. The festival has grown significantly since its launch in 2023 with a second day of film, musical performances, and stylised photoshoots available for attendees.

The multi-talented Chanteur, Raconteur and Clown Frank Bertoletti wrapped up the awards ceremony as a lounge singer in the bar, followed by the closing film ‘Arthur’s Whisky’ starring Diane Keaton directed by Stephen Cookson.

Film makers flew in from the US, Spain and Denmark to represent their films. Festival Director Carrie Kendall said “It’s amazing to see people from all over the world creating such bold queer art, I feel incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to share it on the big screen in Romford. This space needs to exist in Havering and will continue to exist thanks to the support from Lumiere, The NO Collective, The Mercury Mall, and all of the amazing people who turn up to these events.” 

Romford based attendees described the festival as “heartwarming” and exclaimed how happy they are to see queer events in the local area as otherwise they have to travel into central London. The festival’s goal is to create a space for anyone in the LGBTQ+ community to see themselves represented in film and meet others without having to go to a nightclub. 

The awards ceremony presented awards to film makers in seven different categories:

Best Short Film – Sister Wives

Best Feature Film – Out 

Best Animated Film – Maxxie LaWow: Drag Super-shero

Best Student Film – I hope he doesn’t kill me 

Best Performance – Neil Summerville –  For Queen and Country

Best Documentary – Burning World

Best Music Video – Transformation of Acceptance 

The festival supports the charitable organisation Kaleidoscope who are working on a Pride event in Romford this June, keep up to date by following their social media pages 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kaleidoscope.romford/?hl=en

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090674662232

The East London LGBTQ+ Film Festival will return November 2025 at Lumiere. 

Submissions for films are open through Filmfreeway.com 

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