Grußworte

2025 – Tricia Tuttle

Tricia Tuttle sitzt lächelnd auf dem Fenstersims eines Büros

Tricia Tuttle © Richard Huebner

"Do we still need queer film festivals?”
It was like clockwork. Each year, at least one journalist would ask, “do we still need queer film festivals?” The answer is, and it has always been, a resounding YES!

I was lucky to be first doing this work in the 1990s, as many pioneers had come before and broken down so many barriers. But there was still so much work to do. Queer filmmakers, and queer people, were woefully marginalised. We watched low fi, DIY films sent to us on VHS tapes, along with press kits, home Xeroxed, or taken to neighbourhood copy shops. We knew whispers of film productions because of the interconnected web of film festivals. We passed recommendations around like precious jewels. We turned them from programmer recommendations to discoveries, and boosted the careers of these filmmakers. This is still absolutely essential work that you all do together.

Beyond this fundamental work of discovery and support for queer filmmakers, queer film spaces are socially and politically more vital than ever. In the years since queer fests blossomed in the 80s, 90s, 2000s, European queer communities have weathered many changes, some very much for the better: Equalities Acts were created to offer protections, it became safer to build different kinds of families where our children (if we elected to parent) could live without shame and stigma, and the trans* and non-binary members of our community began to hope and expect what was rightfully theirs: that they would be treated with dignity and respect. It has been a joy to see the vibrancy of cinema that has emerged out of these shifts and changes in wider culture and within queer communities.

So much of this is under attack now in wider culture. But we won’t go back to 1997. We have each other. An army. You wield your screens with love, and also like swords if required. And we have so many gloriously talented filmmakers to tell our stories!

Tricia Tuttle
since 2024 creative direction and management at Berlinale, 1998 – 2023 artistic director at BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival

2024 – Monika Treut

Monika Treut mit Sonnenbrille steht lächelnd auf einer Brücke

Monika Treut © Marie Claire Vericel

As a director who has been making films about lesbian and queer issues for 40 years, it is particularly important to me to thank you, the dedicated QueerScope team, for your important work. In the 1980s, social acceptance of queer issues in Germany was still underdeveloped, to put it mildly. There was a lack of understanding and sometimes homophobic rejection. Without the film festivals that were still called “gay and lesbian” back then, especially in the USA, my first films such as Seduction: The Cruel Woman and Virgin Machine would not have received lasting support. For us as older queer filmmakers, the first networks of queer film festivals were essential for our survival.

Fortunately, the situation for queer films in Western democracies has improved a lot over the decades, LGBTIQ + content has all but become part of mainstream culture. However, this in no way means that queer film festivals have lost their raison d’être. On the contrary: the exacerbated distribution situation has led to many exciting and innovative gems of queer cinema appearing far too little in local cinema programmes and national streaming platforms, thus not receiving the attention they deserve. This is where the careful curatorial work of the QueerScope festivals presents a great opportunity for queer films, especially for unconventional works and films by younger queer talent. Moreover, your festivals are also extremely important for films from countries that criminalise transgender, intersex, lesbian, gay and non-binary people. Films from these countries broaden our perspective and call on us to show international solidarity with our global community.

Last but not least, in our detached digital world, your festivals create spaces for interactions, discussions and personal encounters in and around the cinemas that we so desperately need in order to create vibrant communities. Despite all the horrors in the world, I wish you all strength, energy, optimism and joy with your festival work in 2024.

Best regards from Hamburg,
Monika Treut

2023 – Initiative #ActOut

Heinrich Horwitz © Melina Mörsdorf

Philipp Leinenbach © Thiago Braga

As creators of culture, we also always see ourselves as having a responsibility to help shape the world. It is important that we can express ourselves in our art, think visions and live out solidarity and openness. We are all part of the transformation of society - art can give this transformation a space, create utopias, strengthen counter-designs and invent new stories. For this, we need platforms like QueerScope that promote the visibility of queer stories in film and make them accessible. Independent queer festivals are important and your work is great. We see your political and artistic relevance and are glad to contribute a small part with this greeting. Joining forces together, listening to and watching each other, as well as creating safe spaces is as wonderful as it is necessary. Representation matters!

Continuing the discourse towards more equality while celebrating the self-understanding of queer life as part of art is part of your work. And although we have achieved a lot in the last few years and many new formats show how important queer representation is, there is still a lot to do. That‘s why we‘re cheering you all on - let‘s continue to be strong together, continue to find new forms together, be brave and loud, move processes forward and learn from each other in a mutually supportive way. We wish you and us many great queer films and send all our strength and love.

Heinrich Horwitz & Philipp Leinenbach
#ActOut

2022 – Claudia Roth

The cinematic visibility of queer lifestyles is important – that is why BKM supports the association of independent queer film festivals in Germany, QueerScope, and thus also the many associated festivals as part of this cooperation. Already since 1997 QueerScope supports a literally diverse film program and numerous events on queer film throughout Germany. Something to be proud of!

Above all, QueerScope celebrates one thing: great film – for a screen that’s more diverse, beyond gender stereotypes and clichés – as queer and colorful as life itself.

I thank the dedicated association and festival teams and wish all visitors new and inspiring film experiences.

Claudia Roth MdB
Minister of State for Culture and Media

Sven Lehmann

Between love and hate, lust and violence, self-confidence and shame: QueerScope shows countless stories that life can write for lesbian, gay bisexual, trans*, inter* and queer people. Being able to see oneself is fundamental for one‘s own coming out and empowerment, both prerequisites for the struggle for social acceptance, freedom and self-determination.

As indispensable places of coming together, the independent queer film festivals also enable and raise political awareness. Because the private is still highly political! My heartfelt thanks go to the great volunteer commitment of QueerScope.

I wish all visitors interesting films, exciting insights and inspiring stories.

Sven Lehmann MdB
Federal Government Commissioner for the
Acceptance of Sexual and Gender Diversity