Check out Manchester’s new LGBTQ+ film festival, SCENE

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Adam Lowe is an award-winning author, editor and publisher from Leeds, now based in Manchester. He runs Dog Horn Publishing and is Director and Writing Coordinator for Young Enigma, a writer development programme for LGBT young people. He sometimes performs as Beyonce Holes.

Owain Wyn Evans and Queer as Folk

*Queer as Folk* (Channel 4, 1999). Image courtesy of SCENE. Used with permission.

The weeklong event will kick off with an exclusive opening night featuring a celebration panel and after-party to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the influential drama Queer as Folk. The series, which spotlighted Manchester’s Canal Street, will be celebrated with a panel, hosted by Owain Wyn Evans, with original cast members Carla Henry and Denise Black, plus writer Russell T Davies and producer Nicola Shindler.

Lost Boys & Fairies

The week will see a whole host of sparkling, star-studded events, including a special screening of BBC hit drama, Lost Boys & Fairies, made by Leeds-based production company Duck Soup Films – a heartbreaking tale of couple Gabriel and Andy’s journey of self-discovery and fixing fractured family relationships before they can truly begin their parenting journey. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with writer Daf James and star of the series Sion Daniel Young.

Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble

Festival partner HOME will honour the legendary John Waters with screenings of Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble, with a glamourous sick bag provided for the faint of heart.

On Saturday evening, The Filthiest Carnival Alive will take over HOME with raucous drag queens, circus performers, DJs, and side stalls inspired by the films of The Pope of Trash.

Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners

*Striking With Pride: United at the Coalface* (Sky, 2024). Image courtesy of SCENE. Used with permission.

Pop along to The People’s History Museum to catch Striking With Pride: United at the Coalface, a brand-new powerful feature documentary from Sky exploring the unlikely alliance forged between the gay men and lesbians of London, and the striking miners of South Wales, between the 1984 and 1985 London Prides.

David Weissman and We Were Here

David Weismann, *We Were Here*. Film still by Crawford Barton. Image courtesy of SCENE. Used with permission.

Other highlights include Emmy Award nominee and longtime activist David Weissman in residence at SCENE for special screenings, Q&As and events discussing his seminal documentaries about San Fransisco in the 70s and 80s, We Were Here and The Cockettes.

The last lesbian bar

Manchester’s “last lesbian bar” Vanilla will screen The Lesbian Bar Project: FLINTA, followed by an unmissable Q&A with filmmaker Erica Rose, and a party featuring Mancunian sapphic DJ talent.

First Dates

Channel 4’s First Dates’ is celebrating a decade of LGBTQ+ love stories, having recently marked 10 years of matchmaking on screen. First Dates restaurant staff member Aoife Smyth and Stephan Kyriacou, a dater who appeared on the show earlier this year will join host Scott Bryan on a panel to discuss the series, followed by a social and singles mixer brunch hosted by SCENE Festival.

Divina De Campo and Priscilla

Drag Race icon Divina DeCampo will host a 30th-anniversary screening of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, followed by a vibrant drag cabaret show parodying and celebrating beloved queer films and characters such as Mrs. Doubtfire, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Elvira.

Divina will be joined by top drag talents and DJs, including Liquorice Black and Gallifrey Cabaret’s Carrot, culminating in an unforgettable closing night party.

Outdoor cinema

SCENE’s outdoor cinema at First Street will offer free, all-ages screenings of beloved musicals including The Wizard of Oz, Hairspray, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Wiz.

Additional films featured as part of the festival include:

Bonus Track: An original story by Josh O’Connor and Mike Gilbert about George, a struggling student whose musical dreams come alive with the help of Max, a peer with rock star lineage.
A House is Not a Disco: This documentary uses home video, archival footage, and vibrant character portraits to explore the unique and radically queer community of Fire Island Pines.
Lesvia: A nostalgic and colourful portrayal of Eressos, a sun-soaked village where women who love women have gathered since the late 1970s.
The Summer With Carmen: At an Athens queer beach, best friends Demos and Nikitas recall a recent summer and how they might turn them into a screenplay for Nikitas’ feature debut.
Solo: Emerging Montreal drag queen Simon must deal with two loves: a passionate yet competitive affair with a fellow drag queen and a cold relationship with his mother.

Kate O’Donnell and Julie Hesmondhalgh

SCENE is also proud to present the amazing one-woman show Hayley and Me, written and performed by award-winning transgender performer Kate O’Donnell and delving into themes of visibility, expectations, LGBT progress, and the search for role models within the transgender community alongside the life story of Coronation Street’s iconic trans character Hayley Cropper. Kate will be joined by special guest Julie Hesmondhalgh (Mr Bates vs The Post Office) who played Hayley for 16 years.

Russell Tovey and David Robillard

In the emotional short documentary Life Is Excellent, Russell Tovey explores the life of David Robillard, the best queer British artist you may never have heard of. This screening is followed by a Q&A between the filmmakers and Tovey’s Talk Art podcast co-host Robert Diament.

The Iris Prize

The Iris Prize, the largest short film prize in the world, will screen their Best of 2023 short film programme as well as free family short film screenings during the festival and will host an elevator pitch workshop session designed to inspire film makers.

The Pink Screening Room at YES

The Pink Screening Room at YES will feature an eclectic mix of films, including:

Desire Lines: Filmmaker Jules Rosskam explores the lines of desire as they intersect with identity for many trans men
What’s Safe, What’s Gross, What’s Selfish and What’s Stupid: A thought-provoking film by Jasmine Johnson exploring their queer fertility journey
India’s 1st Best Trans Model Agency: A documentary following Rudrani Chettri’s mission to establish India’s first trans model agency
TOPS: A satirical documentary exploring the experiences of four individuals who have undergone TOP surgery. TV host Amy Pennington leads the journey, attempting to make her first trans friend and addressing the trans masc experience with a mix of unscripted comedy and tender moments
Backspot: An ambitious cheerleader faces new adversity when she and her girlfriend are selected for an all-star cheer squad with a demanding head coach in non-binary filmmaker D.W. Waterson’s feature debut.

Music and musicians

Joining the programme of screenings and panels, the festival will honour iconic queer musicians, spotlighting legends from Genesis P-Orridge and Tony De Vit to contemporary trailblazers like Lil Nas X.

SCENE are delighted to have a 10 piece ensemble from the UK’s most relentlessly pioneering orchestra, Manchester Camerata, play LGBTQ+ artist Arthur Russell’s most beloved songs in new orchestrations alongside a screening of Matt Wolfe’s 2008 documentary Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell that charts his life and music. Camerata performed a similar socially distanced show back during the covid-19 pandemic, which sold out instantly.

About the festival

Head of Events at CityCo (producers of SCENE Festival), Gary Williams, said: “We are excited to bring this celebration of LGBTQ+ Film & TV to Manchester as part of Manchester Pride’s festivities. SCENE promises a week of solidarity, diversity, and enjoyment. LGBTQIA+ representation on screen allows us to share our stories, break down barriers, and grow our community. We can’t wait to champion queer content and celebrate together this summer.”

Mark Fletcher, CEO of Manchester Pride, added: “As the programme for Manchester Pride Festival expands, we’re pleased to welcome this fresh, new event. There are many different ways that LGBTQ+ people like to celebrate Pride. And, having consulted with our communities we recognise the potential for this exciting showcase and celebration of LGBTQ+ Film & TV and the incredible talent involved in the creation of these important stories.”

SCENE is supported by the Manchester Accommodation Business Improvement District (BID).

Screenings and events will happen across the city with new venue partners including Everyman, Aviva Studios and First Street joining HOME, New Century Hall, The People’s History Museum, YES and Vanilla.

Tickets and booking

Tickets are on sale now at scenefestival.com. Keep up to date by visiting the website or follow SCENE on social media at @scene_festival on Instagram and SCENEFestival on X & Facebook for future news and booking information. All events at SCENE are £15 or under with many being £5 or free, including a free outdoor screen on First Street. SCENE will be donating ticket profits to Manchester Pride Charity and ticket partner Skiddle will also donate the booking fee for any events booked through their site meaning attendees are directly supporting work in the LGBTQ+ community in the city.