91快色

As conversations around identity, belonging and inclusion become increasingly polarized, a new initiative is creating space for queer communities to tell their own stories 鈥� in their own voices. 

Supported by funding from the City of Edmonton鈥檚 initiative, the Intersectional Voices Queer Film Project is bringing together鈥痗ommunity participants, students and faculty members鈥痶o collaboratively create a series of short films exploring queer intersectionality, resilience and community connection.鈥疶he films will screen in 91快色 and Edmonton this fall. 

The project, which is being led through Social Work鈥檚 Edmonton campus, grew out of a Pride-related event organized nearly two years ago by faculty members鈥�, PhD, and , BSW鈥�04, MSW鈥�10, a Registered Clinical Social Worker. The pair had worked with students to host a screening of鈥�Flashback, a documentary about a historic Edmonton queer bar, followed by a panel discussion with the filmmaker. 

鈥淲hat became really obvious was how hungry people were for these kinds of conversations and spaces,鈥� says Osborne. 鈥淪tudents, faculty and community members showed up from across Alberta and across the country. There was this real excitement around storytelling and connection.鈥濃��� 

The success of that event sparked a larger idea: What if queer communities could not only gather around films, but also create them?

The result is a community-driven film series focused on stories often overlooked within mainstream queer representation. Planned films include explorations of drag performers with disabilities, queer street workers, Filipino queer sexuality, and the experiences of transgender youth. Each short film will run between five and 10 minutes. The films will be screened in community spaces and be followed by panel discussions.鈥�� 

For Zulla, the medium of film offers something uniquely powerful. 

鈥淔ilm is such a rich platform,鈥� says Zulla. 鈥淚t鈥檚 multilayered and multisensory. People connect emotionally to stories in ways they sometimes can鈥檛 through research papers or formal presentations. It creates space for people to really understand lived experience.鈥濃��� 

Central to the project is the idea of intersectionality, recognizing that queer experiences are shaped not only by sexuality or gender identity, but also by race, disability, migration, class, culture and other lived realities. 

鈥淨ueerness is much bigger and broader than the narrow stories we often see represented,鈥� says Osborne. 鈥淲hen people think of queer representation, they often think of a very specific kind of story. What we鈥檙e trying to do is create space for people with intersectional identities to tell their own stories in their own ways.鈥濃��� 

Creating spaces to thrive鈥� 

That approach also reflects the project鈥檚 community-development philosophy. Rather than faculty members directing the films themselves, organizers are intentionally positioning community participants as creators and decision makers. 

鈥淲e really wanted to avoid a top-down approach,鈥� says Zulla. 鈥淐ommunity members know their communities and their own experiences. They know the stories that need to be told and how they want to tell them.鈥濃��

For Osborne, a clinical social worker who has long worked with queer youth in mental health settings, the project also reflects a commitment to creating safer and more affirming spaces for students and communities. 

鈥淥ne of the things I learned very early in my career was that queer youth weren鈥檛 struggling because of who they were,鈥� Osborne says. 鈥淭hey were struggling because of how they were treated. So, projects like this become about building community, connection and spaces where people feel embraced rather than othered.鈥濃��� 

While the films will explore difficult and complex realities, organizers say they were equally intentional about centring joy, creativity, resilience and thriving. 

鈥淲e didn鈥檛 want this to become only about trauma,鈥� Osborne says. 鈥淭hese are also stories about strength, celebration, humour, survival and community.鈥濃��� 

Adds Zulla: 鈥淲e really need to take direction from community, (for people) to tell us, this is what queer experience is 鈥� and then create spaces for not only them to survive, but to thrive.鈥� 

A project needed now, more than ever鈥� 

Zulla says, with many supports for marginalized communities under ongoing financial and other pressures, grassroots and community-centred initiatives such as this film series become even more important. 

鈥淲hen spaces that support belonging begin disappearing, communities feel that loss deeply,鈥� says Zulla. 鈥淭his project is one small way of helping create spaces where people can still gather, create and be visible.鈥濃��� 

Adds Osborne: 鈥淲e鈥檙e in an environment right now where queerness is often being politicized and weaponized. Projects like this matter because they remind people that they are not alone, and that community still exists.鈥� 

Strong response from community 

Although filming is still in its early stages, both organizers say the response from students and community members has already exceeded expectations. 

鈥淲hat excites me most is the process,鈥� says Osborne. 鈥淪eeing people connect, collaborate, get excited and start imagining what鈥檚 possible, that鈥檚 the real success of the project.鈥濃��� 

The two organizers hope the films will continue to live on beyond their initial screenings, becoming teaching tools, conversation starters and catalysts for future community storytelling projects. 

鈥淲e鈥檙e not trying to create a polished Hollywood product,鈥� says Zulla. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to create space for stories, for dialogue and for people to see themselves reflected.