The Appalachian Queer Film Festival (AQFF) is proud to announce the unveiling of the 2014 lineup and schedule for its inaugural year. AQFF is dedicated to bringing queer films and filmmakers to West Virginia in an effort to break down stereotypes and broaden minds throughout Appalachia. The Appalachian Queer Film Festival takes place in Lewisburg, Oct. 23-26 at the Lewis Theatre. ”We’re so excited to finally be able to announce our lineup and schedule,” says AQFF Co-Founder and Director Tim Ward. “Our team has worked really hard over the past year to ensure that the films and events we present reflect our dedication to showing quality cinema in West Virginia.” Two of the films presented at the 2014 Appalachian Queer Film Festival will be the feature length film “Skeleton Twins,” starring Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig, on Friday, Oct. 24 at 6:30 p.m. Also showing at the festival will be the documentary “To Be Takai,” starring Trekkie and LGBT advocate George Takei, screening Saturday, Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m. Both films premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and will have their West Virginia premieres at this year’s AQFF. “Before we’ve even started, we are the highest quality film festival in Appalachia,” says AQFF Co-founder and Director of Programming, Jon Matthews. “We have two films from Sundance and the winner of SXSW.” In addition to film screenings, the festival will also feature two panel presentations relevant to the LGBTQ communities in West Virginia. The panel, “A Parent’s Journey to Acceptance: Raising an LGBTQ Child in Appalachia,” explores the challenges, both social and familial, of raising an LGBTQ child in Appalachia. The second panel, “Queer Film and Activism,” explores the role film can play in advocating for social change, both personally and in policy. Both panels will feature community activists as well as leaders in the national fight for LGBTQ advocacy. For more information about the films screening visit www.aqff.org.
