Queer film festival gets £10,000 council funding

The organisers of a festival celebrating LGBTQ+ film-making have said they hope it can play a "part in the wonderful legacy" of Bradford City of Culture 2025.

Bradford Queer Film Festival has received £10,000 in funding from Bradford Council and creative director Alice Parsons said she wanted the support to bring in a record audience. In 2024 more than 1,000 people attended.

The festival will return on 20-23 November, showcasing films at numerous venues across the city.

Ms Parsons said: "Being within the framework of all the other City of Culture celebrations, it's a really key moment in the programme for LGBTQ+ people."

She said that making sure LGBTQ+ voices were heard during the City of Culture was "massively important" and added: "Bradford has a huge LGBTQ+ community and a really rich heritage of LGBTQ+ people, activists and organisers.

"The festival is really inter-generational and really reflective of Bradford and we're really keen that it responds to our unique community here."

Organisers will also work with the City of Culture team on LGBTQ+ heritage project Pink in the Park, which explores hidden histories.

"Hopefully that sets us up to have a long life beyond the City of Culture year," Ms Parsons said.

The funding programme, totalling £80,700, also supports nine other festivals, including Multicultural Arts & Food Festival and Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council's executive member for healthy people and places, said: "Bradford district has a rich heritage of an amazing range of festivals and events which provide lots of opportunities for residents to have fun whilst celebrating and sharing cultural activities.

"This funding will allow organisations and people to boost their festival or event and invest in our local communities.

"I wish all the successful organisations the best of luck in delivering their festivals and events and encourage people to take part and enjoy them."

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.