Jamie Starboisky tells us whats planned for the this year festival

Queer Media Festival 2017

It is a special thing to watch the hard work and dedication of someone start to pay off. That is the case of the Queer Media Festival which returns this year for the fourth year running and is going from strength to strength, primarily due to the founder and force of nature, Jamie Starboisky.

Canal St Online’s Chris Park managed to pin Jamie down for a quick chat to find out what is in store for us this year when it returns to HOME on the 18th November.

“In the day we are having talks from people such as Deirdre Mulcahy (BBC Academy) and John McGrath (Manchester International Festival). We are also having a mobile phone workshop for people who are looking to start their film making careers.” Starboisky explains.

McGrath will be delivering a keynote speech encompassing virtual reality, being a theatre maker, gaming and content creation.

Following the talks, in the early evening is an event that cannot be missed, “Hilda vs Deirdre: Queer Corrie Spectacular”. Yes you heard that right, two legends of the cobbles will be pitted against each other in an interactive smackdown. “We will be showing four full episodes, two each. For Hilda we are showing her second honeymoon and another episode from 1981 where Hilda loses her washing.” Explains Starboisky, the Deirdre episodes are in tribute to Martyn Hett who lost his life at the Manchester Arena earlier this year. “Martyn’s favourite episode was when Deirdre found out about Ken’s affair and his partner Russell’s was when Deirdre was sent to prison”.

The episodes will be interspersed with live performances with Anna Phylactic taking on the role of Hilda and Miss Blair as Deirdre. At the end the audience will be asked to vote for their favourites. But that isn’t the all that Starboisky wants from the audience “We are encouraging the audience to come in flamboyant Corrie-tastic outfits” he laughs “Someone has already said they are coming in a Ken Barlow Kimono”.

To finish off what is already shaping up to be a great day, there will be twelve animations being screened, six documentary and six drama.

Tickets are on sale now from the festival’s website via link below.

By Chris Park from Canal St Online

Published: 20-Oct-2017: (4567)