Trace Elements: QAF Film Night

Join the QAF in the return of our beloved movie night with Trace Elements, a stirring program of short films curated by Kathleen Mullen highlighting queer filmmakers who consider the highs and lows of familial bonds. Familial ties in all their glory and angst are explored through these films that dive deep into what brings us together and tears us apart—ties that connect us, repel us, keep us, and bring us joy, and the ones we sometimes cut but that still leave an imprint. 

In Meet the Sky by KJ Edwards two sisters find a new way to communicate by finding peace within their Indigenous traditions; Non-binary filmmaker Dinaly Tran draws parallels between their parents love and own transition in Hi Ading; Old memories and a present, untenable relationship is explored in Rylan Friday’s film The Sound of You Collapsing; In Plant Daddy, Phil’s love for a new plant spins out of control as he avoids visiting his dying father; In Lauren Marsen’s Tabanca home is missed and found from within a memory of a beautiful and powerful dance; and lastly friendship and performance is nurtured in Little Sky by Jess X. Snow after a chance meeting with Sky’s estranged father.

Preceding Trace Elements will be a special pre-show screening of a collection of freshly commissioned short films from the QAF family of filmmakers, including Zachery Longboy, lisa g, Alex Gibson, Romi Kim, the Flavourcel Animation Collective, and Benjamin Siegl, and the entire event will be followed by a post-screening talk-back with Kathleen and a few of the filmmakers.

About Kathleen Mullen

Kathleen Mullen (she/her) has contributed to the planning of film festivals nationally and internationally as curator, programmer, and festival director. Kathleen enjoys watching different genres and styles of films and is currently programming for Seattle International Film Festival, Vancouver Latin American Film Festival, Vancouver Queer Film Festival, Frameline: San Francisco LGBTQ+ Film Festival, and others. She teaches two student-led festivals, Skoden Indigenous Film Festival at Simon Fraser University and Lesley University Independent Film Festival. For 9 years, she led the programming and operations as Festival Director of the Seattle Queer Film Festival. 

Host or Publisher Queer Arts Festival + SUM gallery