Geelong Pride Film Festival secures funding

GEELONG Pride Film Festival is getting a boost after securing funding from the Victorian government’s Pride Events and Festivals Fund.

The 29 recipients will share in a total of $400,000 in grants for events designed to foster social connection and wellbeing among rainbow communities.

Geelong Pride Film Festival director Stephen Ryan said the grant money would help them deliver the event next year.

“It will support paying for the licence fees and for screening the films. It will also support the venue hire.

“It’s great to have the support of the Pride Events and Festivals Fund, as a volunteer run festival and organisation, we do rely on the support of sponsors and grants to be able to deliver the festival.”

The Geelong Pride Festival is an independently curated annual event, focusing on positive and uplifting films and in 2025 will run across four venues.

Mr Ryan said the festival liked to show positive and uplifting films, celebrating the lives of the LGBTIQA+ people.

“It’s important to have these kinds of events for the LGBTIQA+ community, particularly in regional areas, to have events that the community can come along and engage with.

“We also have a particular focus on screening films that have a positive representation and positive outcomes for LGBTIQA+ people and characters.”

Minister for Equality Harriet Shing announced the funding recipients last week, saying a range of events and activities are continuing to be supported through the fund.

“Inclusion and safety for our LGBTIQA+ communities through events and festivals is so important in making sure that LGBTIQA+ people can live wholly and freely.”

Next year’s Geelong Pride Film Festival will take place from May 1 until May 11, for more information, head to gpff.ferve.tickets

For the full list of Pride Events and Festivals Fund recipients, head to vic.gov.au/pride-events-and-festivals-fund