SASOD’s 2016 LGBT Film Festival concludes this week with the showing of “Fit”, a film from the United Kingdom. Produced by the campaigning group, Stonewall, for distribution in secondary schools, and supported by governmental bodies, including the Mayor of London, this film aims to tackle homophobia.
Writer-director Rikki Beadle-Blair does an interesting job of showing that while race and class prejudice seems to be relatively dormant, homophobia is alive and kicking, and that “gay” is the ubiquitous term of abuse.
Following the screening, the festival will close with an interactive session. This activity is a form of creative expression for Spectrum’s attendees to leave their mark of support, messages of hope, and inspiration for a Guyanese society that is more accepting and respectful of sexual and gender diversity.
In this its 12th year, SASOD will be taking patrons on a journey through the years, by displaying the messages of encouragement and hope left by attendees from previous Spectrum film festivals over the past years.
There is no charge for admission to attend the film festival. However, drinks and snacks will be on sale.
In this last week of the festival, the bar will also feature special Spectrum-themed cocktails and mocktails.
All proceeds go towards SASOD’s LGBT Emergency Shelter and Community Centre Fund.
The film festival also offers free, on-site HIV counselling and testing every night, which is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Advancing Partnerships and Communities (APC) Guyana Project.
The films are intended for mature audiences. Persons must be 18 years and over to attend. SASOD reserves the right to refuse admission to persons who do not have identification to prove that they are not minors.