In a vibrant celebration of creativity, resilience and queer storytelling, the Killarney Queer Film Club proudly hosted its inaugural Queer Youth Film Showcase earlier this month.

The club was founded in May 2024 by Killarney fine arts teacher Taylor Tuson, who also serves as the school’s SOGI lead and pride club sponsor. Inspired by conversations with students in the pride club and her film class, Tuson asked if they would be interested in starting a Queer Film Club to share stories from their own perspectives. This marked the beginning of an exciting learning journey in cinematic storytelling!

Held with the support of the True Voices Grant, through the charity It Gets Better Canada, the showcase was a resounding success, drawing an enthusiastic audience of approximately 70 attendees.

It featured six short films, shining a spotlight on diverse voices and perspectives within the queer community. The films included two by Killarney Secondary students, two by Templeton Secondary’s acclaimed film program and two from Killarney alumni Maxx Sadler, now honing their craft at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Each story offered a unique lens on the experiences, struggles and triumphs of the queer community, all brought to life with youthful energy and creativity.

The Killarney Queer Film Club includes 15 students in grades 9–12 who played a pivotal role in planning, creating and curating the event. “At our club meetings, we planned out our film, had workshops on different aspects of film from queer filmmakers within the community, filmed for about three weeks, and made new friends,” noted club members.

The True Voices Grant was instrumental in bringing this ambitious event to life. Thanks to the funding, students were able to access resources, support mentorship and amplify young queer voices. “I’m hoping to run a film club again and go ahead with our second Queer Film Showcase. My dream is to have more schools and Pride clubs to take part to bring students together. Events and clubs like these are vital for building connection and community,” shared Tuson.

Reflecting on the showcase, the club expressed their hope that this would mark the beginning of an annual tradition, further cementing Killarney’s commitment to celebrating diversity, inclusion, and creativity.

“This was something that needed to happen for the queer students at our school,” said Vada Collins, student representative and director. “I hope it happens next year as well!” 
 
 Tuson is in much agreement with that hope and encourages other schools to consider similar events or collaborating with her and the Queer Film Club at Killarney.

The legacy of this inaugural showcase promises to inspire future generations of filmmakers to share their stories with courage and authenticity.

A special note of gratitude to Taylor Tuson, fine arts teacher at Killarney, for supporting this project and encouraging others to check out the It Gets Better website for classroom resources and other grant opportunities.