2016 Festival

Femme Fatale Creations presents Rainbow Families and Youth Programming

Inspired by 10 year old gayby, who feels that the LGBTQ community doesn’t always have enough programming for young people, this event will include screenings of films appropriate for young children, tweens, teens and their LGBTQ and ally families.

Comedy Showcase

In a Gaylaxy Far Far Away –  The gays are coming – and they’re hilarious.  We’ve curated 5 of the funniest comedians from across the LGBTQ2+ spectrum and beyond to bring down the house at Princess Cinemas in Waterloo.

Presented by Erinn White and Suzie Taka

Erinn White

Erinn started stand-up comedy in August 2014 as a way to conquer her fear of public speaking. When people ask what her comedy is about, she will tell you it’s an extended work about her mortality. At least until she learns how to write a decent period joke. Erinn co-produces a monthly all-women comedy show called That Time of the Month in Guelph, ON. In 2015 she wrote and produced her first solo show, Unorganized Territory, as a part of the On the Edge Fringe Festival in Northern Ontario. Erinn dreams of becoming the spinster mayor of Thunder Bay.

Chantel Marostica

Known for her unique brand of high energy physical comedy, brings her jokes to life through a combination of storytelling, impressions, and spot on timing

Chantel has been featured in some of Canada’s most prestigious festivals including, Just For Laughs, Winnipeg Comedy Festival, JFL42, ODDBLOCK, Guelph Comedy Festival, Peace Country Comedy Fest, SHEDOT, and the Thunder Bay Comedy Festival.

Featured on CBC’s “Laugh Out Loud” and “Debaters”, Chantel was Nominated for Best Female Stand Up at the 2015 Winnipeg Comedy Festival, and won the Patrons Pick Award in both 2015, and 2016.

As a producer Chantel co-runs Toronto’s only LGBTQ Comedy Showcase “Church Street Comedy” and is the creator/co-producer of “White Girl Wasted” a drunk show with an all female line-up.

She’s opened for some amazingly talented Comedians including Judy Gold, Charlie Murphy, Ron Lynch, Elvira Kurt, Tom Green, and Russell Peters on his “Almost Famous” Tour.

Jess Beaulieu

Jess Beaulieu is a queer, Metis comedian, writer, actor, podcaster, and feminist activist. She co-hosts and co-produces a weekly comedy podcast called The Crimson Wave, which is all about the glory of periods and was named one of BlogTO’s top ten Toronto podcasts. She co-hosts a weekly stand-up show called Crimson Wave Comedy Sunday nights in Toronto and co-hosts another weekly feminist comedy open mic night called Open Gigi. Jess has performed at JFL42 (Just for Laughs in Toronto), the Boston Women in Comedy Festival, the Chicago Women’s Funny Festival, the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research and Toronto’s Feminist Art Conference. She has weekly columns at the online publications She Does the City and 29 Secrets and recently story edited All for One, a teen web series that airs on ABCSpark. She was involved in a campaign in 2015 that successfully removed the tax from menstruation products in Canada.

Courtney Skye

Courtney is a proud Haudenosaunee woman, outspoken intersectional feminist, stand-up comic and producer. She hosts the very popular show The Laughternoon Show, co-hosts Open Gigi, an open mic for mostly women and some dudes, co-produces Bad Bitches, a feminist collective of stand-up comedians and is a member of Manifest Destiny’s Child. Courtney’s comedy is witty, dark and provocatively feminist.

Sarah Simpson

Sarah has recently relocated from Toronto to Guelph but she really lives on OKCupid. A winner of the Montel Williams award, which is apparently a thing, she is also a fan of run on sentences.

She has performed at Leave It To Beavers, Queer As Fuck, The Lesbian Roadtrip Comedy Hour and many other super queer events.

Robert Keller

Robert Keller is a Toronto-based comedian, actor, and WASP-y Jew. One of five nominees for the 2012 Tim Sims comedy award, he is known for his cerebral humour, knack for accents, and uncanny impersonation of Céline Dion (who he’s just slightly obsessed with). TV credits include: an upcoming appearance in the series finale of BEAUTY & THE BEAST (CW/Showcase); multiple episodes of the iChannel’s current events panel show, INSIDE JOKE; one episode of the iChannel stand-up comedy series NO KIDDING; and a recurring role as an improviser on the Food Network’s fast-paced hidden-camera series, GIVING YOU THE BUSINESS. He played Ralphie in the award-winning comedic web series GAY NERDS (www.gaynerds.tv), which will air on OUTtv this summer and was an Official Selection of the 2014 LAwebfest and a nominee for a 2014 Indie Series Award. Robert was also the creator and host of OUTrageous!, a recurring variety show that ran for 2 years at the downtown Toronto Yuk Yuk’s comedy club. Twitter: @TheRobertKeller. YouTube: www.youtube.com/RobertKellerComedy. Website: www.roberthkeller.com.

Plan-B Dance Party

Friday May 6 at Hep Cats Dance Studio, Uptown Waterloo, Free

Queers in Space Zine Fair

In partnership with Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival 2016… (https://www.facebook.com/rainbowreels/?fref=ts)The second Annual KW Queer Zine Fair QUEERS IN SPACE is searching for YOU!

We are seeking zines and art made by queer and/or transfolk to come table at this years zine fair! We welcome all bodies to apply, but we will be prioritizing trans women, queers of colour, indigenous and two spirit folk, and non binary individuals.

Details:
Tabling is free! We are trying to make this event as accessible as possible. What we can offer currently includes physical mobility, gender neutral washrooms, a quiet space location, snacks, low scent, financial and “safer”(to us, this means being open and accountable to people accessing the space). We are working to make it more accessible. If you have specific accessibility needs (financial, physical, emotional, a place to stay for out of towners, someone not being there etc.) that are barriers to being able to fully participate, please let us know and we will work with you to try to make it possible.

**TO APPLY**
Please email rainbowreels.zines@gmail.com for more info or to apply. There is no formal application form; we are asking that folks include a bit about their projects/themselves if they wish, as well as how much table space they need.
DEALINE TO APPLY IS APRIL 23rd.
(actual event is Saturday, May 7th in Kitchener-Waterloo)

about the organizers

Rayne is a pizza cat currently in a human body. They are a white settler residing on Haudenosaunee territory. They are a queer witchy badass who also happens to be trans and disabled. They enjoy things such as making zines, writing things and stuff, eating vegan cheesecake in their bathtub and long romantic walks to the fridge.

fig is a little weirdo that is actually a little scared of outer space. She is a white settler on Haudenosaunee territory. she is a queer bicycle fairy who enjoys eating donuts while riding her bike, making zines and staring at plants and animals.

Beyond the Binary

Beyond the Binary Part 1:

 Taylor Heywood (they/them) and Ossian MacEachern (they/them), half of the 2016 KW Slam Team, bring you an afternoon of all the poetry your little queer heart can handle. Both non-binary babes, Taylor and Ossian fight to break down oppressive structures like the gender binary and gendered assumptions, and their poetry covers a variety of topics ranging from gender, sexuality, mental illness, and trauma. Both Taylor and Oisín write about difficult topics, and we will be using trigger warnings and encouraging people to take care of themselves. We hope to show how even though society tells us to be quiet about our pain, it’s possible to break free of those restrictions and turn your pain into something tangible. To be LGBTQ+ is to have in some way lived through trauma. Poetry, and other forms of artistic expression, can be an excellent tool of liberation. After the showcase, there will be a workshop and open mic facilitated by Taylor and Ossian. It is fine to come to only one event, but we hope that by seeing us perform first, it gives us a chance to bond further and share more art communally. Come and heal with us.

Beyond the Binary Part 2:

Join half of the KW Poetry Slam Team, Ossian MacEachern and Taylor Heywood, for a workshop focused on the tender connections between gender, poetry, and art as a whole. Most of what we know about gender comes from outside sources, which doesn’t make sense when gender is such a personal experience. It’s radical to take back the words that have been used against us. To write about how we belong and how we don’t. How we relate and how we don’t. How do you write about something that you don’t even know yourself? Can we learn to embrace confusion as just as beauty as assurance? Join us in a space where we celebrate the struggles and joys we share, and more importantly, the ones we don’t. This workshop will be a space for us to explore the beauty of gender, and why talking about gender and sexuality in poetry not only incredibly important for others to hear, but can help you find connections in your life you never knew existed. Gender is fluid, or it isn’t. Or it is sometimes. Or it’s rebellion. Or it’s a meadow filled with daisies. Or it’s exactly what you think it is or exactly the opposite. It is a source of pain and a source of love, often at the same time. It can be the most important part of your life or be nonexistent. Gender is already poetry waiting to be written. No two stories are the same. We can’t wait to help you find the words to express yours, and more importantly, we can’t wait to listen.

Queer & Trans Folks in Science

A short documentary about the experiences of queer and trans folks in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields, filmed exclusively for Rainbow Reels 2016. This film highlights the successes and challenges of being queer and trans in these fields, how we came to be where we are today and how our identities are multifaceted. A small panel discussion will follow to discuss relevant and current issues with scientists featured in the documentary

BIPOC Kitchen Table Talk

This workshop has three components: a meal shared between individuals facing racial discrimination, a conversation regarding self care techniques for BIPOC individuals, and the creation of self-care kits. It’s a known fact that LGBTQ spaces and groups have histories and current uses of anti-Black, colourist, and racist practices. This kitchen table talk is meant to be a healing space for BIPOCs to share their experiences in the LGBTQ community, discuss techniques of self care and healing, and create a self care kit of items that further their healing journey.

Making a Scene

Making a Scene is a media based learning program where youth from various marginalized communities create films and media surrounding their personal experiences, made-up fantasies, and cool utopias. This is the first time this program has been done, and it brought together LGBTQ+ youth, ranging in ages 13-20, from across the tri-cities. They used their various skills in art, writing, editing, and film to explore avenues of expression, created films, and made new connections along the way. Content Warnings: A lot of the content discussed ventures through the topics of micro aggressions, trans issues, queer issues, and might bother or trigger audiences.

Organizer Bio:

Becca Redden is a white queer settler woman who lives on stolen Six Nations territory. She is super into film and super into using film as a way to tell personal stories and raise awareness, especially from the point of view of marginalized youth. She also love puppies and eating way too much chocolate for one person.

Thane Robyn is an immigrant, transguy of colour, and settler on Six Nation stolen land. He is a dreamer of where society is heading and passionate about connection through story telling. Film is one of the many ways he loves to capture the connections. He can often be found out with his pup and camera.