The Lehigh Valley LGBTQ+ Film Series
ArtsQuest and Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center are partnering to present the Lehigh Valley LGBTQ+ Film Series, a year-round bi-monthly exhibition of queer cinema from the past and now. The screenings will be free to the public and take place at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks.
In the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ justice, visibility is a powerful tool for shattering stigmas, changing perceptions and fostering acceptance. The world of cinema has long served an important role in this pursuit through representation, affirming lives, making the invisible visible, and inviting audiences into histories and experiences beyond their own.
The screenings of the LV LGBTQ+ Film Series at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks are curated by Catherine Ford, Alessandra Fanelli and Adrianna Gober. This series aims to explore and uplift a wide and diverse scope of LGBTQ+ issues and stories by highlighting selections from the rich, enduring history of queer cinema. The series will showcase comedies, dramas, documentaries, mainstream and independent as well as international films both new and old, spotlighting queer filmmakers, screenwriters, actors and themes.
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Curator Bios
Catherine Ford
Catherine Ford (she/her/hers) has had a love of film for as long as she can remember. Cathy especially appreciates and enjoys the work of Charlie Chaplin; her favorite film is City Lights. At William Paterson University, Cathy received a BA degree in Communications with concentrations in Cinema/Film as well as Journalism. Cathy is a collector of movie memorabilia, particularly Judy Holiday and the classics. Each year she attends and works the Provincetown International Indie Film Festival. Cathy has been an ArtsQuest Ambassador since 2011 as well as member of the Cinema Committee.
Alessandra Fanelli
Alessandra Fanelli (she/her) Ále is an Arts Administrator and Digital Content Creator. In addition to serving non-profit theaters in the Lehigh Valley, she has also performed on stage in local community theatre productions. She was previously the Box Office and Film Manager for Civic Theatre of Allentown. Ále graduated from West Chester University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies and with her Master’s Degree in Arts Administration from Kutztown University. As a Queer woman, Ále is passionate about responsible storytelling and engaging others in an empathetic way to transform attitudes, educate, and provide a space for LGBTQIA+ community members.
Adrianna Gober
Adrianna Gober (she/her/hers) is a Lehigh Valley-based writer and musician. She co-curates the First Saturday Horror Series at Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas and serves as a member of the ArtsQuest Cinema Committee. She is currently the Director of Programming for Midnight Movie Society, an extreme horror/cult SVOD service from Rue Morgue and MVD Entertainment Group.
Past Screenings
LGBTQ+ Film Series – A Q&A with How To Survive a Plague Editor Tyler H. Walk
On December 11th, 2022 the LGBTQ+ Film Series screened the Oscar-nominated documentary How to Survive a Plague for the film’s 10th Anniversary. The screening was followed by a live Q&A/talkback with the film’s editor Tyler H. Walk
LGBTQ+ Film Series: TV Talk – A League Of Their Own (Virtual Program)
The Peaches are in season and it’s time to play ball! Or at least…it’s time to talk about it. Our LGBTQ+ Film Series curators hosted a virtual discussion of Season 1 of the new Amazon Prime series A League of Their Own on Thursday, September 29th at 7:30 PM.
LV LGBTQ+ Film Series – A Q&A with Desert Hearts Director Donna Deitch
On June 1st, 2023 the LV LGBTQ+ Film Series screened the film Desert Hearts, followed by a live Q&A/talkback with the film’s director Donna Deitch.
LGBTQ+ Film Series: Movie Talk – Tar (Virtual Program)
From director-writer-producer Todd Field comes, starring Cate Blanchett as the iconic musician Lydia Tár. TÁR examines the changing nature of power, its impact and durability in our modern world. This virtual discussion with our LGBTQ+ Film Series on TÁR took place on March 9th, 2023 at 7:30 PM.
LV LGBTQ+ Film Series – An Interview with Actor Cole Doman of the Film Mutt
This pre-recorded interview with actor Cole Doman premiered after a FREE screening of the 2023 film Mutt on February 29th, 2024 as part of the LV LGBTQ+ Film Series.
LV LGBTQ+ Film Series – An Interview with Drea Young
This pre-recorded interview with Drea Young, the founder and creative director of Nice Rack LLC and MUSIC IS OUR HERO®!, premiered after a FREE screening of the Last Call at Maud’s on April 17th, 2024 as part of the LV LGBTQ+ Film Series.
