QFest, Philly’s Only LGBT Film Festival, Postponed Indefinitely

Just got some disappointing, though none-too-surprising news out of the Qfest camp: The Philadelphia Cinema Alliance just announced that the scheduled July 2014 QFest date has been postponed indefinitely. More from a press release on the QFest website:

The decision was prompted by several issues including fund-raising challenges and the unavailability of festival founder and Artistic Director Raymond Murray to head film programming.

However, there are plans underway to resume the festival with an exciting new venue and approach. PCA, in conjunction with Warehouse Cinema, the planned Northern Liberties luxury three-screen cinema complex slated to open in November, 2014 are working to present two targeted mini-QFests. The first week-long festival will launch late this fall. Another week-long festival is planned in spring, 2015. A decision to present a full-scale festival in July 2015 has not yet been made.

Murray says, “After launching the festival in 1995 and producing it for 19 years I am disappointed that we could not present one this summer, but time constrictions relating to the planning and construction of Warehouse Cinema made us realize we could not present a quality festival this July. I hope that the 2 mini-festivals planned for this fall and spring will satisfy our loyal customers. The films will be presented in what we expect to be an impressive cinema complex, one that will feature amazing projection and sound, comfortable lounge seating, a restaurant and bar and the ability to have film discussions with filmmakers in a relaxed environment.

G. Sterling Zinsmeyer, TLA Entertainment Group COO said, “While disappointed that the July festival needed to be postponed, we look forward to its redesign, which has meant so much to the LGBT community in Philadelphia. We remain committed in supporting this vital institution and remaining a presenting sponsor.”