MGFF24 Festival Photos

We’ve captured all the glitz, glamour and happy faces in these MGFF24 festival photos.

MGFF24 runs from 15 – 29th Feb 2024 and you can find and download photographs from all our upcoming events right here.

Closing Night Gala | 2024 Mardi Gras Film Festival

On Thursday (29th Feb) we finished of the In Cinema portion of MGFF24 with the Sydney Premiere of ‘Housekeeping for Beginners’. The film’s writer and director Goran Stolevski was there for a post-screening Q&A and to celebrate our closing night with us.

Thank you to our presenting partner Optus and our major partners American Express, Allianz and Johnnie Walker.

And thank you to The Aperture Club for capturing the MGFF24 on camera for us to remember forever.
Check out the photos they captured of our Closing Night pre-party here and the afterparty here.

Industry Networking | 2024 Mardi Gras Film Festival

On Wednesday (29th Feb) the Johnnie Walker Festival Bar was overflowing with LGBTIQ+ screen industry members and creatives for our Industry Networking event.

Thanks to The Aperture Club for being there and capturing the buzz.
You can see all the photos here.

Blue Lights World Premiere | 2024 Mardi Gras Film Festival

On Tuesday (27th Feb) director Lucas Santa Ana joined us in cinema for the World Premiere of his film Blue Lights and a post-screening Q&A.

Thanks to The Aperture Club for capturing the moment!
You can see all the photos here.

My Queer Career | 2024 Mardi Gras Film Festival

On Monday (26th of Feb) we awarded $$$$ to this years My Queer Career Winners!
My Queer Career isn’t all about the money (although, thats to our prize sponsors, it does make the night a little more exciting) it is about celebrating filmmakers, writers, actors and creators. And! It’s about celebrating queer stories on screen… always and forever.

And the winners are:

BEST FILM
Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in Black)

For winning Best film Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in Black) received:
$3000 cash from The Stephen Cummins Film Trust
$2000 worth of legal advice from JP Media Law
Automatic Entry in the Iris Prize, the world richest prize for LGBTIQ+ short film

BEST SCREENPLAY
Amanda Kaye for Good Times and That’s Okay.

For winning Best Screenplay Amanda Kaye received: $750 cash from Event Cinemas George Street.

AUDIENCE AWARD
Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in Black)

For winning the Audience Award Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in Black) received: $5,000 worth of Post Production support from Spectrum Films.

EMERGING FILMMAKER
Jim Muntisov – Hyperconnect

For winning Emerging Filmmaker Jim Muntisov received Panavision camera hire, valued at $5000

EMERGING PERFORMER
Mish Keating – Hyperconnect

For winning Emerging Performer Mish Keating received: NIDA Open courses to the value of $500.

Also thank you to our jury:
Writer, critic and designer Michael Sun.
Director, producer and activist Sophia Shek.
Writer-director Timothy Despina Marshall.

See all the photos here, thanks to the Aperture Club.

Shape and the World Premiere of In the Room Where He Waits | 2024 Mardi Gras Film Festival

On Sunday (25th of Feb) the Sydney Premiere of Shape screened at Event Cinemas George St. The screening lead by the short film FA(C)TS and was followed up with a post-screening panel.

Sunday at Event Cinemas George St was also the World Premiere of In the Room Where He Waits. The audience were joined by filmmaker Timothy Despina Marshall and producer Bec Dakin for a post-screening Q&A.

See all the photos taken on the night here, thanks to the Aperture Club.

Sunflower and Comedy Shorts | 2024 Mardi Gras Film Festival

On Saturday at MGFF24 we celebrated our screening of Sunflower and post-screening Q&A with writer-director Gabriel Carrubba and actor Liam Mollica with an afterparty in the Johnnie Walker Festival Bar at Event Cinemas George St.

We also enjoyed a night of laughs at our Comedy Shorts screening with special guests Simon Paluck (Insta Gay) and Sophie Saville (Pineapple)

As always we want to thank The Aperture Club, for capturing our events. You can see the photos captured on the night here.

F.L.Y. and Sing-a-long: The Sound of Music at the Ritz | 2024 Mardi Gras Film Festival

We spent Friday night at the Ritz Cinemas in Randwick, singing along to The Sound of Music with The Sisters and Brothers of The Order of Perpetual Indulgence Sydney and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir.

We also welcomed audiences to the International Premiere of F.L.Y. and post-screening Q&A with writer-director-actor Rafael Albarran.

The night was captured by The Aperture Club and you can see all the photos here.

The Queen of My Dreams in Partnership with Advance Diversity Services | 2024 Mardi Gras Film Festival

On Thursday at MGFF24 we hosted a special event, in partnership with Advance Diversity Services.
As you can see from the smiles, captured by The Aperture Club, the night was an especially joyous one.

See all the photos here.

Australian Premiere, The Missing | 2024 Mardi Gras Film Festival

The Missing had its Australian Premiere and writer-director Carl Joseph E. Papa (who was also on our panel Queer Tropes and Trauma – Should We Tell These Stories On Screen? at The State Library of NSW) joined us for a post-screening Q&A.

As always, thank you to The Aperture Club, for capturing the night. You can see all the photos here.

World Premiere, A Portrait of Love | 2024 Mardi Gras Film Festival

On Monday (19th Feb) we celebrated the World Premiere of A Portrait of Love with many special guests including director Molly Reynolds, subject Roberto Meza Mont and editor Sam Matthews. After the screening and Q&A we continued the celebration at the Australian Showcase after-party in the Johnnie Walker Festival Bar.

Everyone say thank you to The Aperture Club, for capturing it all. You can see all the photos here.

Special Event – All of Us Strangers at Westpac OpenAir | 2024 Mardi Gras Film Festival

It was a picture-perfect night at what is arguably the world’s most beautiful cinema – Sydney’s Westpac OpenAir. This year at MGFF24, our night at Westpac OpenAir night made even more perfect by the presence (on-screen not IRL… we wish!) of Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal, the stars of ‘All of Us Strangers’.

Thank you to The Aperture Club, for capturing the evening in all its beauty. See the photos here.

Special Guest at Who’ll Stop the Rain | 2024 Mardi Gras Film Festival

Su I-Hsuan, a Taipei-based writer and director, was our special guest at the Australian Premiere of her film Who’ll Stop the Rain.

Thank you to The Aperture Club, for capturing all the moments of the evening. Find the photos here.

If you missed the Australian Premiere at George St Cinemas Sydney, don’t fret! Who’ll Stop the Rain is part of our Australia-wide On Demand Encore from 1st – 11th March.

Panels and conversation at The State Library of NSW | 2024 Mardi Gras Film Festival

The State Library of NSW was a hive of conversation on Saturday (17th Feb) with our two MGFF24 panels.

Queer tropes and trauma on screen: Should we tell these stories?
Moderated by Walkley winning journalist, filmmaker and presenter Patrick (Pat) Abboud (Only Human Productions/Dreamchaser Studios), who was joined by filmmakers Craig Boreham (Lonesome, MGFF23; Perfect Boy Next Door, MGFF24), Carl Joseph E. Papa (The Missing, MGFF24) and Monica Zanetti (Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie’s Dead Aunt), MGFF20; While the Men Are Away), and media scholar and researcher Natalie Krikowa (University of Technology Sydney, Queer Representation Matters).

Queer Awakenings: Films that made you feel seen.
Which was moderated by comedian, writer, podcaster and film critic Alexei Toliopolous (Finding Yeezus, Question Everything), who was joined by producer and filmmaker Su Goldfish (The Last Goldfish, MGFF18; Creation), writer and broadcaster Benjamin Law (The Family Law, Wellmania), director and editor Sam Matthews (Danielle Laidley: Two Tribes; A Portrait of Love, MGFF24), and comedian, writer and actress Nina Oyama (Deadloch, Taskmaster Australia).

Thank you to The Aperture Club, who captured the conversation. Find the photos here.

When Time Got Louder (Australian Premiere) and Neuromance (World Premiere) | 2024 Mardi Gras Film Festival

It was a night of Premieres at MGFF24! On Friday (16th Feb) we kicked off the evening with the World Premiere of the Australian short Neuromance, which was introduced by writer-producer Kyle Goldfinch.
The Australian Premiere of When Time Got Louder was attended by very special guest – all the way from Canada – writer-director Connie Cocchia and actor Piper Curda.

The Aperture Club captured the night of Premieres (thank you Aperture Club). You can find the evenings photos here.

Australian Showcase – Sahela | 2024 Mardi Gras Film Festival

On Friday (16th Feb 2024) we celebrated the screening of our Australian Showcase film Sahela. There were pink carpet appearances, an intriguing post-screening Q&A and a bopping after party in the Johnnie Walker Festival Bar.

Thanks to The Aperture Club for capturing the vibes. You can find the evenings photos here.

Opening Night Gala | 2024 Mardi Gras Film Festival

On Thursday night (15th Feb 2024) we rolled out the pink carpet and opened our 31st Mardi Gras Film Festival.

We were welcomed to Country by Brendan Kerin, before our Queer Screen Treasurer and Co-Chair Abs Osseiran and Co-Chair Angela Ruchin thanked our many amazing festival partners and of course our MGFF24 Volunteers.
Then, with her signature rizz Festival Director, Lisa Rose introduced our Opening Night film Femme – a neo-noir thriller that got the entire afterparty talking!

The Aperture Club captured the entire night – from our iconic pink carpet to the VIP afterparty. You can also find these on our Facebook Page to tag and share.

Program Launch Party | 2024 Mardi Gras Film Festival

Just like Padam Padam, our 2024 Mardi Gras Film Festival (MGFF24) Program Launch Party was a bop!

We were welcomed to Country by Uncle Michael West.
Our Queer Screen Treasurer and Co-Chair Abs Osseiran and Co-Chair Angela Ruchin then took to the stage to introduce this year’s theme ‘In Conversation’ and Festival Director Lisa Rose got one started with her 2024 Program highlights.

A high point of the night was the performance from The Sydney Cello Quartet, who played a medley of music from Queer films – no doubt just a hint of the magic that will be their performance at the Sydney Opera House as part of MGFF24.

Special thanks to the Diva Cups whose DJing elevated the celebratory vibes and got everyone dancing!
And to our top-tier volunteers who help make our events so special for all of you (our guests).

And to thank you to The Aperture Club for capturing the night. The full photoset from our presentations, media wall, and event photos photos are available for all, so go ahead and download your happy snaps from the night. You can also find these on our Facebook Page to tag and share here.