Pink programming across Europe: exploring identity politics at European LGBT film festivals

Abstract

LGBT film festivals curate programs that are expected to cater to LGBT identity politics, conform to normative cinematic standards of European film festivals and consider the manifold desires of their target audiences. Since programmers are crucial to this process, the present study investigated European programmers’ approaches to identity politics. The analysis of in-depth expert interviews with 24 film programmers from 17 film festivals in 17 European countries revealed that most programmers aim to create festivals that are as inclusive as possible. They knowingly use traditionalist and queer programming strategies to negotiate between various stakeholders within particular societal contexts. According to the interviewees, using both approaches does not hamper the political and emancipatory work of LGBT film festivals; they are able to program both mainstream films about outdated and overrepresented identities as well as critical films with underrepresented themes. Nonetheless, funding, audiences and societal contexts affect certain programming practices. Many festivals provide entertainment to appease sponsors, generate press coverage and please loyal audiences. Additionally, certain national and urban contexts may affect the way a festival promotes itself and its identity politics to the societies in which it operates.