About this project

Short description:

We are seeking support for the final stages of initiating a Queer Film Archive in Berlin (QFAB). 
QFAB is a space where hard-to-find films that address queer themes are collected, available for rent, screened & discussed.
Donated support will be used to strengthen our current collection so that we have a sufficient initial archive, and for gathering basic office supplies.
Payment for film rentals will be on a voluntary basis and all proceeds will be used to further develop the archive. We have a rent-free space in Berlin to house the archive, and have filed QFAB as an official organization in the city.

Thank you for your support! Film donations are are also highly welcome!

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Long description:

We have worked together on various queer film projects in the city of Berlin and we've come to kickstarter with our most recent project - the Queer Film Archive Berlin (or QFAB) - in hopes that we can get it off the ground. During film projects that we've organized in the past, we've had trouble finding alternative and experimental queer films in Berlin. We noticed a general lack of circulation of films from queer film festivals and independent filmmakers from around the world. The Queer Film Archive Berlin will try to fill these gaps.

Our preliminary goal is to get sufficient donations to pull together a collection of films made by queer filmmakers, with queer protagonists, or that may be of particular interest to queer people. These films will be available for rent at the Queer Film Archive Berlin with payment on a voluntary basis, and all of the money we receive from renters will allow us to buy new films so that the size of the archive is constantly growing.

Licenses for renting out films cost on average 50 dollars per film. That means that with 1500 dollars we can start the archive with around 30 new films. In addition, several filmmakers have already offered to donate their films to the project. We've registered the Queer Film Archive Berlin as an association with the city, and we've secured a space in the city where you'll be able to find us 2 days a week.

Ultimately, we'd like to build the archive into a space where we can screen films, create a space for others to put together their own series and events, and gather research materials on topics and themes related to queer cinema.

One goal of the project is to explore the meaning of the term 'queer film' in collaboration with filmmakers and film distributors, artists and curators, friends and acquaintances, and other visitors of the archive. Other goals include:

• Circulate lesser-known queer films so that a broader public can access them
  
• Help those involved in queer filmmaking expand their audiences and share their works
  
• Maintain record of historical and contemporary queer filmmakers and their films
  
• Foster a network of official and unofficial queer film festivals and screening spaces
  
• Develop a space for critical reflection about queer film
  
• Nurture appreciation of queer film within the city of Berlin
• Bring together a wide range of queer films into a single space
• And create a new space for queer culture in Berlin.

Donations will cover the following costs:

• Approx. 25-35 new films for the archive
• Membership cards, video sleeves for the films, office supplies, etc...
• Domain registration and hosting for www.queerfilmarchiveberlin.com

Thank you for your support! Film donations are are also highly welcome!

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Auf Deutsch: 

Mit dem "Queer Film Archive Berlin" (QFAB) wollen wir queere Filme nach Berlin bringen und sie archivieren, screenen und verleihen. Der Fokus soll dabei ganz besonders auf Filme liegen, die in üblichen Videotheken schwer zu bekommen sind. 
Die Grundidee des Archivs ist es, die Einnahmen durch den Verleih (finanzieller Beitrag auf freiwilliger Basis) in neue Filme zu investieren, so dass die Sammlung immer größer wird. 
Die finanzielle Unterstützung durch das Kickstarter-Projekt soll uns beim Kauf von einem ersten Grundstock an Filmen für das Archiv sowie der sonstigen Ausstattung des Archivs helfen. Wir erhalten das Geld jedoch nur, wenn wir den ganzen Betrag von 2.000$ in 30 Tagen zusammenbekommen, sonst wird das Geld nicht bei den Spendern abgebucht. Natürlich freuen wir uns aber über Filmspenden von Filmemachern und sonstige Hilfe!

Danke für Eure Unterstützung!

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Video credits:

Camera: Alexander Schmalz

Editing: Hannes Richter / QFAB
Special thanks to Mischa Pfisterer/Telenauten

Music: Sam Amidon ("How Come That Blood" from the album "I See The Sign" / Label: Bedroom Community)

Logo design: Stefan Mosebach

We sincerely thank all of the above mentioned people who have already volunteered so much time for the project, and for all who were involved in the production of the films used for the QFAB video above. These films have come recommended to us by queer film scholars and artists. Similarly, the selection of films for the archive will be in collaboration with other curators, artists, scholars and activists. If any filmmaker or film distributor responsible for the images presented in the video above would like for us to remove any of the film stills from our video, please let us know.

Film stills in order of appearance:

• Black Lizard. Dir. Kinji Fukasaku. Shochiku / Cinevista, 1968.
  
• Rückenwind. Dir. Jan Krüger, Salzgeber & Co. Medien GmbH, 2009.
  
• Luminous Procuress. Dir. Stephen Arnold. Paramour, 1971.
  
• Tani tatuwen piyabanna. Dir. Asoka Handagama. Be-Positive Media Group / Sanhinda Films, 2003.
  
• La niña santa. Dir. Lucrecia Martel. HBO Films / Fine Line Features, 2004.
  
• School Fag. Dir. Richard Fung and Tim McCaskell. 1998.
  
• The Cockettes. Dir. Bill Weber and David Weissman. Grandelusion, 2002.
  
• The Aggressives. Dir. Daniel Peddle. Image Entertainment, 2005.

• Is It Really So Strange? Dir. William E. Jones. Frameline / Strand Releasing, 2004.
  
• En malas compañías. Dir. Antonio Hens. Antonio Hens Córdoba / Hasta en las Mejores Familias S.L., 2000.
  
• Elevator Girls In Bondage. Dir. Michael Kalmen. Buffalo Pictures, 1972.
  
• Enough Man. Dir. Luke Woodward. Frameline, 2005.
  
• City After Dark. Dir. Ishmael Bernal. Regal Films, 1980.
  
• Tan de repente. Dir. Diego Lerman. Alfa Films, 2002.
  
• Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton's Cafeteria. Dir. Victor Silverman, Susan Stryker. Frameline, 2005.
  
• Tomboy. Dir. Céline Sciamma. Hold Up Films / Arte France Cinéma, 2011.
  
• By Hook or by Crook. Dir. Harriet Dodge, Silas Howard. Steakhaus Productions, NGB Productions, 2001.
  
• Tarik El Hob. Dir. Rémi Lange. Les Films de l'Ange, 2001.
  
• Straight Hike For The Butch Dyke. Dir. Cherien Dabis, Noelle Brower & Maggie Burkle. Walking on Air Productions, 2004.
• Mil nubes de paz cercan el cielo, amor, jamás acabarás de ser amor. Dir. Julián Hernández. Nubes Cine / Cooperativa Cinematográfica Morelos / Titán Producciones, 2003.
  
• Who Killed Teddy Bear. Dir. Joseph Cates. Network, 1965.