We may be almost through the month of celebrations, but that doesn’t mean your support should stop at the end of June. Here are some ways that you can continue to support LGBTQ+ filmmakers all year round both within your local community and on a larger scale.
Donate towards the creation of a film
A lot of filmmakers aren’t receiving financial backing from a large studio, they rely on the support of their community in order to fund their films. Not only do you get to directly support a film being created, but some filmmakers offer the added bonus of being acknowledged in the film credits itself depending on the size of your donation.
This was certainly the case for when our senior producer, Andrew Nuño, created his latest short film Final Frame. It was through the kind generosity of family, friends, and strangers that Andrew was able to successfully raise $20,000 to tell his LGBTQ-focused story. Even though it was the largest budget Andrew had ever had to raise for a project, over 60 backers chose to support the film’s budget in order to create more representation for LGBTQ characters in media.
Attend a film screening
Attending a screening of a film shows that you believe a story is important and worth telling. Not all screenings have to be in person, either - many filmmakers hold virtual premieres that you can attend from anywhere.
The Gene Siskel Center and The Music Box Theater often host film screenings related to Pride/LGBTQ themes, so looking out for and attending dedicated queer-themed screenings is a great way to engage in LGBTQ media
The Reeling Film Festival is an awesome yearly festival in Chicago that offers plenty of opportunities to check out LGBTQ-focused stories on the big screen.
Can you still support even if you can’t do so financially? Of course! You can . . .
Reshare filmmakers’ posts on social media
If you’re unable to attend a screening or donate to raise money for a film, sharing the information with your network can be incredibly valuable. The more eyes the better, so something as simple as asking your friends to check out a donation page, follow a film on Instagram, or just share excitement about a poster can go a long way.
Organizations to support in Chicago (our local community!):
Reeling 2025: The 43rd Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival
National organizations to support:
Do you have another organization we should add to this list? Lightswitch will be donating to an organization to support the LGBTQ+ community, and would love additional places to add!
