Buried within the woods of Alberta, Canada sits camp fYrefly, a haven for LGBTQIA2S+ teens, far away from the fierce political battle currently being waged against queer expression and gender identity. Summer Qamp invites audiences into the innocence and joy of a summer away with friends, while never losing sight of the bravery of these young protagonists whose very existence is challenged in their normal lives.
This warm and effervescent film by Jen Markowitz lets the kids do the talking. They invite a chorus of young people, mostly trans and non-binary youths, to reflect upon a week in the company of fellow queer people. For audiences a few years older than the teens at Camp fYrefly, Summer Qamp may prove emotional when only recently “gay camp” meant a place where one could be anything but one’s true self. The film offers a window into the positive mindset that empowers the next generation […] With an upbeat tone and a warm eye as cinematographer Lulu Wei harnesses the summer light, Summer Qamp is a positive portrait of queer youth experiences at a time when the rights of LGBTQ+ youths are under renewed scrutiny. Anyone with opinions about schools telling parents about a kid’s preferred pronouns should probably see this film.
Pat Mullen, POV magazime
Heartwarming… a tonic for those who are exhausted by the homophobia and transphobia still present in the 21st century.
Devon Banfield, Now Toronto
Jen Markowitz
Canada
2023
English
Coarse language
Open to youth!
Book Tickets
Indigenous & Community Access
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
Credits
Producer
Tanya Blake
Cinematography
Lulu Wei
Editor
Derek Esposito, Cecilio Escobar
Original Music
Ames Bessada
Also Playing
That They May Face the Rising Sun
John and Kate have moved from London to a farm in Ireland, to the bemusement of the locals. This lyrical Irish reverie taps deep wells of feeling in the stuff of everyday life.
Secret Mall Apartment
The stranger-than-fiction true story of a group of artists who built and furnished a hidden apartment inside a mall, remaining undetected for years. This is an absurdly fun and surprisingly profound film about gentrification and art.
The Encampments
When pro-Palestine protests took hold of Columbia last year, the filmmakers were there from the beginning. This documentary charts the mounting tensions between students and the administration, as the protests were picked up across North America.
The Teacher
In this potent thriller, English teacher Basem witnesses the murder of a teenager by a Israeli settler. While the subsequent investigation rolls slowly towards a foregone conclusion, the teacher is caught up in a parallel kidnapping case...