The future of queer cinema is “unlimited.”

On this episode of The Last Shot Podcast, powered by Last Shot Media Group, co-hosts Julien Serrano-O’Neil and Zachary Heneden sit down with Eli Morris (they/he), Director of Strategy and Programs for the Vancouver Queer Film Festival, ahead of the festival's 38th edition.

From its beginnings with films projected onto bedsheets in a living room to a festival featuring 87 films across Vancouver, Eli takes us inside the evolution of VQFF and the continued importance of authentic, queer-made storytelling.

We explore the meaning behind the 2026 theme, “A Seat at the Table,” how VQFF is expanding whose voices shape its programming, and why representation must go beyond simply seeing queer and trans people on screen. Eli also discusses the festival's collaborative approach to leadership, the importance of intersectionality in cinema, the Centrepiece Presentation Apolo, and the ideas of care, kinship and collective liberation behind Ecosystems Not Empires.

The conversation also goes deeper into what queer cultural spaces mean at a time of increased visibility alongside political backlash. For Eli, part of the answer lies not only in resistance, but in community, connection and joy.

“There is such political value in cultivating joy and celebration, even in really challenging, tough times where it feels hopeless.” — Eli Morris

Ultimately, this is a conversation about more than a film festival. It's about who gets to tell stories, who gets a seat at the table, and what becomes possible when communities are empowered to see themselves fully represented on screen.

Vancouver Queer Film Festival 2026
In Person: September 10–20, 2026 | Vancouver, BC
Online: September 21–27, 2026 | Across British Columbia
Tickets: Sliding scale beginning at $7

Explore the festival, full program and tickets:
OutOnScreen.com/VQFF

Social Media: @queerfilmfest

The Last Shot Podcast
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Real Conversations. Culture Without Limits.

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On this episode of The Last Shot Podcast, we sit down with writer/director/star Britt Bankhead and actress/co-producer Grace Patterson to talk about THE TOWN THAT TAKES — a supernatural horror thriller inspired by one of America's most enduring unsolved mysteries: the disappearance of the Lost Colony of Roanoke, and the single haunting word left behind — CROATOAN.

Britt and Grace break down how they turned centuries of American folklore — Skinwalker and Wendigo mythology — and Southern Gothic atmosphere into one of the standout indie horror releases of the summer, why practical effects still matter to them, and what it's like building a film (and a life) together as creative partners.

THE TOWN THAT TAKES, from Atlas Distribution, is now playing in select theaters across the top 20 North American markets.

🎙️ @lastshotmediagroup x @thelastshotpodcast

🎬 @gracevictoriapatterson x @brittbankhead

🎬@thetownthattakes

About The Film: https://thetownthattakes.com/

What happens when a hyper-protective Arab father—played by the commanding Egyptian star Mohamed Mamdouh—faces his most terrifying adversary yet? A completely normal, agonizingly awkward coming-of-age milestone: buying his teenage daughter her first bra.

Live from the 2026 Tribeca Festival, hosts Zachary Heneden and Julien Serrano-O'Neil sit down with acclaimed filmmaker Mohamed Taher to dissect his stunning, award-winning short film, 32B. Following its highly anticipated world premiere screenings on June 13th and 14th at the AMC 19th St. East 6, the film cemented its place as a festival darling by officially taking home the 2026 Tribeca Award for Best Narrative Short!

In this episode, we break down:

• The 2005 Time Capsule: Why setting the film right before the smartphone explosion was critical to framing this hilarious communication breakdown.

• Deconstructing Masculinity: How Mamdouh stripped away his traditional tough-guy on-screen armor to channel sweating, frozen vulnerability.

• The Visual Architecture of Anxiety: Turning a routine retail lingerie shop into a tight, claustrophobic psychological thriller.

• Navigating the Tonal Tightrope: Balancing laugh-out-loud awkwardness with deep cultural resonance and emotional dignity.

Pop in your headphones and dive into the creative anatomy of one of Arab cinema's most refreshing, newly crowned award-winning voices.

Connect with the Film:

• Instagram: ⁠@mohamedtaher

• Website/IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39240794/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39240794/

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