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

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