With all the uncertainty surrounding the current COVID-19 pandemic, so many plans have been canceled or postponed. Thankfully in the case of Inside Out, Canada’s largest LGBTQ film festival, the event has only been postponed until later this year! Andrea Wilson, Executive Director of the Inside Out film festival, has officially announced that this year’s 30th-anniversary installment of the popular film festival will be rescheduled for October 1-11, 2020.

Inside Out is the largest promoter of LGBTQ film in Canada. Postponing such a unique and prolific event was a hard but important decision to make. When asked about the decision Wilson commented, “In looking back over our history, we recognize all of the challenges that have strengthened us and the many trials that our communities have faced. We have spent the past year planning an epic celebration of our communities’ accomplishments, on-screen and off, for our 30th anniversary festival, which was scheduled for May 21-31. And now, we are reaching out to let you know that, as you may have anticipated, our team will be holding off on our in-person celebration just a little bit longer.”

So thankfully this is not another event lost to the ever-persisting novel coronavirus. But wait…there’s more! In addition to the official postponement, during the previously scheduled festival dates (May 21-31, 2020) several online offerings will be made available. Some of the planned content includes Inside Out’s LGBTQ international feature film financing forum and short film pitch competition. Also planned is the release of previously announced youth content platform, and an online sneak peek of the festival’s 30th anniversary archival exhibit.

Any tickets and packages purchased for the festival’s previous dates are still valid for the new postponed October dates. Tickets and packages for the new dates are available for purchase on Inside Out’s website. Any specific questions regarding current tickets, packages, or membership can be sent to the Inside Out team at boxoffice@insideout.ca.

Inside Out has made a commitment to connecting industry professionals and filmmakers to the community and does so all year round. In addition to the 11-day cinematic spectacle in Toronto, Inside Out also hosts a 4 day festival in Ottowa and year-round screenings at the Tiff Bell Lightbox. To stay up to date with the festival’s announcements and developments visit their website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

This is an unprecedented time and with so much change (both temporary and permanent) ahead, we can look forward to the day when we may all rejoin as a community in the name of great cinema. When that day comes, Inside Out will be there to provide quality cinema that supports and promotes a positive representation of the LGBTQ community.