Celebrating LGBTQ+ genre cinema from emerging and established queer artists within the community – locally, nationally and internationally.

OUR MISSION

To highlight the importance of horror films in the LGBTQ+ community and their historical social and political impact.

OUR VISION

To support LGTBQ+ Artists and Creators of queer stories by providing a platform – via a live film festival event – to reach a larger audience. To present opportunities to connect with LGBTQ+ horror/sci-fi/fantasy/thriller fans through film screenings, as well as personal interaction. To contribute to an evergrowing community of genre film lovers by engaging in “the conversation” and the pursuit of positive queer representation in media. To have a “gay old time”.

WHY QUEER HORROR

Genre films (Horror, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Etc.) are extremely significant and important to the LGBTQ+ community. Growing up gay, we are often made to feel like an abomination. Therefore, when we watch horror movies, we can identify with BOTH the monster and the final girl fighting for her life. Because, by our very nature, we ARE both.

Queer horror holds significant cultural weight. It allows us to examine themes of otherness, identity, and societal anxieties in a unique and often cathartic way. Through monsters, ghosts, and the uncanny, these films provide space for marginalized voices to reclaim narratives and challenge dominant perspectives.

WHO’S WHO?

JT Seaton

Festival Director

Ever since JT was a wee lad growing up in Bakersfield, CA., he had always wanted to be an artist, whether it was making movies and stop-motion animation (with his Star Wars action figures) with his dad’s Super8 film camera or creating Polaroid collages. Art and artistic expression has always been a huge part of JT.

JT graduated from California Institute of the Arts with a Masters Degree in Film Directing. And he has been making movies ever since. In 2010 he co-founded the NOLA Horror Film Fest (in New Orleans). Running for 11 years, the NOLAHFF earned a stellar reputation culminating in being named one of the World’s 50 Best Genre Film Festivals by MovieMaker Magazine in 2021.

Stephan Hoda

Associate Director

Stephan (he/they) is a professional educator and horror host from the swamps of South Mississippi. Inspired by the queer horror scene of Portland, he turned his love of the genre into CURSE WORDS; a monthly film screening and variety show at Crush Bar. He serves big “Final Girl” energy.

Stephan graduated from University of South Florida, with degrees in Classics and Religious Studies. He enjoys pop culture analysis and believes horror is a societal mirror through which the Queer experience is both underscored and celebrated.

Lil' Bo

Mascot

This is Lil’ Bo’s first gig as a Mascot. When asked to provide a little information about himself, this is what he said…

“Hmmm… a little about me. I’m too banal to be able to say anything specific. I live by myself and keep to myself. It’s not that I dislike people, au contraire, it’s just that I like myself more. What others think about me means a lot, so comments are welcome.

Some things I like to do: I like to sleep in and be lazy all day. I could eat fast food for every meal. If I never had to go outside that would be okay with me. I mean, why do we even have bookstores, coffee shops and supermarkets when we can get it all delivered? Am I right?”

WHAT TO EXPECT

QUEER SCREAMS is an “In Person” ONLY film festival with LIVE screenings. The festival proper is Saturday & Sunday, with a special theater sponsored genre (classic) screening Friday night. QSFF will present (but not be limited to): Live film screenings. Filmmaker’s Q&A. Special event screening. Drag and Burlesque performances. Award ceremony brunch. Panel discussion. Networking opportunities. Special guests.

Visiting filmmakers can expect to experience the beauty and awesomeness of Portland, OR. Portland is a vibrant and scenic city, famed for its huge expanses of green space, from parks and forests to breathtaking mountaintops. Portland is best known for being a sustainability-minded, bike-friendly city with easy access to nature; plentiful coffee, art, craft beer, delicious food. And of course its slogan “Keep Portland Weird.”

A landmark of Portland cinema history, The Clinton Street Theater is one of the oldest operating movie houses in the United States. The Clinton Street Theater has always been about community. Famous for its long-standing exhibition of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, the theater is currently a magnet for independent/revival films, live music, theater productions, dance performances, sex positive theater & film, drag shows, comedy, burlesque, and more.

Clinton Street Theater

The Clinton Street Theater in Portland, Oregon has been home to a Rocky Horror Picture Show shadow-cast since 1978. But it’s history and unique place in Cinema Theater goes further back then that, making it the oldest continually operating theater west of the Mississippi.

Opened in 1915 as The Clinton, the theater became the 26th Avenue Theatre in 1945 and the Encore in 1969. In 1976, it reverted to its original name. Although the theater has undergone many changes over the years, it remains an intimate single screen venue with the capacity for 222 patrons.

[Click image to go to the website]

FILMMAKER REVIEWS

“This is such a unique festival in every way! This festival did a great job of not only curating a killer weekend of LGBTQ horror/genre films, but it also created such a sense of community, and had a lot of opportunities to meet everyone. I met so many passionate and talented filmmakers, as well as fans of LGBTQ film.”

– Ryan Mack (2024 Filmmaker)

“Queer Screams was an amazing time! This year was my first time attending. I was very excited to come across a festival made for queer people who love and work in horror, a genre with a lot of queer history. What I experienced did not disappoint. It was a multi-day event with great films, great guest star appearances, and great networking opportunities.”

– Gabe Moreno (2024 Filmmaker)

“Queer Screams Film Festival is a VIBE! The whole weekend is structured like a community event, as much as a film festival, and folks from all over got to see some of the very best that the city of Portland has to offer in terms of hospitality, queer pride and GREAT films.”

– Michael Granberry (2024 Filmmaker)

“An awesome fest with an absolutely SICKENING vibe and hella queer horror films that left us SCREAMING with pleasure”

– Thomas Vidosh (2023 Filmmaker)

“The selected films ran the gamut of styles and subgenres. Saw some truly amazing movies and got to meet and make a few new friends with the fellow filmmakers who made the trek to lovely Portland. For the past few years, queer horror has been having a moment and this festival is an excellent showcase for the burgeoning movement.”

– Jensen Rule Tierra (2023 Filmmaker)

“Wonderfully generous group of people, inspiring like-minded artists, perfectly spooky location, and a genuine blast. Great networking, great programming, and a festival I’ll never forget.”

– Daniel Montgomery (2023 Filmmaker)