The folks who brought you the Texas Bloodbath Film Festival are back with a one-of-a-kind genre weekend, the Fears for Queers GLBT Film Festival, and they want to recruit your movies. Andrew Rose (pictured), co-host of the Horror Society podcast and owner of DOA Bloodbath Entertainment, has teamed up with queer independent filmmaker Shawn Ewert to bring a horror rainbow flag to a decidedly red state. But is Bush country ready for queer horror?

“Growing up as a gay man in Texas, I know firsthand how hateful and violent people can be,” Ewert tells Fango, “which makes it that much harder for me to not stand up and try and do something to make a difference. But Dallas is one of the most forward-thinking cities in the country, along with Austin, and there is a great community of support here. I think it will go over great!”

The festival, which takes place June 19, was actually the idea of a married, straight man. Rose, who previously helped put women genre filmmakers out front as part of the Pretty Scary Blood Bath this past February, says, “When I approached [Ewert] with the idea of doing a gay-horror-film festival, he was instantly excited. He very much wanted to be more than the supportive friend and attendee or a filmmaker with a short. He wanted to be involved in every aspect.”

From the beginning, Rose and Ewert wanted to not only promote queer horror and GLBT filmmakers, but make a difference in the Dallas gay community at large. “First and foremost,” Rose says, “we hope to raise a lot of money and promote awareness for Youth First Texas so that they can continue to provide outreach, support and activities for gay youth aged 14 to 22.”

Ewert adds, “I have been in the same situations as some of these kids, and I really wish I had something like YFT when I was growing up and coming out. I just toured the center, and cannot believe all the services they offer these kids. I would love to make this festival so big that we have people from around the country battling to be a part of it. At the end of the day, we get to see some great films, and help out some kids that really need it. What more could I ask?”

Rose and Ewert will be programming both features and shorts, and hope to have a special guest or two on hand as well. Deadline for submissions is May 1, and the schedule will be announced May 15. For more info on the fest and submitting to it, go here, and to check out the good work of Youth First Texas, go to their website here.

 

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