Description
Triangle Foundation was established to achieve equal political and social rights for LGBT people (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender). During the past 18 years they have organised film festivals. The project activities are related to three LGBT film festivals: - LesGaiCineMad (Madrid, Spain) - Cinhomo (Valladolid, Spain) - Oslo Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (Oslo, Norway). The project will raise awareness on LGBT issues and contribute to a greater understanding between people leading to more tolerance. It will aim at showing positive images of acceptance and respect of minorities, such as LGBT, youth, elders, immigrants and unemployed. The project is part of a growing need to support LGBT films following cuts in public cultural budgets because of the economic crisis. The project will promote filmmakers that portray LGBT people and their search for social equality. It will contribute to changing the perception of LGBT in European society, through the screening of films showing LGBT issues. The general public and LGBT people will benefit from the project by normalizing different sexual identities through didactic documentaries for all ages and public.
Summary of project results
Triangle Foundation and Oslo Gay and Lesbian Film Festival have cooperated in a project that has evolved around three LGBT film festivals. The objective of the project was to eliminate prejudices and to spread a message of tolerance and acceptance. The first event was the LesGaiCineMad that took place in Madrid in November 2013. Representatives from Oslo Gay and Lesbian Film Festival visited Madrid and presented a selection of Norway’s best LGBT short films subtitled in Spanish. In September 2014, Oslo Gay and Lesbian Film Festival was held, and 12 Spanish LGBT short films was screened. Two screenings of Norwegian short films were later carried out at the Valladolid International LGBT Film Festival in October 2014 accompanied by the visits of the Norwegian filmmakers Marja Bål Nango, Mattias Høyem and Toni Nordli. Discussions between the filmmakers and the audience were held after the screenings. The project has contributed to rising awareness on LGBT issues and connected the Spanish and Norwegian LGBT movements by a cultural exchange trough films.
Summary of bilateral results
Oslo Gay and Lesbian Film Festival is an annual international film festival focusing on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender themes. They visits more than 20 festivals a year and has an informal network of excellent contacts, ideal to creating new bonds between film festivals around the world. The partnership with Triangle Foundation has facilitated best practices exchange between the two organisations and provided a better understanding of their respective social environment. Some of the success of the project can be attributed to the partner’s desire to connect with other film festivals. In February 2014, the partners visited the Berlinale, the most important event for LGBT festivals in Europe, to promote their project and encourage screenings of their films at other festivals. As a result, Norwegian and Spanish short films have now been shown in countries such as Bolivia, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Indonesia and Puerto Rico. New partnership opportunities are now being discussed between Triangle Foundation and the Norwegian Association for Lesbians and Homosexuals and the University of Oslo.