QueerX Festival 2019

May 31st—June 2nd, premiere queer global streaming network Revry will present QueerX, the 4th annual queer music, film, and industry in West Hollywood, California, sponsored by Lexus.   From Vogue competitions to Flamenco performances, international screenings to a Sex & Body Positivity panel, Powerhouse Industry Pitchfests to the star-studded Revry Visibility Awards, QueerX is poised as the queer SXSW, with festival organizers promising “something thrilling for every Queer enthusiast.”

The festival kicks off Friday night with an exclusive industry party and concert at the iconic Whisky-A-Go-Go, headlined by Billboard’s Artist of the Month, Brooke Candy with her RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni backup dancers Laganja Estranja and Gia Gunn, along with Pink Fly, Jordy and Davy Boi, and a Billboard top 10 LGBTQ surprise artist making their first LA concert appearance.  The eve finishes fabulously with Maurice the Divo leading an epic Vogue battle and ball for all to join in!

QueerX continues Saturday and Sunday at The London West Hollywood with its international Competition Screenings and the Revry Summer Preview, including Laura Linney’s World Premiere of “Sink Sank Sunk” and GLAAD “Rising Star Grant” recipient River Gallo’s “PonyBoi.”

Saturday night’s Centerpiece Screening is 2-time Academy Award winners Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman’s YouTube Original “State of Pride” starring Raymond Braun, who will be honored with a Revry Visibility Award by presenters Johnny Sibilly (“Pose”) and Blossom Brown, and then moderate a femme-tastic panel with the film’s female producing team.  The evening ignites with lit afterparty at the brand new Rocco’s West Hollywood with performances by Jared Gelman and Madison Rose.

The weekend is peppered with dynamic Panels like “The Power of Body and Sex Positivity,” with Playboy’s Senior Editor Shane Michael Singh, Dr. Chris Donaghue (“Loveline”), Tre’vell Anderson (Out Magazine Editor), Adrienne Williams (“MS.RPRSNTD”) and Youtuber Stevie Boebi.  Or if the entertainment industry is your jam, “The Business of Inclusive Storytelling” with the likes of showrunner Ben Cory Jones (BET’s “Boomerang”) and Deniese Davis (HBO’s “Insecure,” Issa Rae Productions) or “Pioneering A Queer Music Movement” with executives from BMG, Arista, APA and artists Jordy and Davy Boi.

Saturday and Sunday, QueerX also hosts its annual Powerhouse Industry Pitchfest, giving creators the rare opportunity to pitch projects one-on-one to top producers and production companies including IFC, SoulPancake, Powderkeg Media, Management360, Brian Graden Media and more.

The festival concludes with the star-studded Revry Visibility Awards and closing night party honoring the bold efforts of Braun, influencer Nikita Dragun (“Dragun Beauty”), actor Nik Dodani (“Atypical,” “Murphy Brown”) and WNBA athlete Sue Bird.  The evening will be transformed by hosts The Tourist Office of Spain, with Spanish delicacies and performances of Flemenco, a traditional Basque acrobatic Aurresku, and 2019 Island of Gran Canaria Drag Queen winner Drag Chuchi. The evening continues with an epic performance by Aja (“Drag Race All-Stars”) and a set with award-winning DJ Ray Rhodes.

This year QueerX is happy to announce two extraordinary International prizes. The screening competition Audience Winner will receive one ticket for travel, accommodations and entry into Rio Web Fest in beautiful Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Tourist Office of Spain will award a trip to Barcelona in Iberia Airlines with a stay at the Fairmont Hotel in BCN, a Tourist Bus city pass and a private guided tour.

Braun tells the Blade, “I’m excited to be part of an event dedicated to uplifting a variety of LGBTQ voices and catalyzing important conversations about our community’s representation in media, entertainment, technology, and beyond! I really believe in the philosophy that ‘it’s hard to hate up close.’ When people get to know us as LGBTQ people and immerse themselves in our stories, it helps foster empathy and ultimately accelerate acceptance and inclusion for our community. I believe in the power of media and entertainment to open up hearts and minds, and to catalyze important cultural change. I hope QueerX will empower and energize everyone working in this space.”

Fellow Visibility Award honoree Dodani comments, “To feel seen by the queer community is a huge honor, and makes all the bullshit worth it.  I hope people who attend the festival will walk away feeling driven to create their own stuff, and give up on waiting for others to create it for them.”

Gallo says, “I’m excited to be part of QueerX because this festival represents a huge and beautiful step forward in queer representation… I’m honored QueerX has carved out the space for intersex representation, and that my film ‘Ponyboi’ will open the hearts and minds of the audience who attend to the suffering that the Intersex community has faced for millennia. I hope people who attend the festival will gain a sense of camaraderie and ally-ship between their fellow queer artists and be inspired to go out to create work together. We have the power to create new films, music, and art start an inclusive New Hollywood and tell some badass stories!”

Musician DavyBoi adds, “-QueerX has given me an opportunity to introduce myself to my peers and industry folks in the queer media community in the best possible way I know how, which is to perform. QueerX has really gone above and beyond to curate a unique pride experience that touches on the intersections of Music, Film, & Industry… that touches on everything I’ve worked for. My friends in LA are musicians, pop stars on the rise, songwriters & producers, filmakers, stylists, record label reps etc. etc. and I’m inviting them all out to experience QueerX and see me perform but even more broadly bring everyone together.  I’m very excited to celebrate my community and applaud all the creators & artists… and just bask in queer excellence.”

Amanda Dash, co-creator of the digital series “To Be Me,” inspired by the stories of the trans and non-binary communities, says, “I hope QueerX opens the conversation to stories that have been left out of the mainstream media… QueerX is about bringing stories to light, through all platforms, and ‘To Be Me’ supports the message that all people really need in life is love and support. I hope that all attendees receive that message throughout the whole festival weekend and enjoy the creative work being presented.”

Daan Jansen, who co-created the series with Dash, adds, “I hope that people attending the festival will get to experience stories that make them laugh, cry and feel proud to be a part of or an ally for the LGBTQIA community.”