A special screening in Sydney of new documentary The Queen Of Ireland is set to help raise money for the campaign to achieve marriage equality in Australia.
The exclusive pre-release screening of the internationally acclaimed film about Irish drag superstar and high profile marriage equality advocate Panti Bliss will take place at the Dendy Newtown cinema on Tuesday August 30 at 6:30pm and will be a fundraiser for local lobby group Australian Marriage Equality (AME).
The special screening follows the sold out Australian premiere of the film at the Sydney Film Festival in June and will precede the general release of the film in selected cinemas nationally on September 7. The event is being supported by Queer Screen and LGBTI health organisation ACON as well as Dendy Newtown and Transmission Films.
Five years in the making, the film focuses on performer Rory O’Neill and his drag alter ego Panti Bliss on a journey of self-discovery against the backdrop of Ireland’s 2015 referendum on marriage equality, including Panti’s now famous appearance at the Abbey Theatre in 2014.
In addition to getting early access to the film, guests will also be briefed about the campaign for marriage equality in Australia by Irish LGBT rights campaigner Tiernan Brady who is working with AME following his role as the political director of the recent successful marriage equality campaign in Ireland. All guests will also each receive a 2-for-1 pass to Bingay, ACON’s hilarious monthly bingo night at The Shift Club in Darlinghurst.
ACON and Queer Screen have joined forces with Dendy and the film’s distributor Transmission Films to help raise money for AME and to promote the film’s message of acceptance and inclusion of LGBTI people.
ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill says the event will be a special evening for members and supporters of Sydney’s LGBTI community. “ACON believes that achieving marriage equality is an important step towards reducing the disadvantage, discrimination and distress experienced by LGBTl people on a daily basis, and is essential for promoting the health and wellbeing of LGBTl people and communities. I encourage people to attend this special fundraising event and help make Australia a place where everyone belongs.”
Queen Screen Festival Director Paul Struthers says the film is a hugely entertaining and inspirational piece of filmmaking. “When the film debuted in Ireland, it had the highest ever grossing opening weekend for an Irish documentary. Panti is a wonderful character who unexpectedly becomes central to the campaign for marriage equality in Ireland. There’s only limited seating available for this event so I encourage anyone who’s interested in attending to purchase tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.”
WHAT: The Queen Of Ireland Marriage Equality Fundraiser
WHEN: Tuesday 30 August 2016, 6:30pm
WHERE: Dendy Newtown, 261-263 King St, Newtown
COST: $25|$22 for Queer Screen members (inc. 2-for-1 Bingay pass)
BOOKING: www.queerscreen.org.au