After 16 years, the Melbourne Queer Film Festival (MQFF) has appointed a new program manager to curate its annual program.
The reins will be passed over from festival director Lisa Daniel to Greek Australian Spiros Economopoulos, who has worked for the ACMI for the past eight years with previous experience at Madman Entertainment and the Dungog Festival.
Speaking to the Star Observer, Mr Economopoulos said he was proud of the “amazing legacy” he is inheriting and contributing to.
“She’s (Lisa) pushed it into a good place, and my role is to add on to that and bring my own signature to the festival,” he said.
Economopoulos is a cinephile to the core; when asked which types of queer films are his favourites, he said: “I love film in general, but at the end of the day if a film’s good that’s what I want to see.”
The new program manager expressed his enthusiasm regarding the high calibre of queer films currently being released, and is looking to include a number of Australian films, while also increasing the retrospective screenings.
“I absolutely love Australian film, and it’s always great when you have new content to screen,” Mr Economopoulos said.
But it’s not only Ms Daniels who is happy with her successor.
MQFF co-convenor Fiona Kelly is confident Mr Economopoulos will deliver the goods and ensure a successful future for the festival.
“Spiro has a passion for queer film and extensive knowledge.
“His appointment will be key in ensuring the continuation of MQFF as a leading cultural institution in Melbourne,” Ms Kelly said.
MQFF will run from 31 March to 11 April 2016.
Source: Star Observer
