Two years ago, I got to see the film When Men Were Men at the Austin Film Festival, and it was such a cathartic and validating experience - one which I then got to revisit when I interviewed the filmmakers last year for Incluvie.
Because of this, I began to see AFF as an event that had the potential to provide a space for queer creators to share their stories and find an audience for their work. A place to cultivate queer kinship and celebrate the power and beauty found in queer storytelling.
And this year was no exception, as there were several instances throughout the festival that showcased the many ways in which the queer experience is a singular one, with so many diverse, awkward, wholesome, heart-wrenching and exciting stories just waiting to be told.