FAQ
Is the Dublin Film Qlub still in operation?
No. After a ten year run, our last screening took place as a Guest Programming event at Gaze Film Festival in August 2019.
What was the Dublin Film Qlub?
The Dublin Film Qlub was a special interest film club, catering for film-lovers in Dublin. We showed one selected film every month, as part of a series of themed seasons (each season consists of ten films). What all our films had in common is that they were of interest to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community, that they were of a very good quality, and, in some cases, that they had a remarkable documentary value. Our aim was to select films that were arty, sexy, and committed.
Where were the films shown?
The films were shown in a city centre location, the New Theatre (two doors down from The Project Theatre) in East Essex street, Temple Bar, Dublin2. This is a cosy and gay-friendly venue, and it is fully wheelchair accessible./ For the first season of the club, screenings took place at Outhouse Theatre, 105 Capel Street, Dublin. / A number of other venues were also used for Special Screenings, including the Exchange Art Centre, Temple Bar, which no longer exists.
What is a film club?
A Film Club is a club offering a regular programme of screenings throughout the year, attended by a group of people who have paid membership to the club. When the Dublin Film Qlub started, there were over 70 film clubs in Ireland. The Dublin Film Qlub was part of this network. When our club closed its doors in July 2019, it was the last (Access-Cinema register) traditional-style film club operating in Ireland.
Was the Film Qlub just a screening?
The Film Qlub sessions were more than just a screening. There was a social side to the club, as well as an educational side, and you also got a chance to share your views. Before the film, there was a brief introduction giving details about the director and the context of the film. After the screening, there was an open discussion about the film for 10-15 minutes, depending on the duration of the movie. Free tea, coffee, and cake were available for those in attendance before the screening.
Were there screenings for special interest groups?
At the Dublin Film Qlub, we made every effort to be as inclusive as possible, and to honour the diversity of the LGBTQ community, and we kept this in mind when we devised the programme. We were particularly aware of the difficulties in sourcing lesbian films, and worked hard to implement a 50/50 ratio of films reflecting both lesbian and gay experience.
Some of the screenings in our first season were of particular interest to trans people, older LGBT, bisexuals, young adult LGBT, gender-bender lesbians, and anti-authoritarian queers. Because of the characteristics of our first season (see below), the screenings were of particular relevance to the deaf LGBT community.
We endeavoured to screen little known films, or films rarely shown in cinemas, so our club was of particular interest to students of film, or to people who wanted to learn more about the history of cinema and its latest developments. Our programme was designed to appeal to anyone with an interest in film as an art form.
Who could join?
Anyone could join the Film Qlub. The films were of special interest to the LGBTQ community, but anyone who supported our community was most welcome, regardless of their sexual orientation.
How did people join?
To join, someone had to get a membership for the season. Club membership could be gotten at the door on the day of the first screening, or at any other screening in the first half of the season. For the first seasons, it was possible pre-book your membership by contacting our email address.There were three types of membership at the Film Qlub:
- Full Membership (aka "Grand"): 10 films = all the films in one Season
- Partial Membership (aka "Circle"): 5 films
- Day membership: 1 film
Who were the organisers?
The organisers came from a variety of backgrounds, from academia, to the film industry, to financial management. They worked in the Film Qlub on a voluntary capacity. They had experience organising similar community events, and they were part of the team which brought you the Dublin Lookout LGBTQ Film Festival in 2006. Some of the organisers were founding members of the Brain Fog Collective, a not-for-profit arts collective with a particular interest in gay and lesbian film making.