Queer film’s enduring champion
Image: Lisa Daniel
LISA Daniel has been part of the furniture of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival since 1998, or as she playfully says, her tenure is “pre-smart phone technology”.
Films are Daniel’s life and she is able to live and breathe them by giving much of her free time while on a modest income.
“The MQFF takes up most of my working time even though it’s only a part time job. It’s pretty much full time (and more) hours for about 6 months and then actual part time (about 20 hours per week) the rest of the year, so I don’t have the flexibility to work another job,” she tells Star Observer.
“Besides, I’m always researching and watching films for the fest, and thinking about ways to make the MQFF better.”
Daniel lives in one of Australia’s most beautiful regions and a popular getaway for well-heeled corporates to play on the weekend. Her life there, compared to her film life, is very different with her partner Claire and their attention-loving pooches.
“(I) generally chases after four pugs and three chickens, hangs out with my partner Claire and various friends and family at our 10 acres on the Mornington Peninsula,” Daniel says.
“I also plant trees, check fences on the tractor, create havoc with a chainsaw, eat good food, watch good TV and try to stay fit.”
She also reflects on how her work and the festival contributes to the LGBTI community: “The MQFF is a much-loved queer community institution which has a crucial role to fill for those who love queer cinema, love meeting and mingling with other like-minded folk, and provides an entertaining and educational role for all in our community and beyond.
“Until the queer community has absolute equality — both socially and legally — then we’ll always need important queer events like the MQFF, so I guess heading up a an organisation that promotes equality and gives queer voices a venue to be heard, goes a long way to providing an essential community service.
“I take my role extremely seriously, and feel blessed to have had such a responsibility for so long.”
INFO: MQFF is on from 13 to 24 March. Tickets and Information can be found here
The Star Observer is a proud media partner of MQFF
This Star Observer Spotlight was made possible by Seiko
why do i feel invisible i am 72 and still love to dance and party. all i here about is nursing homes or functions for the youth. nothing inbetween , it seems that if you are 50 60 70 nobody wants to see you olly