8th Queer Women of Color Film Festival, San Francisco

At a new venue at the YBCA - Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the 8th Queer Women of Color Film Festival (QWOCMAP) kicked off June 8 with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by State Senator Mark Leno and from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, David Chiu.

The festival founders, Madeleine Kim and T. Kebo Drew were presented with honors for the festival by the two politicians. Also present during the opening was San Francisco Supervisor Scott Weiner.

In what they hope to be the new headquarters for the festival at a $13,000 rental fee, Kim and Drew are proven facilitators of an event that has grown and continues to attract hundreds of patrons.

For opening night, the Novellus Theater of the YBCA, a nonprofit multidisciplinary arts organization near Moscone Center, was full to capacity. Ever vigilant for special needs, the first two rows were designated for scent free patrons with allergies. The special feature of the event is a no entrance fee, and complimentary appetizers.

Each of the films is made under the supervision of Bay Area filmmaker Madeleine Kim.

The filmmakers selected have gone through an apprenticeship to create a storyboard and shoot a short film.

The films deal with queer women of color issues, which are unusual on screen, so it is not surprising that almost every detail of each film meets with enthusiasm from the audience for mirroring the community.

The films are placed in special themes, and for opening night it was "Re-dreaming our World".

The opening film "My Inner Turmoil" (2012), was directed by Rashmi, and dealt with the issues of immigration and gender identity of a transgender woman (played by Aresh Sheth). Not only does the woman fear losing her right to a green card, she must remain closeted at work, which causes her considerable hardship.