The Winnipeg Gay and Lesbian Film Society ran monthly film screenings between 1985 and 1989 before becoming a film festival. In 2000, the name was changed to REEL Pride.[i] From 2004 onwards, the group hosted screenings of movies during Pride Week. In 2013, after a few years of not holding an event, the group began hosting the “Reel Pride Best International LGBTTQ Commercials”. Both events served as fundraisers for the film festival.
History of the Event
Year | Venue | Summary |
2004 | Globe Cinema – 3rd Floor, Portage Place Shopping Centre | Held on June 9th. The films shown were: Benzina (Italy, 2003) Italian with English subtitles; Yossi & Jagger (Israel, 2002) Hebrew with English subtitles.[ii] |
2005 | IMAX Theatres – 3rd Floor, Portage Place Mall | Held on June 8th. The films shown were D.E.B.S. (2004) and Eating Out (2004).[iii] |
2006 | IMAX Theatres – 3rd Floor, Portage Place Mall | Held June 7th. The films shown were El Favor (The Favour) (2003) and Summer Storm (2005).[iv] A beer and wine reception was held in between screenings. |
2007 | IMAX Theatres – 3rd Floor, Portage Place Mall | Held June 6th. The films shown were The Gymnast and Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds. A reception was held at Starbucks in between screenings.[v] |
2008 | IMAX Theatres – 3rd Floor, Portage Place Mall | Held June 4th. The films shown were Tru Loved and Curiosity of Chance.[vi] |
2009 | There does not appear to have been an event held this year. | |
2010 | There does not appear to have been an event held this year. | |
2011 | There does not appear to have been an event held this year. | |
2012 | There does not appear to have been an event held this year. | |
2013 | While there is no information given about this event, the 2014 event is identified as the second.[vii] | |
2014 | Held on March 16th, this was described as, “an event that will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even lust for more ads! On sunday March 16th, Reel Pride will presenting 3 screenings of the best international GLBBTQ* commercial to be found.”[viii] | |
2015 | Bandwidth Theatre, 587 Ellice Ave | Held on June 5th, the event appeared in the Pride Guide.[ix] |
2016 | Bandwidth Theatre, 587 Ellice AvenueWe | Held on May 27th, there was a name change from GLBBTQ* to LGBTTQ*.[x] |
2017 | The Park Theatre – 698 Osborne Street | Held on May 26th, there was a venue change this year.[xi] |
2018 | Gas Station Arts Centre – 445 River Avenue | Date not identified, there was another change in venue.[xii] |
2019 | Gas Station Arts Centre 445 River Avenue | Held on May 24th, [xiii] |
2020 | Virtual | Hosted online due to COVID-19, The Best International LGBTTQ* Commercials were available for viewing between September 11th and October 18th.[xiv] |
2021 | Virtual | Hosted online due to COVID-19, the event was available for free September 10-12.[xv] |
[i] https://www.reelpride.org/about#what
[ii] https://web.archive.org/web/20040522221819/https://www.reelpride.org/
[iii] 2005 Winnipeg Pride Guide p. 12
[iv] https://web.archive.org/web/20060518090550/https://www.reelpride.org/
[v] https://web.archive.org/web/20070623061756/http://www.reelpride.org/screenings.html
[vi] https://web.archive.org/web/20080510042206/https://www.reelpride.org/
[vii] https://web.archive.org/web/20140928002032/http://reelpride.org/news/
[viii] https://web.archive.org/web/20140928002032/http://reelpride.org/news/
[ix] 2015 Winnipeg Pride Guide p. 24
[x] 2016 Winnipeg Pride Guide p, 24
[xi] 2017 Winnipeg Pride Guide p. 26
[xii] https://web.archive.org/web/20180517025900/http://reelpride.org/tickets
[xiii] 2019 Winnipeg Pride Guide p. 52-53
[xiv] https://www.facebook.com/events/2629015314026206
[xv] https://www.facebook.com/events/896396361299988/