The Vancouver Queer Film Festival invites fans of Vancouver’s queer arts and cultural scene to the 23rd annual Vancouver Queer Film Festival August 11 to 21.

For 23 years, the Vancouver Queer Film Festival has been presenting engaging and thought provoking films, earning a reputation as a must-attend event on the gay travel circuit. This year’s festival promises to be bigger than ever, with more than 101 films from 18 countries, outrageous parties, community discussions and a new public art installation: a series of lamppost plaques called Celebrate Queer Vancouver, which features queer “chosen families” on city streets.

“The City of Vancouver is proud to showcase the accomplishments of our GLBTQ communities, as well to partner with Out On Screen for the Celebrate Queer Vancouver project,” said Gregor Robertson, Mayor of Vancouver. “Through events like the Queer Film Festival, visitors from near and far will be able to celebrate the diversity that makes Vancouver one of the most progressive, compassionate and innovative cities in the world.”

Out On Screen’s brand marketing agency Creative B’stro made history in 2010 when they developed the first-ever custom-built iPhone app for a queer film festival. This year, the app returns loaded with new features: audiences can interact with build-your-own film schedules, venue locations, queer history facts, and a Celebrate Queer Vancouver ‘treasure trail’. Download the app here.

The festival also provides a forum for filmmakers to showcase their work in person. Filmmaker Bruce LaBruce has been named this year’s Spotlight Director, and will discuss the new documentary feature The Advocate for Fagdom and his classic Hustler White. Other directors in attendance include Casper Andreas (Going Down in LA-LA Land, Violet Tendencies), Susi Graf (Lost in the Crowd), and Stu Maddux (Gen Silent, Trip to Hell and Back). The festival was programmed by Amber Dawn, winner of the 2011 Lambda Literary Award for her debut novel Sub Rosa.