{"id":48400,"date":"2025-01-20T10:10:01","date_gmt":"2025-01-20T09:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ket.brussels\/?p=48400"},"modified":"2025-01-21T09:53:22","modified_gmt":"2025-01-21T08:53:22","slug":"queer-mais-trash-celebrating-the-raw-bold-and-beautifully-queer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ket.brussels\/en\/2025\/01\/20\/queer-mais-trash-celebrating-the-raw-bold-and-beautifully-queer\/","title":{"rendered":"Queer Mais Trash: Celebrating the Raw, Bold, and Beautifully Queer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Brussels is gearing up for a spectacularly subversive weekend as the Queer Mais Trash Festival returns for its 7th edition from January 31 to February 2, 2025, at Espace Magh. Combining politically charged cinema, electrifying performances, and unapologetic celebrations of queer identity, this festival is a must for anyone craving bold and alternative art.<\/strong>I<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This year\u2019s highlights include Alexis Langlois\u2019 feature Les Reines du Drame<\/em>, Lip Sync Battles hosted by Brigitte Pintade, and Bingo Mais Trash with Edna Sorgelsen. As Fran\u00e7ois Marache, co-creator of the festival, shares: \u201cQueer Mais Trash isn\u2019t just a festival\u2014it\u2019s a space of visibility, celebration, and gathering for the LGBTQIA+ community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Idea to Institution<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Queer Mais Trash started around a decade ago as a small event during Pride,” Fran\u00e7ois recalls. “We wanted to showcase queer short films, but the concept quickly gained traction. Today, it\u2019s a multi-day festival with a rebellious heart and a vibrant, punk energy.<\/em>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The term “trash” in its name, he explains, represents more than aesthetic. \u201cIt\u2019s about showing films that are alternative, politically incorrect, and raw\u2014but always thought-provoking. These are stories that challenge the norm and spark discussion.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2025: A Milestone Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This 7th edition is particularly special, marking 20 years of Court Mais Trash, the festival\u2019s sibling event. “We wanted to go big this year,” Fran\u00e7ois says. “We\u2019re dedicating three days to screenings and events, starting with Les Reines du Drame by Alexis Langlois. Alexis is a festival favorite, and his first feature feels like the perfect way to open this year\u2019s celebration<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Langlois\u2019 work has resonated deeply with Queer Mais Trash audiences. \u201cHis cinema is playful, provocative, and deeply personal. It embodies the ethos of what we stand for<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Commitment to Diversity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inclusivity remains at the heart of the festival. \u201cOur goal is to represent the entire LGBTQIA+ spectrum,<\/em>\u201d Fran\u00e7ois explains. \u201cWe don\u2019t create screenings specifically for gays, lesbians, or any single group. Instead, we curate sessions that bring everyone together, showcasing stories from across the spectrum<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He emphasizes the importance of representation: \u201cWe work hard to feature diverse bodies, ages, and cultures. This is a festival where everyone should feel seen and celebrated<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00a9\u00a0Pierre Marino-Smette\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Than Films<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Queer Mais Trash also thrives on its alternative programming. “From the debut Lip Sync Battle with Brigitte Pintade to concerts by Hyperartistes and a riotous Bingo Mais Trash, the events are as much a part of our identity as the films<\/em>,” Fran\u00e7ois says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These events, he notes, create spaces for connection and joy: \u201cIt\u2019s about coming together, sharing experiences, and feeling a sense of belonging<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Lasting Impact<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fran\u00e7ois hopes the festival inspires beyond its three days. \u201cQueer Mais Trash is more than entertainment; it\u2019s a platform for marginalized voices, a celebration of identity, and a reminder that there\u2019s beauty in diversity,<\/em>\u201d he shares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recalling a past highlight, Fran\u00e7ois laughs: “During our \u2018Queer mais super sexe\u2019 session, we screened a hilarious, explicit short by Jan Soldat featuring two septuagenarians. Let\u2019s just say it involved champagne and a lot of laughter. The audience erupted in applause\u2014it was pure magic<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the festival\u2019s 7th edition approaches, Fran\u00e7ois invites everyone to join the movement: \u201cCome as you are. You\u2019ll leave inspired, celebrated, and maybe a little trashy.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Save the date and dive into the boldest queer cinema Brussels has to offer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.Practical Info<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n