Help Rea Kapur support QWOCMAP!

In November 2021, I was lucky enough to be a participant in QWOCMAP's Film and Freedom Academy, a 4 day filmmaking program for queer women of color who are transitional age youth. QWOCMAP gave us a crash course in filmmaking, equipment, resources, and mentorship over four days, helping each of us bring a short film to life, from script to export. With QWOCMAP's help, I was able to write, direct, produce, and star in my own short film, "Punchline". 

In June 2022, "Punchline" had its world premiere at the 2022 International Queer Women of Color Film Festival. It was the first film festival I'd attended that felt like it was for us and by us. Meeting other QWOC filmmakers from all over the world was such a life changing experience, seeing people from all walks of life coming together. One of the best parts was meeting other sapphic South Asian filmmakers and being able to connect. In addition to us having our films screened, we were invited to participate in a moderated filmmaker Q and A, being able to talk more in depth about our projects.

From young first time filmmakers to established activists, there was, and is, a place for everyone at QWOCMAP. It is extremely rare to have a space dedicated to queer women, non binary people, and trans people of color, let alone a creative film haven. QWOCMAP's community extends past the San Francisco Bay Area, connecting filmmakers from all over the world. 

While Covid-19 shut down the world, I felt alienated from both the film community and the queer women of color community, let alone the QWOC film community. When people started to return to in person activities, many spaces were and still are inaccessible for our disabled community, with lax masking and testing requirements. However, QWOCMAP showed up with strict mask guidelines, free/discounted testing procedures, and a dedication to accessibility. 

QWOCMAP's new Critical Juncture program takes the filmmaking training work even further by ensuring access to production camera packages, post-production laptop packages, artist fees, and advanced training and industry mentorship. In 2023, Critical Juncture will serve LBTQIA+ Black/African Descent filmmakers who live, work, learn, or create in San Francisco. In coming years, the program will grow to serve LBTQIA+ filmmakers of color all over the world!

We need YOUR help to support QWOCMAP this Give Out day. Your donation will help lift up and sustain QWOCMAP, a bright local refuge by and for queer and non binary filmmakers of color.