Manchester Pride’s The Superbia Weekend is here (and boi, oh boi, is it queer…)
BY SUPERBIA. IMAGES GEMMA PARKER
Northern cultural hub (and all around lovely spot) Manchester has just revealed their latest line up to this year’s The Superbia Weekend – Manchester Pride’s programme of cultural events. Sounds good, right?
Plus, this year’s festival includes the Manchester premiere of one of the most exciting LGBTQI films released this year (read on for more, folks) along with a programme of solo performance, exhibitions, conversation, sober socials and lots, lots more.
What is Superbia?
Superbia supports, curates, funds and celebrates LGBTQI life across Greater Manchester all year round in a bid to encourage engagement and well-being, and to reflect and culturally enhance LGBTQI life up north and further afield.
Now in its fourth year, The Superbia Weekend offers a culturally-driven accompaniment to the main Manchester Pride extravaganza. And on top of all of that, most events take place in alcohol-free venues (#soberlyf) and are free to attend. What more could you want?
This year, Superbia begins on Friday 23 August and closest on Sunday 25 August 2019, taking place in various venues across the city.
So, what’s on this August?
Kicking off the celebrations will be an exclusive screening in The Refuge Basement of Beyond, There’s Always A Black Issue, Dear… a documentary about Black LGBTQI life in Britain. The evening will feature a Q&A with film director, Claire Lawrie and an introduction to The Superbia Weekend from Project Manager, Greg Thorpe.
The Superbia Gallery, featuring all LGBTQI Manchester artists, was the most popular event of The Superbia Weekend 2018 and returns to No 70 Oxford Street, showcasing new films, painting, photography, writing, sculpture, audio and live performance and, on Sunday afternoon, a guided tour and artist talk.
The Rainbow Noir exhibition will be held at Manchester Central Library. The team behind it will march in the parade and will complete the display with the flags and banners created especially for the demonstration. The installation will then run until the end of September 2019.
Deep In Vogue
The headline event is the Manchester premiere of Deep In Vogue, a compelling documentary examining Manchester’s explosive Vogue Ball scene. The film is a compelling exploration of the internal politics of vogue culture, and larger issues such as the disenfranchisement of black youth, LGBTQI life, the death of art spaces, and a lack of safe space for those who are truly different. The results are moving, dynamic, raw, powerful, funny and sexy.
The documentary was funded by a Superbia Grant, and premiered at BFI Flare LGBTQ+ Film Festival in March of this year where it received rave reviews and has since played at New York Pride. The premiere features performances from some of the stars of the documentary and the chance to meet the filmmakers, with a full-on afterparty of vogue from House of Ghetto and music from DJs Jae & Night and Lil’Fee & Veba.
Anything else?
Sunday brings morning yoga session, eclectic film screenings from acclaimed artists and writers and pop-up performances, drawing a close to the three-day extravaganza.
Mark Fletcher, CEO of Manchester Pride says: “The Superbia Weekend in a key strand of Manchester Pride Festival – as well as hosting a year round calendar of events, Superbia provides a series of unique cultural experiences across the weekend.
“These events offer an alternative way to celebrate Pride whilst experiencing some of the diverse offerings of LGBT+ arts and culture”
The majority of events throughout the Superbia Weekend will be free, free, free to attend, however spaces may be limited for film screenings so early attendance is advised.
The (full) Superbia Weekend Line-Up
FRIDAY 23 AUGUST
The Superbia Weekend Launch
The Refuge Basement, 7–10pm
Screening of Beyond, There’s Always A Black Issue, Dear… with Q&A from film director, Claire Laurie. Guest artists and Project Manager of Superbia, Greg Thorpe introduce The Superbia Weekend followed music and social.
SATURDAY 24 AUGUST
Post-Parade Party
No. 70 Oxford Street (Café Space), from 2.30pm
Music, café and art workshop for all ages.
Superbia Gallery
No. 70 Oxford Street (Exhibition Space), from 3pm
Exhibition of work from LGBTQI Manchester artists, including specially-commissioned audio installation of bisexual poets reading their work, new sculpture, short film, art from Albert Kennedy Trust, painting from Christian Asare, digital work from Tom Quaye, including Queers Of Manchester, and much more.
Rainbow Noir Exhibition Launch
Manchester Central Library, 4.30pm–6.30pm
Rainbow Noir, a group for and by queer people of colour in Manchester, launch an exhibition of materials including photographs, video, T-shirts, banners, flyers and more. The exhibition will be curated by Rainbow Noir member and artist/curator Leo Hermitt. The exhibition launched directly after the Parade with marchers placing parade banners into the exhibition as the final pieces. There will be launch speeches followed by a catered West Indian buffet in the Function Room. (For anyone who misses the event over the course of the weekend, the exhibition will run until the middle of September!)
South and Central American Queer Film
No. 70 Oxford Street (Cinema) 4.30pm–5.30pm
Screening of This Is My Face focusing on Chilean men living with HIV with introduction by filmmaker Angelica Cabezas, and ‘Carmen’, about a drag queen community in Panama, with an introduction by artist Humberto Velez who worked on the project.
Drag Queen Story Time
No. 70 Oxford Street (Annexe), 5.15pm–6pm
A story time for kids, to encourage people to embrace difference. Drag Queen Story Time is inspired by a project in San Francisco where drag performers read stories and imagine a world where people are not judged on their appearance or identity.
SMART Recovery Meeting
No. 70 Oxford Street (Quiet Space), 5pm–6-30pm
SMART Recovery is an international non-profit organisation that provides assistance to individuals seeking abstinence from addictions. SMART is an acronym for Self-Management And Recovery Training. The group get together will include conversation, meditation and acupuncture and will be open to all.
BiPhoria Birthday Event
No. 70 Oxford Street (Cafe), 5.30pm–7.30pm
A celebration looking at bi/pan/omni issues and history in collaboration with Biphoria for their 25th birthday!
Superbia Lecture
No. 70 Oxford Street (Cinema), 5.30pm–6.30pm
Dr Andrew Moor of Manchester Metropolitan University gives a talk on contemporary gay cinema.
Deep In Vogue Manchester Premiere and Performance Party
The Refuge Basement, 7pm–3am
Manchester premiere of Deep In Vogue including two screenings, conversations with filmmakers, an appearance from documentary star Honey Dijon. The screenings will be followed by performances from House of Ghetto and local DJs.
Film screening: 9pm–10:30pm. After party with performances: 11pm–3am. Tickets £5, available here.
Riot Act
No. 70 Oxford Street (Cinema) 7.30–8.30pm
One man verbatim theatre created and performed by Alexis Gregory telling the story of the LGBTQI rights movement through three of its key players. Directed by renowned queer artist Rikki Beadle-Blair, it promises to be a riot! Full trailer can be viewed here.
Queers Without Beers Takeover!
No. 70 Oxford Street Café, 7.30pm–10pm
A relaxed sober social with music and a pop-up pay-what-you-feel alcohol-free bar.
SUNDAY 25 AUGUST
Morning Yoga
No. 70 Oxford Street (Annexe) 11am–12pm
Revive and relax with yoga for all levels.
An audience with Luke Turner
No. 70 Oxford Street (Café) 12.30pm–1.30pm
Author event with writer of Out Of The Woods, a powerful bisexual memoir. Hosted by Emily Metcalfe of Leeds Lit Festival.
Bi/Pan Film Programme
No. 70 Oxford Street (Cinema) 2–4pm
A selection of bi/pan films curated and introduced by Abbie Wolfe of Belladonna Experiences.
Superbia Gallery: Artist Tour & Talk
No. 70 Oxford Street (Exhibition Space), 3pm–4.30pm
Artists discuss their work in a guided tour of The Superbia Gallery with pop-up performances and reading.
Rebel Dyke Live
No. 70 Oxford Street (Cinema), 4.30pm–5.30pm
One woman show by Karen Fisch looking back at her life as a dyke activist, London drag king and notorious Rebel Dyke.
Les Flicks Presents JT LeRoy
No. 70 Oxford Street (Cinema), 5.45pm–7.45pm
New feature film looking at the enigmatic JT LeRoy scandal presented with Manchester’s lesbian/bi monthly film club.
Abigail Ward Presents Jayne County
No. 70 Oxford Street (Annexe) 6pm–7pm
Fifty minute talk on the New York transgender punk icon and rebel with Abigail Ward of Manchester District Music Archive.
Want more? Visit superbia.org.uk. See you there, folx
Only reading DIVA online? You’re missing out. For more news, reviews and commentary, check out the latest issue. It’s pretty badass, if we do say so ourselves.
