The end of the last millennium saw the worldwide release of one of the most significant gay pieces of television ever screened, Queer as Folk (the original British version). This autobiographically inspired work by Russell T Davis was responsible for, amongst other things, introducing Queer sex to a shocked British audience. At the time the Australian Broadcasting Authority declared that it would not be screened on free-to-air television because of the controversial nature of the program. Something needed to be done to ensure the Canberra community could gain access to the landmark work.
Negotiations with the Australian National University film group failed to secure a public screening of Queer as Folk but did lead to a week-long queer film festival. This inaugural Canberra festival featured works that had previously been in commercial release. When Queer as Folk was finally screened in Canberra, thanks to the efforts of the girls from "Plush Lounge", it played to a packed audience.
It was obvious from this experience that Canberra needed a permanent and proactive body to source and screen film for the queer community. In response Bent Lenses was formed in 1999.
From 2000 to 2002, Bent Lenses screened periodic films at the Meridian Club, a Canberra icon for many years. In 2003, Bent Lenses commenced regular screenings on Sunday afternoons at the Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMaG), and that year also saw the debut of the Capital Queer Film Festival (CQFF) thanks to a small grant from the Australian Film Commission.
From 2003 Bent Lenses continued with screenings at CMaG, with screenings gradually shifting from Sunday afternoons to Friday nights, as this proved to be most popular with our members and supporters.
In 2007, due to hail storm damage to our regular screening venue we were forced to take a year's hiatus. We came back as bold as ever in 2008 with a full year of screenings and the ever popular BentFest2008.
In October 2008 we started screenings at our new home the - CSIRO Discovery Centre - at Acton, and we're still here.

The Bent Lenses team would like to farewell founding member Allan Fisher, who is off to sunnier and warmer parts of the world. Many thanks Allan for your contribution to Canberra's community.

Bent Lenses is a non-profit, community organisation, incorporated in 2001 under the Australian Capital Territory 'Associations Incorporation Act 1991'. All our work is undertaken by volunteers and over the years we have been generously assisted by a number of sponsors and supporters. Donations are always welcome. We will aim to continue bringing quality queer screen culture to Canberra in 2010 and beyond.

If you would like to assist Bent Lenses as a volunteer or committee member please drop us a line here.
 

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© Bent Lenses Inc: 2001 - 2011                                                            Last Updated: 26 May 2011