Virginia Queer Film Festival Launches “Queer Ear” Inaugural Audio Storytelling Program
The Virginia Queer Film Festival (VAQFF) is proud to announce an open call for submissions for Queer Ear, its inaugural audio storytelling program debuting at the 2026 festival. In response to the growing cultural demand for more equitable and accessible forms of media storytelling, Queer Ear invites creators to submit sonically rich works that center LGBTQ+ experiences.
VAQFF is seeking audio-only storytelling pieces under 25 minutes in length from podcast series, anthologies, and stand-alone projects. Submissions may include narrative fiction, nonfiction, or experimental work, with a strong emphasis on innovative storytelling and bold sound design. While submissions are open to storytellers from all backgrounds, VAQFF is particularly committed to uplifting queer voices from Virginia and the broader Southern United States.
Selected works will be featured in a dedicated audio screening as part of the in-person Virginia Queer Film Festival, taking place October 9–11, 2026, at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Pieces may be eligible for a Queer Ear Audio Storytelling Award, which will be awarded at the discretion of the programming selection committee.
Submission Guidelines:
- Audio-only pieces must be 25 minutes or less
- Open to fiction, nonfiction, and experimental storytelling
- Projects must engage with LGBTQ+ themes
- All submissions must be converted into video files (MP4 or MOV) with English captions
- Submissions without captions will be disqualified
- Creators may use free tools such as Headliner to convert audio into video format
Submission Deadline: August 1, 2026
Submission link and information: https://filmfreeway.com/VirginiaQueerFilmFestival
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