50+ Film Festivals on 5 Continents | AUDIENCE AWARD BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT - NewFest New York's LGBTQ+ Film Festival | STAFF HIGHLIGHT - Davis Feminist Film Festival | "She was, almost certainly, the most prolific LGBTQ organizer In history.” - Masha Gessan, The New Yorker
Activism • LGBTQ Rights • Equality • Discrimination • Building Community • Cancer • Relationships • Lesbians
Date of Completion: 2023 | Run Time: 34 minutes [18 minute film + 16 minute recorded Q&A] | Language: English | Captions: Yes | Includes: Transcript, Recorded Q&A & Study Guide | Director: Mike Syers | Producer: Fermin Rojas | Editor: Jay Kubesch | Consulting Producer: Marc Smolowitz
Urvashi Vaid, an outspoken immigrant, lesbian and woman of color was a LGBTQ+ leader who believed in human rights for all people and helped shape the modern day gay rights movement. Her vision for the movement serves as a roadmap for generations of activists, particularly as the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & queer communities currently face backlash against equal rights. Her life in Provincetown, Massachusetts and decades-long relationship with partner Kate Clinton inspired her call to action to achieve equality by creating community.
Urvashi’s career spanned 4 decades of movement leading activism & philanthropic work. She was the Executive Director of the National LGBTQ+ Task Force and the first woman of color to lead a national LGBTQ+ organization. She is author of several books including Virtual Equality published in 1995 and reminds us THERE ARE THINGS TO DO in championing equal rights and that the best place to start is at home.
Educational Media Reviews Online (EMRO) | Reviewed by Monique Threatt, Indiana University, Herman B Wells Library, Bloomington, IN
"Wow, just wow. This reviewer must be getting too old to review films of this significance. Highly recommend.”
The New Yorker | Masha Gessen
"She was, almost certainly, the most prolific LGBTQ organizer in history."
The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide | Richard Burns
“Urvashi Vaid, Creator of Change….there’s a campaign to put Urvashi on a United States postage stamp.”
QueerGuru.com
"There Are Things To Do ….. this is a must-see film.”
Urvashi Vaid
“I believe in America and I believe in the future of this country.”
Kate Clinton, Writer / Comic / LGBTQ+ Activist
“Community was very important to Urvashi and what she created.”
Taryn Miller-Stevens, Member of LPAC
“Urvashi launched LPAC the first lesbian super PAC to gain visibility and political representation. Urvashi said, this is possible.”
Terrence Meck, Co-Founder and President of Palette Fund
“Urvashi wanted to help foster that next generation of young, queer, diverse people.”
Gen Z, Provincetown MA Resident
“At the end of watching the film I felt guilty that I hadn't known about Urvashi who was a big part of the movement that gave me the state of comfort and safety and acceptance that I grew up in.”
AWARDS
Audience Award Best Documentary Short | NewFest The New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival
Audience Award Best Documentary Short | Out At The Movies
Best Documentary Short | Unleashed LGBTQ+
Best Short Film | OutReels Cincinnati
Festival Staff Highlight | Davis Feminist Film Festival
Special Screening & Conversation | Frameline48
FILM FESTIVALS
40+ Festivals on 4 continents
with updates listed here: https://www.
WORLD PREMIERE
Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF)
INTERNATIONAL
KASHISH Queer Film Festival (India)
London Indian Film Festival (UK)
London Lesbian Film Festival (Canada)
Queer Screen's 31st Mardi Gras Film Festival (Australia)
US
CineWorld (Sarasota)
Cleveland International Film Festival
Davis Feminist Film Festival
Flagstaff International Film Festival
Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF)
Jacksonville Film Festival
Louisville International Film Festival
Magnolia Film Festival (Sparkville, MO)
Massachusetts Independent Film Festival
New Hope Film Festival
Orlando Film Festival
Southside Film Festival (Bethlehem, PA)
Tallgrass Film Festival (Wichita, KS)
Virginia Film Festival
Wyoming International Film Festival
US - LGBTQ+ THEMED
Fabulous Independent (Sarasota)
Frameline48
Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival
IMAGE OUT The Rochester LGBTQ+ Film Festival
Indianapolis LGBTQ Film Festival
Ogden Pride Festival
Out At The Movies (Winston-Salem)
Out Film CT
Out on Film (Atlanta)
OutReels Cincinnati
OUTSouth Queer Film Festival
QDoc Film Festival (Portland, OR)
QFest New Jersey Film & Digital Media
QFest St Louis
Reel Q: Pittsburgh LGBTQ+
San Antonio Film Festival (Pride)
STAMPED Film Festival (Pensacola)
Unleashed LGBTQ+ (Dallas)
Way Out West Film Festival (Albuquerque)
Wicked Queer Bostons LGBTQ+ Film Festival
SELECT SCREENINGS
LGBTQ Centers across the US
American LGBTQ+ Museum & NewFest special screening & panel
Mixer LGBTQ+ Fellows at CCNY Colin Powell School for Civic & Global Leadership (NYC)
Stonewall National Museum Archives & Library honoring Urvashi Vaid
Provincetown Commons
East Carolina University
Wind River Pride (Wyoming)