FSF Festival Support Fundraiser

Our fundraising goal will directly support our year-round work to present Queer film to Minnesotans!

Here's how the our $9K goal breaks down:

$5,000 - Hiring Additional Festival Staff in 2026!
These funds will increase the funding of our staff budget to support us hiring an Events Manager and a Social Media Manager.

$2,500 – Filmmaker Hospitality!
These funds will support our ability to bring filmmakers to FSF by providing them with travel and hotel support.

$1,500 – Filmmaker Screening Fees!
We pay our feature filmmakers AND our short filmmakers. This is a surprisingly uncommon practice at festivals! Help us keep our program robust and our filmmakers paid. Just like it should be!

Additionally, your support will help us to become a nonprofit!
After 6 years of programming it's time for us to step into our next phase. Becoming a nonprofit will open the doors to applying for foundation support that we currently cannot access.

HOW WE’VE GROWN

Since 2020, we have redistributed over $35,000 to Queer artists, given away over 1000 free tickets, and paid competitive wages to our support staff.

We pay our filmmakers and distributors competitive rates to secure high quality films to share with the community. To date nearly 4,000 individuals have participated in our programming.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to remove barriers to access Queer film!

We believe quality representation should be accessible for all and that financial means should never keep filmmakers from submitting their films or audience members from participating in our programming. Providing access to subsidized FREE tickets, passes, and submissions fees, to everyone, is the cornerstone of our organization and is supported by donations made through our fiscal sponsorship with Springboard for the Arts.

WHAT WE DO

Flip the Script celebrates Queer film! This looks like:

Queer Gaze: our monthly film series is presented every second Sunday at Emagine Willow Creek Theatre where we screen new favorites, cult classics, and hidden gems!

Flip the Script Queer Film Festival (FSF): our annual, hybrid Queer film festival in October that celebrates Queer stories from 2SLGBTQIA+ filmmakers all over the globe. Screenings take place at a Twin Cities theater and online through our virtual cinema.

WHY WE DO IT

Who and what we see on screen affects our community, the entertainment industry, and even legislation. Too often in film, Queer folks are seen in tragic or powerless situations. We’re working to flip that narrative by showcasing stories that inspire individuals to envision themselves and the Queer community without restrictions.

Quality Queer representation in film has a direct impact on the overall well-being of the community. During Pride we asked our community members, “What do you love about Queer film”? The following are just a few examples of what folks had to say:

"Queer film is more relatable because the stories and characters are similar to me, my friends, my chosen family, and my community."

“...there is something special about connecting to a storyline or character on the screen. I remember coming into my identity before coming out. Connecting to characters on the screen helped me navigate through my identity journey.”

“I like seeing stories about people like me, especially stories that feature trans people because I never see trans people in fiction.”

“It makes me feel more seen and makes me feel like the world is more accepting.”

"Showing representation...I don't currently watch a lot of Queer films and was excited to see you at Pride as an avenue to expand my exposure to Queer movies."

These quotes are just one example of the ways our audience members have validated the benefits to themselves as individuals as well as the community at large from the access we create through this specific programming.

WHO WE ARE

Staff

Matthew Berg, (he/him)
Director | Programmer

Matthew’s professional career began as an MCAD student working on local independent film productions before being hired by the Minnesota Film & TV Board as the Production Services Manager.  In 2015, he began working for the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul and the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, first as the Operations Manager and then as the Festival Manager.

Matthew is also the Programming Director for Zeitgeist’s Minnesota Film Festival in Duluth, MN, which shines a light on local films, Indigenous voices, and stories from across the Midwest alongside international films to bridge communities through new perspectives.

Advisory Board

Victoria Carpenter
Co-Founder | Board Member

Denzel Belin
Board Member

Vera Bianchini
Board Member

Cassandra Snow
Board Member

Brittany Wallman
Board Member

Thanks so much for your support!

We can't wait to continue celebrating Queer films with you!