Scottish Queer International Film Festival Code of Conduct

This document was put together thanks to guidance from other festivals and individuals, including Take One Action Film Festivals, BUZZCUT Festival, and Alchemy Film & Arts. We thank them for their generosity.

Download a pdf version of this policy here.

ABOUT SQIFF

SQIFF (Scottish Queer International Film Festival) was formed with the aim of adding to the exciting and growing amount of queer film stuff happening around Scotland. Since 2015, we have held an annual Festival in Glasgow alongside providing year round events across various locations. SQIFF aims to build community through queer films. Our goal is to get people watching, talking about, and making more queer films. We want to screen movies that people might not otherwise get a chance to see and create inspiring and informative events across Scotland. Moreover, we want to support marginalised groups within the LGBTQIA+ community by providing a networking system for queer filmmakers, as well as filmmaking workshops for audiences wanting to start on the medium. We want to challenge inequalities and barriers to accessing the arts.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Our team aims to centre care and accountability in all of our interactions. The films we platform and the events we offer celebrate community, solidarity and difference, promote equality and challenge injustice. We are committed to providing an environment that is welcoming, accessible and inclusive for all attendees, staff, guests and volunteers, in person and online.

Harassment or harmful behaviour has no place at our festival or on any of our online platforms.

Harassment can include, but is not limited to:

  • Abusive comments and insults.
  • Prejudice (e.g., related to gender identity and expression, sexuality, age, race,ethnicity, religion/belief, disability, physical appearance, body size, or socio-economic background).
  • Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following.
  • Unwelcome touching or sexual attention.
  • Invasions of private space and personal boundaries.
  • Violence or aggression.
  • Harassing photography or recording.
  • Sustained disruption of events or activity.
  • Cyberharassment, online bullying or trolling.
  • Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behaviours.

By participating in any of our events, in person or online, you agree to abide by and embrace our shared Code of Conduct. Anyone violating these principles will be asked to stop; they will be expected to comply immediately and, where necessary, they may be expelled from the activity, event or viewing (without refund) at the discretion of the organisers or venues.

During your interaction with us, if you feel unsafe or unwelcome, notice someone else experiencing any form of harm, or have any other concerns, you can tell a member of the festival team, a staff member at the venue or you can contact us via [email protected]. We encourage all employees, attendees, participants and users to be active bystanders.

If you tell us about an incident, your immediate safety will be our first priority. We will listen from a position of belief, and keep what you say in confidence until and if agreed otherwise, and can recommend relevant support agencies and services.

COMMITMENT TO TRANS, NON-BINARY AND/OR GENDER DIVERSE PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF THE GLOBAL MAJORITY

We are committed to providing an environment that is welcoming, accessible and inclusive for all attendees, staff, guests and volunteers, in person and online. In particular, SQIFF works to provide the safest environment for Trans, Non-Binary and/or Gender Diverse People, as well as people of the Global Majority.

Please refer to SQIFF’s Trans, Non-Binary and/or Gender Diverse People Statement and SQIFF’s Anti-Racism Policy to see our full statement and measures.

We welcome any comments and suggestions that can help us to develop our Code of Conduct: [email protected].

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