FAQs

What is QueerBee?
QueerBee Player is subscription and VOD service to watch curated programmes of LGBTQI+ short films online. You can stream film content but downloads are unavailable.

What countries can I view films?
We have made QueerBee available anywhere in the world but we recommend you check the country laws first here www.76crimes.com. You are responsible for deciding whether to access QueerBee.

How can I view films?
An annual online film festival programme will be available every year in December and we will be running one off events, in person and online with community partners.

How much does it cost?
Films programmes are from $5 per programme.

How long are the films?
Film running times vary between 1 and 20 minutes per film. Programmes are usually between 60-90 minutes.

What devices can I watch QueerBee films?
Films can be viewed on PCs, Macs, tablets and mobile phones, subject to an individual user’s internet connectivity. All films can also be viewed on an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.

Being LGBT is illegal in my country, can I still access QueerBee?
QueerBee is based in the UK where being LGBT is not illegal. You should be able to access QueerBee from anywhere in the world but for your own safety, first check the country laws at this website www.76crimes.com and at the country’s embassy website before deciding to view.

How can I submit my short film to QueerBee?
We use FilmFreeway for all submissions. Films must be under 20 minutes in length but can be any age and any type of content.

What type of films is QueerBee looking for?
We screen films from the whole LGBTIQ+ community. We are particularly interested in films made by women, people of colour, trans people, people with disabilities and older people and films with intersectional themes as these are underrepresented in the mainstream. We want to see stories that reflect the wider experience of LGBTQI lives, authentic stories about the way we live our lives.

Are QueerBee programmes BBFC age rated?

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) exists in order to protect children from unsuitable content and to give viewers the information they might need before deciding whether or not to view. Some of our programmes are classified by BBFC because the age ratings help cinemas and other groups and individuals recognise QueerBee content as informative and entertaining, suitable for the general public as well as of special interest to LGBTIQ community.

I’m in talks about distribution of my film. Will screening through QueerBee affect that?
We offer a non-exclusive arrangement. That means that you retain the rights to screen, sell or otherwise share your film at the same time as showing with us. If you are in any doubt, come back to us when you are sure. When you submit a film through Film Freeway you can see that the terms and conditions include that you assign us the right to show your film and that cannot be withdrawn. When a film is selected we write to the filmmakers to get further and more explicit consent.

How much does it cost to submit a film to QueerBee?
We did a lot of research before setting the submission fee and as a filmmaker’s collaborative we are sensitive to the costs of submissions. We think we have pitched it right to avoid numerous unsuitable submissions and to attract only genuine filmmakers. QueerBee costs time and money to administer and we feel that a $10 fee is reasonable.

Why does QueerBee charge to submit a film?
QueerBee costs time and money to administer and a $10 fee (our early bird rate) is a contribution to the actual cost which is much higher.

How is viewing at QueerBee different to other LGBTQI streaming services?
We only show short films or curated short film programmes.

What is a Community Interest Company?
Being a Community Interest Company means that we are a business with a social mission. We are not driven by profit for its own sake, but to make change in the world by re-investing funds in the LGBTIQ community. Find out more about social enterprise principles here. As a filmmaker, if your film is selected, that means that you get a share of any profits generated by QueerBee and that is set out in our constitution here QueerBee CIC Constitution. If you are a viewer, it means that a percentage of your money directly rewards filmmakers for their work and supports new work to be made. We reinvest funds into the LGBTIQ community.

The display of the player is too big/small, why is this?
If the resolution of the player looks too big or too small, this is usually because of the display settings of your pc or laptop.