Summer Qamp

{{short description|2023 Canadian documentary film by Jen Markowitz}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Summer Qamp

| image =

| caption =

| director = Jen Markowitz

| producer = Tanya Blake
Michelle Mama

| writer =

| music = Ames Bessada

| cinematography = Lulu Wei

| editing = Derek Esposito
Cecilio Escobar

| studio = Bright West Entertainment
Cineflix
Hello Friend Media

| distributor = Super Channel
TVA

| released = {{Film date|2023|9|9|TIFF}}

| runtime = 80 minutes

| country = Canada

| language = English

| budget =

}}

Summer Qamp is a 2023 Canadian documentary film, directed by Jen Markowitz.Pat Mullen, [https://povmagazine.com/mr-dressup-fred-wiseman-lead-tiff-docs-line-up/ "Mr. Dressup, Fred Wiseman Lead TIFF Docs Line-Up"]. Point of View, July 26, 2023. The film profiles Camp fYrefly, a summer camp program in Alberta that provides a safe space for LGBTQ youth.Andrew Jeffrey, [https://realscreen.com/2022/09/22/exclusive-jen-markowitz-michelle-mama-board-feature-doc-summer-qamp/ "Exclusive: Jen Markowitz, Michelle Mama board feature doc 'Summer Qamp'"]. RealScreen, September 22, 2022.

Background

The film profiles Camp fYrefly, a summer camp program in Alberta that provides a safe space for LGBTQ youth. According to Markowitz, "it’s important to show the public at large that this is a community of regular kids with regular kid problems. They are all regular kids at heart, they just happened to be really weighed down by a lot of this other stuff that is put on to them by the world."Addie Morfoot, [https://variety.com/2023/film/news/summer-camp-tiff-documentary-1235709953/ "‘Summer Qamp’ TIFF Documentary Highlights LGBTQ+ Youth in Safe Space"]. Variety, September 7, 2023.

The project was first announced as a documentary television series in 2021,Justin Anderson, [https://realscreen.com/2021/11/05/cineflix-hello-friend-media-developing-summer-qamp-docuseries/ "Exclusive: Cineflix, Hello Friend Media developing 'Summer Qamp' docuseries"]. RealScreen, November 5, 2021. and was later revised into a feature documentary film.

Release

The film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, and will be distributed principally as a television broadcast on Super Channel in English and TVA in French.

Awards

At TIFF, the film was named first runner-up for the People's Choice Award for Documentaries.Steve Pond, [https://www.thewrap.com/american-fiction-wins-toronto-film-festivals-audience-award/ "‘American Fiction’ Wins Toronto Film Festival’s Audience Award"]. TheWrap, September 17, 2023.

At the 2023 Calgary International Film Festival, the film received a special jury citation from the Best Canadian Feature Documentary award jury,Aryn Toombs, [https://livewirecalgary.com/2023/09/25/winners-of-2023-ciff-competitions-unveiled/ "Winners of 2023 CIFF competitions unveiled"]. LiveWire Calgary, September 25, 2023. and was the winner of the Audience Choice award for best Canadian documentary.[https://livewirecalgary.com/2023/10/03/summer-qamp-drawing-a-life-audience-favourites-at-ciff/ "Summer Qamp, Drawing a Life audience favourites at CIFF"]. LiveWire Calgary, October 3, 2023.

Derek Esposito and Cecilio Escobar received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Editing in a Documentary at the 12th Canadian Screen Awards in 2024.[https://www.northernstars.ca/blackberry-leads-csa-nominations/ "BlackBerry Leads CSA Nominations"]. Northern Stars, March 6, 2024.

References

{{reflist|30em}}