Out On Screen has appointed Eli Morris (pictured) as the group’s new executive director, effective June 3.

Morris joined the 2SLGBTQIA+ media arts and education organization in May 2023 as the deputy executive director. They stepped into the role of interim executive director in the last two months since the departure of former executive director Brandon Yan.

Morris previously served as the executive director of Gender Equity in Media Society (GEMS) Vancouver, where they spearheaded the organization’s name change from Women in Film and Television Vancouver to be more inclusive of trans and non-binary people and reflect the organization’s mission to foster gender equity in the screen-based media industry. Anaïsa Visser stepped in as interim executive director at GEMS following Morris’ departure.

“To be honest, it is not an easy time to be doing this work,” said Morris in a statement. “The political and economic forecast is bleak. The Out In Schools team, in particular, is facing increasing hostility and reduced funding opportunities. It is even more important that we remain unwavering in our commitment to provide 2SLGBTQIA+ people — especially kids and teens in schools — with the positive representations and affirming messages we all need and deserve.”

The upcoming 36th annual Vancouver Queer Film Festival will take place Sept. 11 to 22. Out On Screen is now accepting bookings for school groups in a new youth film screening program at VQFF titled The Future is Queer, in collaboration with The Cinematheque.

Image courtesy of Out on Screen