Empowering queer filmmakers through community and resources

A vertical banner for Queer Film Collective Los Angeles with rainbow-colored lines and links for social media, along with a QR code, at an indoor event with tables and chairs in the background.

Est. 2025

Queer Film Collective began when our founder, Ray Taylor, noticed something surprising: in a city as large and film-focused as Los Angeles, there were no dedicated spaces for queer filmmakers to connect. What started as a simple effort to bring people together quickly revealed a much larger need.

QFC grew from that first gathering into a community focused on connection, collaboration, and long-term support for LGBTQ+ storytellers.

A crowd of diverse people gathered indoors, some wearing casual clothing, standing, and engaging with one another. The setting appears to be a social event or gathering.

Our Mission

At Queer Film Collective, our mission is simple:

CONNECT | COLLABORATE | CREATE | CELEBRATE

This is a space where queer people working in film and television, at every level and in every role, can find community, collaborate meaningfully, and sustain queer storytelling on screen. Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned professional creating, performing, producing, supporting, or building systems behind the scenes, we’re here to support one another, spark new ideas, and celebrate every win, big, small, and everything in between.

A group of six diverse people posing for a photo at an event with a Queer Film Collective banner in the background. They are smiling, making peace signs, and appear to be enjoying themselves.

Our Vision

At Queer Film Collective, our vision is to grow into a true resource center for queer filmmakers in Los Angeles. A place where community and opportunity meet. Beyond networking, we’re building tools like directories, online hubs, equipment cages, and fiscal sponsorships, alongside shared knowledge and support that empower queer creatives to bring their stories to life. Together, we’re creating practical pathways for change in the industry, and a community that uplifts and sustains queer voices on screen.

What Sets Us Apart

Built for Creation,
Not Just Connection

Most spaces stop at networking. We go further by creating opportunities, collaborations, and real pathways for queer filmmakers to actually make work together.

Community Without Gatekeeping

We are intentionally accessible and community-driven. There are no industry barriers or exclusivity, just a space where queer creatives at any stage can show up and belong.

Building What Doesn’t Exist Yet

We are not plugging into an existing system. We are building new infrastructure for queer filmmakers, including resources, production support, and long-term creative ecosystems.

Meet the Founder

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Ray Taylor (he/him)

Founder & Executive Director
Ray Taylor is a Los Angeles–based filmmaker, director, and community builder dedicated to creating opportunities for LGBTQIA+ storytellers both on screen and behind the camera. As the Founder and Executive Director of the Queer Film Collective (QFC), he is working to build a stronger, more connected ecosystem for queer creatives, one that fosters collaboration, professional growth, and lasting community within the entertainment industry.

Ray's journey into storytelling began at fifteen years old through live theatre before expanding into film, where he developed a passion for directing stories centered on authenticity, human connection, and underrepresented voices. A graduate of the Los Angeles Film School and participant in the Academy Gold Rising Program, Ray has experienced firsthand both the opportunities and challenges of building a career as an emerging filmmaker.

Recognizing the need for more spaces where LGBTQIA+ filmmakers could connect, collaborate, and support one another, Ray founded the Queer Film Collective. What began as a community-building effort has grown into a nonprofit organization with a broader vision: creating meaningful opportunities for queer filmmakers while helping shape a more inclusive and sustainable future for the industry itself.

As both a director and nonprofit leader, Ray brings a unique perspective to QFC's mission. He understands the realities of developing projects, assembling creative teams, seeking mentorship, and navigating an often-complicated industry because he is actively doing that work himself. His goal is not only to help queer storytellers find community, but to help create pathways for them to build lasting careers, tell ambitious stories, and become the next generation of industry leaders.

Through his work with QFC, Ray is committed to ensuring that LGBTQIA+ creatives have the resources, relationships, and opportunities they need to thrive. He believes that representation is not just about who gets to tell stories, but who has access to opportunities, leadership positions, and decision-making power. By building QFC, he hopes to create a future where queer filmmakers are empowered not just to participate in the industry, but to help lead it.