Blackpool’s newest multi-artform festival, Queer Amusements, brought vibrant energy to the North-West from April to September 2024. James Barnett has made a short film about the Queer Amusements festival called Queers in Blackpool.
James Barnett is known for his viral videos featuring his parents, Michael and Teresa, on his channel @makemeaoffer—one of which was nominated for Video of the Year at the TikTok Awards. He highlights the individuals involved in the festival, the town where it took place, and explores what comes next.
In Queers in Blackpool, James draws from interviews with participating artists and collaborators, along with performance footage and photography. Queers in Blackpool serves as a snapshot of a festival aimed at introducing new art and ideas to one of the UK’s most vibrant LGBTQ+ communities. The project also playfully references Blackpool’s rich history of entertainment.

The film offers a captivating look into Blackpool’s queer scene and highlights the individuals who are central to it, challenging the town’s portrayal and reputation. Queers in Blackpool features stunning new footage of Miss Titty Kaka, a veteran performer from Funny Girls, who released her first book as part of the Queer Amusements project, filmed in various iconic locations throughout Blackpool.

The film features interviews with: Aish Bell-Docherty, Sam Bell-Docherty, Joe Booth, Laura Catlow, Jane Claire Bradley, Harry Clayton-Wright, Miss Titty Kaka, Catherine Mugonyi, David Sheppeard.
Watch Queers in Blackpool
James Barnett is a filmmaker and photographer who has collaborated with Vogue, BBC Studios, and NOWNESS. In 2007, he began creating short films about the lives of his parents, Michael and Teresa, which he now shares on TikTok through his account @makemeaoffer. These witty, irreverent, and heartwarming shorts repeatedly go viral, drawing millions of views worldwide.
Credits:
Produced by Queer Amusements
Creative Director/Executive Producer Harry Clayton-Wright
Producer Joe Booth
Producer Laura Catlow
All images supplied.