This coming Saturday, members of the queer community from all over Sydney will be breezing over Sydney harbour in fine attire as they roll out the pink carpet for the 2012 Cockatoo Island Film Festival.

Not for profit arts organisation Queer Screen has joined the inaugural festival to release a line up of LGBT films that bring out the colour of the international queer community.

Queer Screen’s involvement in the festival takes off this Saturday October 27 with a short documentary launching at midday with The Secret Disco Revolution. This dance-doco allows the audience to feast upon astounding archival footage of The Loft & the world-known Studio 54.

Sure to have people tapping their feet to some of their more seductive hits, you’ll discover the era’s significance in being more than just bright lights and tacky clothing. Think an age of hedonism and liberation for women, African Americans and the queer community. Slip on your dancing shoes and prepare to be inspired.

At 2pm is the world premiere of Queen of the Desert, where a colourful hairdresser takes on the desert, Hugo Weaving style. Starlady travels into the most remote of Australia’s corners, working with youth in an utterly unusual way, her pink hairdo and giant painted on eyebrows in tow. Rather than teaching the art of Wo-man makeup application to Broken Hill bogans, she’s gifting young indigenous people with a knowledge in how to make hair pretty in the desert wind.

One of the most significant stories concerning our community this year hits the luxe cinema screen at 4pm. David Kato’s LGBTIQ activism takes us deep into Uganda’s homophobic political world, following Kato and fellow activists as they tirelessly work to defeat a pending bill that would introduce the death penalty for anyone convicted of being homosexual. Call Me Kuchu has already earned praise and notable awards for its rare style, with the heated action unfolding as the story is told.

Following a bout of sipping after-dinner cocktails as the sun goes down over the bluest of mountain ranges, the first Australian screening of New York-based sexual drama Keep the Lights On airs at 7.50pm. Erik (Thure Lindhardt) and Paul (Zachary Booth) get together for what they expected was a one night only affair. But as their time shared ensues, they’re thrown into an emotionally-charged journey that portrays life’s ultimate romance with the soul.

Filmmaker Ira Sachs expresses the intimacy of love, hitting the play button on Arthur Russell’s electro sounds, helping to garner the film a Teddy Award in Berlin and make the cut for the Sundance Film Festival.

Later that night, you’re invited to talk film and dance whilst stargazing at the Southern Cross with other luminous moviegoers. Be taken aback by the views of the emerald city as it effortlessly dips into the harbour and enjoy a complimentary drink and snacks at the beautifully reinvigorated Biloela House. The last ferry leaves for the real world at 2.30am.

See www.queerscreen.com.au for more details and tickets.