Crisis & Triggers
If you need support right now, you're in the right place.
If You Need Support Right Now
Certified crisis counselors and mental health professionals are on-site at every screening. Find a Safety & Care crew member (red badges, bright pink safety vests) or go to the Front Desk. They will connect you immediately.
San Francisco Women Against Rape
Free, confidential, 24/7 hotline.
Trans Lifeline
Free, confidential, 24/7 peer support, by and for the trans community.
BlackLine
Free, 24/7 peer support and counseling, LGBTQ+ Black femme lens, by and for BIPOC.
StrongHearts Native Helpline
Free, confidential, 24/7 domestic and sexual violence helpline, for Native Americans and Alaska Natives.
Desi LGBTQ+ Helpline
Free, confidential helpline, by and for LGBTQ+ South Asians. Thursdays and Sundays, 5–7 PT. Outside open hours, leave a message with how to reach you back.
Community United Against Violence (CUAV)
Free, short-term advocacy-based peer counseling, for LBTQ people dealing with violence or abuse. By appointment.
Healing Takes Space
We honor that many of us might be healing from trauma or violence, or from abusive or hard relationships.
The films at QWOCFF tell stories of survival and resistance. Some of those stories are hard to watch. The feelings that arise from trauma are completely normal, and yours to experience in safe and healthy ways.
This page exists so you can find support before, during, and after a screening — whatever you need.
"The feelings that arise from trauma are completely normal, and yours to experience in safe and healthy ways."
How To Prepare For Your Visit
Before You Arrive
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Read content warnings on the films you plan to see so you can make informed choices about what to watch.
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Save a hotline number to your phone — the one most relevant to you — so you have it if you need it.
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Know that on-site crisis counselors are at every screening, and the quiet space is available throughout the festival.
At the Festival
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Find the Safety & Care crew (red badges, bright pink safety vests) or go to the Front Desk. They can connect you with a crisis counselor on-site.
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Step away to the quiet space. Ask any team member with a red badge to direct you. No explanation needed.
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Leave and come back. Your registration is good for the entire festival.
Need Extra Support?
On-site crisis counselors are available at every screening. Find a Safety & Care crew member or visit the Front Desk.
Caring For Yourself
If something rises up during a screening, here are a few things that help.
Listen to your needs
Maybe you need to skip a film, take a walk, do some journaling, or ask for a hug. It's all OK. We respect you taking care of yourself.
Drink water
It physically helps move out the chemicals our bodies release when we're triggered, and it replenishes us.
Reach out
Take a break. Text or call a friend. Sometimes telling someone you love them, or letting them know you're having a hard time, is enough to remember we're not alone.
This guidance was adapted from the work of Community United Against Violence (CUAV), a Community Partner who shaped this material specifically for the needs of QWOCMAP.
| Resource | Details |
|---|---|
| Safety & Care Crew | Look for red badges and bright pink safety vests at every screening. Available throughout festival hours. |
| On-Site Crisis Counselors | Certified crisis counselors and mental health professionals at every screening. Connect through any Safety & Care crew member or the Front Desk. |
| Quiet Space | Available throughout the festival. Ask any team member with a red badge for directions. No explanation needed. |
| Content Warnings | Listed for each film so you can make informed choices about what to watch. Available on the festival films page. |
| Re-Entry | Your registration is good for the entire festival. Leave a screening, take time, come back. |
Key Things to Remember
“Your registration is good for the entire festival.”
Leave a screening if you need to. Take a walk, go to the quiet space, call someone. Come back when you're ready.
“You don't need to explain why.”
Telling a Safety & Care crew member that you need help, or that you need a quiet space, is enough. No reason required.
