The idea began on a warm summer’s day with two friends eating tacos and talking about inspiring to create bigger and better things for the gay community in Calgary.

That warm, summer day idea cultivated into a popular event known in the queer community as Velvet Cinema, a mix of movies and entertainment meant to help fill a void, according to the co-creators.

Dave Cutting and Garrett McCoy have been running Velvet Cinema since last year, which brings the community together for a once-a-month queer movie night at The Plaza theatre in Kensington. Cult classic movies such as Mean Girls, Birdcage and 13 Going on 30, as well as other entertainment, greet patrons who are out for a good time with their peers.

The duo say people are still surprised to hear about the event, but show excitement once they discover it.

"It has been a mixed bag so to speak; the people who come love it, and the people [who] don’t come we hope someday will," Cutting says.

Cutting and McCoy noticed a shift in the gay scene that was centred around night clubs and dance nights like Hot Mess which, they say, are important to the scene – but they thought there was a void that could be further filled.

"We saw a gap in community gatherings and wanted to fill that void with something we visualized as authentic," McCoy says. "With that said, there is always room for new establishments. Collaboration is the new competition. Try us, we are ready for you."

The group further explains this motion on their webpage under their mission: We understand that there’s more to us than nightclubs and cabarets, and we are here to fill the gap. We hope that Velvet Cinema creates a space for people to gather, build relationships, express themselves, and let go.

Cutting says that the Calgary gay community "is looking for something outside of the oil and gas world that has cradled it for so long", which is why an event like Velvet Cinema has become so popular, so quickly. And the sky is the limit.

"The gay community has always and will always add colour and fun to society; this is showing through right now in all aspects. Gay bars or not, we will gather and create fun. This is only the beginning."

The gay community has also given something back to the duo, who say they are surprised by the amount of imagination the community has.

"I adore how we – as a community – can come together, have fun and continue to grow towards a more accepting and loving group," Cutting says.

While Velvet Cinema won’t be holding an April showing, they are very busy in the coming months. First up, they will be spending April focusing on community outreach and creating deeper roots with other groups.

May will see them in cahoots with Fairy Tales Film Festival, putting on a retro Saturday night offering of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Also in May, they will be teaming up with Third Street Theatre and the Hot Mess Djs – a monthly dance night for the gay community in traditionally straight bars – for the "Stars of the Stage and Screen Gala" at the Arrata Opera House on May 30th. Tickets are on sale now.

And Velvet Cinema is always looking for movie suggestions and feedback from the community.

"We are active on all means of social media and we would love to hear from you: movie suggestions, collaborative events, and even performers – if you want to perform before an event," Cutting says.