naive.py

from django.utils import timezone

from myapp.models import Event

class EventListView(generics.ListView):

    def get_queryset(self):
        now = timezone.now()
        upcoming = Event.objects.filter(date__gte=now).order_by('date')
        passed = Event.objects.filter(date__lt=now).order_by('-date')
        return list(upcoming) + list(passed)

sagacious.py

now = timezone.now()
(Event.objects.annotate(
    relevance=models.Case(
        models.When(date__gte=now, then=1),
        models.When(date__lt=now, then=2),
        output_field=models.IntegerField(),
    ))
    .order_by('relevance'))



now = timezone.now()
(Event.objects.annotate(
    relevance=models.Case(
        models.When(date__gte=now, then=1),
        models.When(date__lt=now, then=2),
        output_field=models.IntegerField(),
    )).annotate(
    timediff=models.Case(
        models.When(date__gte=now, then=F('date') - now),
        models.When(date__lt=now, then=now - F('date')),
        output_field=models.DurationField(),
    ))
    .order_by('relevance', 'timediff'))