List of LGBTQ film festivals explained

An LGBTQ film festival or queer film festival is a specialized film festival that has an LGBTQ focus in its selection of films.[1] [2] [3] LGBT film festivals often screen films that would struggle to find a mainstream audience and are often activist spaces for awareness-raising around LGBT rights as well as for community building among queer communities.

The first LGBTQ-focused film festivals were organized in the United States as part of the awakening LGBTQ movement in the United States in the 1970s. The longest-running film festival with an LGBT focus is the Frameline Film Festival in San Francisco, which was established in 1977.[4] Until the 1990s, LGBTQ film festivals were mostly informal screenings in Western countries. In the 1990s, NGOs were founded to create and promote queer-focused film festivals and festivals became more commercialized. Around this time, more queer-focused film festivals began to emerge, especially in East Asia and Eastern Europe.[5]

LGBT film festivals use different labels to promote their focus on LGBTQ topics, for instance "gay and lesbian" (such as the Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival); "queer" (such as the Asian Queer Film Festival); "rainbow" (such as the Rainbow Reel Tokyo); "LGBT", "LGBTQ", and other variations of the acronym (such as the Connecticut LGBTQ Film Festival); or they might not use a label in their name at all (such as the MIX NYC).[6]

In 2020, several queer film festivals—Los Angeles's Outfest, the New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Film Festival, Toronto's Inside Out Film and Video Festival, and San Francisco's Frameline Film Festival—partnered to launch the North American Queer Festival Alliance, an initiative to further publicize and promote LGBTQ film.[7]

List

NameLocationEstablishedNotes
City or cities State, province or regionCountry
&PROUD Yangon LGBTIQ Film FestivalMyanmar2014Now part of Yangon Pride, yearly at the end of January
Abhimani Film FestivalSri Lanka2006Also known as Celluloid Rainbows, this is the oldest LGBT film festival in the South Asian region,[8] and the only LGBT film festival in Sri Lanka.
Amor FestivalSantiago de ChileChile2016
Aomori International LGBT Film FestivalJapan2006
Asian Queer Film FestivalJapan2007
Asterisco Festival Internacional de Cine LGBTIQArgentina2014
Atlanta Film FestivalUnited States2008, 1976 (original festival) Listed for the Pink Peach Prize LGBTQ Film Award, 2008
Bangalore Queer Film FestivalIndia2008
Bangkok Gay and Lesbian Film FestivalThailand2015Defunct in 2016
Beijing Queer Film FestivalChina2001
United Kingdom1986
Budapest Pride LGBTQ Film FestivalHungary
Cancún International Gay FestivalCancúnMexico
CinegailesASTGijónSpain2006
Chennai International Queer Film FestivalIndia2005
Chéries-ChérisFrance1994
CINHOMOSpain2017
Cine MovilhChile
Cinema Queer International Film FestivalSweden
CINEMQShanghaiShanghai(municipality)China2015
CineQ Queer Film FestivalBirminghamWest MidlandsUnited Kingdom2019
Connecticut LGBTQ Film FestivalHartfordConnecticutUnited States1988Produced by Out Film CT. Connecticut's longest-running film festival.
CuórumMexico2019
Utah Queer Film FestivalUnited States2003Longest-running LGBTQ film festival in the Mountain West.[9] Formerly known as Damn These Heels LGBTQ Film Festival.[10]
Dayton LGBT Film FestivalDaytonOhioUnited States2005
DIGOBrazil2016
DIVERSABuenos AiresArgentina2004
DOTYKBelarus2015
Durban Gay and Lesbian Film FestivalSouth Africa
Ehime LGBT Film FestivalJapan
ENDIMARIS Sitges LGTBIQ+ Film FestivalSitges CataloniaSpain2021
EQUAL Film FestCosta Rica2019
FACE à FACEFrance2005
FancinegayBadajozSpain1998
Faroe Islands International Minority Film FestivalFaroe Islands2017
Fairy Tales Queer Film FestivalCanada1999
FestDivQVenezuela
Festival de Cine LesBiGayTrans de AsunciónAsunciónParaguay2005
Festival de cine Gay y Lésbico de CanariasSpain2007
Festival de Cine Lésbico y Gai de AndalucíaSpain2006
Festival de Cine LGBTIQ - AsturiasAvilésSpain2016
Festival Internacional de cine LGBT El Lugar Sin LímitesQuito, Guayaquil and others Ecuador2002
Festival Mix Brazil de Cultura da DiversidadeBrazil
Festival MIX MilanoItaly1986Festival MIX Milano of GayLesbian cinema and Queer culture
Filmfest homochromGermany2011defunct in 2019[11]
FilmOut San DiegoSan DiegoCaliforniaUnited States2005San Diego's only LGBT film festival
FFTG Awards Film FestWorldwide United States2020International digital film fest
FICGLB – Festival Internacional de Cine Gay y Lésbico de BarcelonaCataloniaSpain
FIRE!!Spain1995
FiveFilms4freedomOnline Online United Kingdom2015World's first online, global and free 10-day LGBT film festival, created by the British Council and British Film Institute, and supported by the UN Free & Equal campaign
Frameline Film FestivalUnited States1977
Gay Film NightsRomania2004
GazeIreland1992
Geelong Pride Film FestivalAustralia2017
GFest – gayWise LGBT Arts FestivalLondonGreater LondonUnited Kingdom
Glasgay! FestivalGlasgowScotlandScotland1993
Hamilton Queer Film FestivalHamiltonOntarioCanada2021
Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film FestivalCentral and
Pok Fu Lam		Hong Kong
China		1989
Image+NationCanada1987
ImageOutUnited States
In & OutFrance2009
Inside Out Film and Video FestivalCanada1991
Iris Prize Film FestivalCardiffWalesUnited Kingdom2007
International Queer Film Festival Playa del CarmenMexico2013
Kagawa Rainbow Film FestivalJapan
KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film FestivalIndia2010
Kansai Queer Film FestivalJapan
Korea Queer Film FestivalSouth Korea2001
KreivėsLithuania2014The festival is open to feature films, documentaries and short films focusing on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex themes.[12] [13]
Leeds Queer Film FestivalLeedsWest YorkshireUnited Kingdom2005
LesGaiCineMadSpain1996
Lethal LesbianTel AvivIsrael2008Screens independent films by and about women who love women.
LGBT Film FestivalWarsawPoland2010Largest festival of LGBT cinema in Central and Eastern Europe
LGBT+ Film FestivalThailand2018Curated and hosted by Bangkok Screening Room
LjubljanaCentral SloveniaSlovenia1984[14] Europe's oldest gay and lesbian film festival[15]
Llamale HUruguay
London Lesbian Film FestivalCanada1991
Lovers Film Festival - Torino LGBTQI VisionsItaly1986
Making Scenes Film and Video FestivalCanada1992Defunct in 2005; replaced with Ottawa edition of Inside Out.
Mardi Gras Film FestivalAustralia1993
Massimadi FestivalCanada2009Centres on film and art relating to LGBTQ issues in the Black/African diaspora
Mawjoudin Queer Film FestivalTunisTunisTunisia2018
Melbourne Queer Film FestivalAustralia1991
Merlinka FestivalFormer YugoslaviaSerbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro2009Only queer film festival that is organized in several countries.
MezipatraCzech Republic2000
MICGéneroMexico
Milwaukee LGBT Film & Video FestivalUnited States1987
MIX CopenhagenDenmark1986
MIX NYCUnited States1987
Movida GayCuba2007
Muestra Internacional de Cine Diversex NicaraguaManagua, León, Jinotepe, Masaya, Matagalpa, Granada and othersNicaragua2008
Muskoka Queer Film FestivalBracebridge, HuntsvilleOntarioCanada2020Launched online during the COVID-19 pandemic following the cancellation of its planned live inaugural edition[16]
National Queer Arts FestivalUnited States1998
United States1988
North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film FestivalUnited States1995
Notre Dame Queer Film FestivalUnited States2004
Oslo/Fusion International Film FestivalNorway
OUTeast Film FestivalCanada2012
Out in AfricaSouth Africa1994
Out and Loud Pune International Queer Film FestivalPuneMaharashtraIndia2017
Out North Queer Film FestivalCanada2012
Out on FilmUnited States1987
New Zealand1995
Outburst Queer Arts Festival BelfastUnited Kingdom
United States1982
OutfestPerúPeru
OutLove International Film FestivalUnited States2020
Outview Film FestivalGreece2007
Paris Lesbian and Feminist Film FestivalParisFranceFrance1989Women-only film festival featuring films by and about lesbians and feminism
Pink Life QueerFestTurkey
Philadelphia QFestUnited States1996
Pink AppleSwitzerland1997
Pink Lobster Film FestivalNew BrunswickCanada2017
Pink ScreensBelgium2002
Pride International Film FestivalPhilippines2004Films specialising in HIV and AIDS awareness
Puerto Rico Queer FilmfestUnited States
Q! Film FestivalGreater Jakarta (Jabodetabek) Indonesia2002Asia's largest LGBT film festival,[17] and the first in a predominantly Muslim country.[18] It was established in 2002 and closed in early 2017.
QFestUnited States1997
Queer City CinemaCanada1996
Queer Film FestivalBerlin, Cologne, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Fürstenwalde, Halle (Saale), Leipzig, Magdeburg, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart & ViennaBaden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, ViennaGermany
Austria		[19]
Queer Film Festival OldenburgOldenburgNiedersachsenGermany2010
Queer Kampala International Film FestivalUganda
Queer Lisboa International Queer Film FestivalPortugal1997
Queer Media FestivalUnited Kingdom
Queer North Film FestivalCanada2016
QUEER-Streifen RegensburgRegensburgBavariaGermany2012
Queer Vision Film FestivalBristolSouth West EnglandUnited Kingdom
Queer Voices: NYC Film FestivalNew York CityNew YorkUnited States2023Queer Voices: NYC is focused on centering and celebrating LGBTQIA+ filmmakers of color.
QueersichtSwitzerland1997
Rainbow Film FestivalUnited States1989
Rainbow Film FestivalShrewsburyShropshireUnited Kingdom
Rainbow Reel TokyoJapan1992'Rainbow Reel Tokyo' is the official new name for the 'Tokyo International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival' (since 2016).
Rainbow Reels Queer and Trans Film FestivalCanada
Rainbow Visions Film FestivalCanada2015
Reel AffirmationsUnited States1991
Reel Out CharlotteCharlotteNorth CarolinaUnited States2008'Reel Out Charlotte' is the new name for 'GayCharlotte Film Festival' (since 2018).
Reel PrideCanada1985
Reel Pride FresnoCaliforniaUnited States1989
Reelout Queer Film FestivalCanada1999
ReelingUnited States1981
Rio LGBTQIA+ Festival Internacional de CinemaBrazil1995Originally known as Rio Festival Gay de Cinema, the festival adopted its new name in 2016. Rio LGBTQIA+ Film Festival is the new title of the festival.
RO Q DOCRomania
Roze FilmdagenNetherlands1996
San Francisco Transgender Film FestivalUnited States1997[20] Originally named 'Tranny Fest'
Santo Domingo Outfest2010
Screened OutCablecast film festival Nationwide cablecast United States2007 only
SQIFFGlasgowScotlandUnited Kingdom2015
Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film FestivalUnited States1996
Shanghai Queer Film FestivalShanghai
(municipality) 		China2017New LGBT film festival, run by volunteers and as a not-for-profit community event;[21] opened in September 2017
ShanghaiPRIDE Film FestivalShanghai
(municipality) 		China2015Originated from ShanghaiPRIDE film screening nights in collaboration with Beijing Queer Film Festival.[22]
Sicilia Queer filmfestItaly2010 International & New Visions filmfest
Side by SideSaint Petersburg
('Federal Subject') 		Russia2008
Slovak Queer Film FestivalSlovakia
Sunny BunnyUkraine2023First Ukrainian LGBT film festival, expansion of an existing program within Kyiv International Film Festival "Molodist"[23]
Taiwan International Queer Film FestivalTaiwan (R.O.C)2014
Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film FestivalUnited States1989
Tels Quel FestivalBelgium
Thessaloniki International G.L.A.D. Film Festival (LGBTI+)ThessalonikiGreece 1998
TLVFestIsrael2006
Toronto Queer Film FestivalCanada2016
TranScreen Filmfestival AmsterdamNetherlands Netherlands2011
Transition International Queer Minorities Film FestivalAustria
SeattleWashingtonUnited States2006Films by, for, and about transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people and the issues facing the community
Vancouver Queer Film FestivalCanada1988
VinokinoSouthwest Finland (or 'Finland Proper') and Uusimaa (or 'Nyland') Finland1991
Way OUT West Film FestUnited States2003
Wicked QueerUnited States1984Formerly known as the Boston LGBT Film Festival[24]
West PrideSweden2007
XPOSED Queer Film FestivalGermany
ZinegoakBilbao2004

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Renzi. Daniel. 2020-01-29. 10 of the world's best queer film festivals. 2021-04-20. www.gaycities.com. en.
  2. Web site: the big queer film festival list. 2021-04-20. www.queerfilmfestivals.org.
  3. Web site: Coleman. Ryan. 2021-02-15. 20 Fantastic LGBTQ+ Film Festivals Around the Globe. 2021-04-20. MovieMaker Magazine. en-us.
  4. Loist. Skadi. 2016. Crossover Dreams: Global Circulation of Queer Film on the Film Festival Circuits. Diogenes. 1–16. 10.1177/0392192115667014.
  5. Richards (2016), p. 8.
  6. Book: Richards, Stuart James. The Queer Film Festival. Popcorn and Politics. Palgrave Macmillan. 2016. 978-1-137-59034-3. 5.
  7. Jeff Ewing, "Major LGBTQ Film Festivals Partner To Create The 'North American Queer Festival Alliance' (NAQFA)". Forbes, June 17, 2020.
  8. Web site: Colombo PRIDE: Challenge and Change. Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka. Rosanna Flamer Caldera. 12 June 2017. 5 May 2018.
  9. Web site: Damn These Heels. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180715211116/https://www.utahfilmcenter.org/dth2018/. 2018-07-15. 2018-07-15.
  10. Web site: Benensohn . Meagan . 2024-05-09 . Damn These Heels Queer Film Festival is renamed to Utah Queer Film Festival . 2024-07-08 . Utah Film Center . en-US.
  11. Web site: Archive: Filmfest. homochrom.de. de, en. 2024-03-21.
  12. News: Vilniaus LGBT festivalis "Kreivės" – jau po dviejų savaičių. 15min.lt. 2018-06-13.
  13. Web site: Vilniaus queer festivalis "Kreivės". renginiai.kasvyksta.lt. lt. 2018-06-13.
  14. Web site: Ljubljana LGBT Film Festival. SiQRD. www.ljudmila.org. 2018-10-17.
  15. Web site: Europe's oldest gay and lesbian film festival. www.visitljubljana.com. 2018-10-17.
  16. https://www.orilliamatters.com/local-news/exciting-ambitious-muskoka-queer-film-festival-on-tap-3510478 "'Exciting, ambitious' Muskoka Queer Film Festival on tap"
  17. Web site: Indonesia's Q! Film Festival. Inside Indonesia. Maimunah. 18 October 2008. 4 July 2017.
  18. Web site: About Us - WHO WE ARE. Q! Film Festival. 2004. 4 July 2017.
  19. Web site: Queer Film Festival. 12 July 2022.
  20. Web site: San Francisco Transgender Film Festival - About Us. San Francisco Transgender Film Festival. November 11, 2016.
  21. Web site: New Shanghai Queer Film Festival to launch this September. Time Out Shanghai. Michael Rinaldi. 16 February 2017. 5 May 2018.
  22. Web site: 上海骄傲电影节 | 上海骄傲节 ShanghaiPRIDE .
  23. Marta Bałaga, "Ukraine to Host its First Ever Queer Film Festival: 'We Are Here, We Are Queer, and We Are Defending This Country'". Variety, January 31, 2023.
  24. Web site: About US. Wicked Queer. 29 May 2020.

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