Written by Lyra Woods
Pride Month is celebrated annually throughout the month of June to honor a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States, the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. During the month, the world’s LGBTQ+ communities come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves. This year, due to COVID-19, many Pride parades have been postponed. However, there are many ways that you can continue to support the LGBTQIA community. For instance, you can check out one of the many upcoming LGBTQ+ film festivals this year.
Though there is little representation of LGBTQIA stories on screen, more and more queer filmmakers are making films that the world needs to see. While popular queer film festivals such as OUTFEST and Frameline have relatively large budgets and strong fan bases, emerging regional film festivals can use your help to champion the voices of marginalized communities and filmmakers from those communities. Worried that June is almost over? No need. The spirit of Pride goes beyond the month of June. Below highlights a list of regional LGBTQ+ film festivals and festivals that feature LGBTQIA filmmakers in the United States.
aGLIFF (Austin)
aGLIFF marks its 33 year this fall. It is known for supporting the recent LGBTQ+ international, national, and regional films and connecting members of the community. The festival showcases features and shorts, as well as mainstream, and avant-garde films. It also holds symposia and panels to discuss current political and social topics. Over the years, it has increasingly served as a platform for first-time filmmakers.
Event Dates: August 6-9; website at http://www.agliff.org/
Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival (HRFF) (Hawaii)
HRFF celebrates its 31st anniversary in 2020. It connects Hawaii, the Pacific Islands and Asia to mainland USA, and acts as a member of the Asia Pacific Queer Film Festival Alliance. It aims to “raise awareness and instils a sense of pride and respect in Hawaii’s growing lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and mahu community.” The festival is presented by the Honolulu Gay and Lesbian Cultural Foundation, in honor of Hawaii LGBT pioneer Adam Baran.
Event Dates: August 13 – 16, 2020; website at https://www.hglcf.org/
Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival (LADFF)
LADFF aims to provide filmmakers of diverse backgrounds with a safe place to display their work. It supports members of oppressed communities, including LGBT, Disability Culture, racial/ethnic diversity, religious diversity, family structures, as well as the aging population and youth in cinema.
Event Date: August 26 – 29, 2021; website at https://www.ladff.com/
Pride Arts- Quarterly Shorts (Chicago)
The mission of PFP is to “change lives through the generation of diverse new work (or work that is new to Chicago) with LGBTQ+ characters or themes that is essential viewing for all audiences.” They provide fully-staged productions, writing contests and staged readings, film screenings, and special events.
Event Date: September 7 – 9, 2020; website at http://pridefilmsandplays.com/
CINEMA DIVERSE: The Palm Springs LGBTQ Film Festival (California)
CINEMA DIVERSE aims to promote their diverse gay community through presenting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender cinema from around the world.
Event Dates: September 17 – 20, 2020; website at https://psculturalcenter.org/filmfest
Fresno Reel Pride (California)
Fresno Reel Pride is the sixth oldest, and one of the largest, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) film festivals in the United States. It is a cultural event in Central California which attracts many attendees and filmmakers every year since 1990.
Event Date: September 18 – 20, 2020; website at https://www.reelpride.com/
Out On Film, Atlanta’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) Film Festival
Out On Film, Atlanta’s LGBT Film Festival will hold their 33rd annual film festival this year. Each year, they showcase 75-100 films, including narratives, documentaries, short films.
Event Dates: September 24 – October 3, 2020; website at https://www.outonfilm.org/
Trans Stellar Film Festival (Detroit)
Trans Stellar Film Festival curates films by queer filmmakers with a variety of content and form and provide a platform for their exhibition to the public and industry professionals.
Event Date: September 25 – 26, 2020; website at http://www.transstellarfilmfestival.com/
The Baltimore International Black Film Festival (BIBFF)
BIBFF aims to “support unity in the [baltimore] community and foster education with the best in independent film-making while enhancing the diverse cultural landscape and economic vitality of Baltimore City.” It curates and celebrates films by African Americans, the African Diaspora and members of the Same Gender Loving – Bisexual and Transgender (SGLBT) community.
Event Date: October 7 – 12, 2020; website at http://www.bibff.com/
Black Alphabet Film Festival (BAFF) (Chicago)
BAFF is Chicago’s premier film festival for the Black LGBTQ community. Their mission is “to promote social equity awareness and education in all aspects of life for the Black LGBT+ community through the use of media and the creative arts.” It has run for 7 years.
Event Dates: October 17 – 18, 2020; website at https://www.blackalphabet.org/
Contrast Film Festival (Austin)
Contrast Film Festival features “boundary-pushing, genre-defying, and forward-thinking filmmaking – with an emphasis on womxn, femme, trans and queer artists.” The festival was chosen as a 2018 Austin Chronicle Best of Austin Critic’s Pick for “Best Boundary-Pushing Fest”.
Event Date: October 9 – 11, 2020; website at https://www.contrastfilmfest.com/
The Desperado LGBTQ Film and Arts Festival
The Desperado LGBTQ Film and Arts Festival is held by a PVCC student organization. It promotes “quality films that are related to the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community.” So far, their 2020 festival will be entirely online. However, if circumstance allows, they plan on having onsite events instead.
Event Dates: October 23 – 25, 2020; website at http://desperadofilmfestival.com/
Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series (New York)
Established in 1997, this year marks the 23th of Reel Sisters annual film festival. Reel Sisters is the first Academy Qualifying Film Festival devoted to women of color across the globe, as well as an IMDb qualifying film festival. Reel Sisters accepts films written, directed, or produced by women/non-binary filmmakers of color.
Event Dates: Oct. 24-25.2020; website at http://reelsisters.com/
Reel Q: Pittsburgh LGBTQ +Film Festival
Reel Q is Pittsburgh’s longest running film festival, also the 5th oldest LGBTQ+ film festival in the United States, and 6th oldest in the world. This year marks its 35th festival. Every year, Reel Q curates around 20 locally first run LGBT-themed full-length films and 25-30 short films ranging from comedies, dramas, and documentaries.
Event Dates: October 1-10, 2020; website at https://reelq.org/festival/
ImageOut Rochester LGBT Film Festival (Rochester, NY)
ImageOut marks its 28th festival this year. The festival aims to present “LGBTQ+ arts and cultural experiences showcasing films, other creative works and artists to promote awareness, foster dialogue and build community.”
Event date: October 8-18, 2020; website at http://www.imageout.org/index.php
Out Film CT – Connecticut LGBTQ Film Festival (Hartford, CT)
Out Film CT is a nonprofit cultural organization dedicated to presenting outstanding LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) cinema throughout the year. This festival runs for nine days annually and marks its 33th year in 2020.
Event dates: October 2-10, 2020; website: https://outfilmct.org/
The East Village Queer Film Festival (New York)
Established 3 years ago, the East Village Queer Film Fest is an emerging film festival that welcomes filmmakers who “entertain, explore and promote queer-themed issues and as well as the downtown avant garde.”
Event dates October 21-24, 2020; website: http://thewildproject.com/performances/evq-film-festival/
Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival
The Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival is a fundraiser for Indiana Youth Group (IYG). They will reach their 20th Anniversary festival this November in Newfields (The Indianapolis Museum of Art). They curate features, documentaries and shorts.
Event Dates: November 13 – 15, 2020; website at http://www.indylgbtfilmfest.com/
San Francisco Transgender Film Festival (SFTFF)
Founded in 1997, SFTFF is the world’s first and longest-running Transgender Film Festival. It also co-presents screenings in collaboration with other LGBT film festivals throughout the year. It aims to strengthen awareness of transgender identity, history and culture by supporting emerging and established filmmakers on making films about local and global transgender issues.
Event Dates: November 12 – 15, 2020; website at http://sftff.org/
Film Festivals that have postponed until 2021 or TBD
Rainbow Cinema Awards – LGBT Film Festival (New York)
Rainbow Cinema Awards is set to run for the first year in 2020. Its goal is to “challenge the stereotype and create a more realistic and positive representation of LGBT community showcased in moving images around the world.” Due to COVID-19, the Live Screening and Awards has been postponed due to COVID-19, and they are still open for submission.
Event Dates: TBD; website at http://rainbow.cawards.org/
Queen City Film Festival (QCFF) (Maryland)
QCFF is a Western Maryland-based film festival that is held every fall in Cumberland, Maryland. Currently in their ninth year, QCFF has the Best LGBT as one of their selection categories. QCFF promotes films by Maryland filmmakers and films made in Maryland.
Event Date: April 1 – 4, 2021; website at : http://www.queencityfilmfestival.org/
The IFAP Awards (Philadelphia, PA)
The IFAP has been running for 4 Years and has the Best LGBTQ Film category. The festival decided to skip this year and has their next festival in 2021.
Event date: June 26, 2021. Website: https://www.ifapawards.com
Support your LGBTQ+ filmmakers and be a part of the community that celebrates freedom and individuality!
Other resources you can check out:
Advocating for LGBTQ equality: https://www.hrc.org/
CDC LGBT Youth Resources: https://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth-resources.htm
Saving Young LGBT Lives: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
National Alliance on Mental Health:
https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-Dimensions/LGBTIQ
HHS health and wellness for LGBT: https://www.hhs.gov/programs/topic-sites/lgbt/index.html