Queer Film Festival

Check out thirty-five new queer movies, and a few favourite returning films, at the 11th Queer Screen Film Fest.

Mardi Gras Film Festival organisers Queer Screen are holding Sydney’s second annual LGBTQIA+ film festival again in 2024 on the cusp of Spring, from August 28 to September 1.

“Get ready to feast your eyes on thirty-five new, and a few favourite LGBTIQ+ films, at the 11th edition of Queer Screen Film Fest,” Queer Screen festival director Lisa Rose said, ahead of the festival’s launch.

“We’re bookending the festival with two fabulously flirty and romantic films, and we’re continuing that theme with an incredible documentary in the program.

“Enjoy appearances from well-known faces like Elliot Page, Evan Rachel Wood, Lukas Gage, and Australia’s own Keiynan Lonsdale. Don’t miss our two Australian films, including one having its world premiere.”

The 2024 Queer Screen Film Fest will feature in-person screenings at Event Cinemas George Street, with an on demand program running from September 2-8.

This year’s program comprises three short film programs and a total of thirty-seven films including one world premiere, twenty-six Australian premieres, and seven Sydney Premieres.

Eight feature films will screen exclusively in cinemas during the festival, while eight will screen both online and in cinema, and two encores from past festivals will play exclusively online.

Opening the festival is the Australian premiere of The Astronaut Lovers from Argentine director Marco Berger who returns with another story about male desire that sizzles just below the surface.

One hot summer, openly gay Pedro returns to Buenos Aires to spend a holiday with his cousin and some friends – including Maxi, who’s seemingly straight and full of swagger. The pair enjoys some friendly, machismo fuelled flirting that even they’re not sure how to contain, but are they playing with fire?

Canadian film Close to You is also having its Australian premiere at the festival and stars Academy Award nominated actor Elliot Page as a trans man visiting his hometown for the first time since transitioning.

Baby, from Brazilian director Marcelo Caetano, tells the story of two sex workers in love on the streets of Sao Paolo as they try to balance business with their relationship.

Backspot stars Westworld’s Evan Rachel Woods as the coach of a professional cheerleading squad when two cheerleaders who are in a relationship join the team.

American Parent follows the everyday life of a lesbian couple who are trying to raise their toddler during the Covid pandemic.

The Judgement features an Egyptian-American gay couple who are forced back into the closet when visiting family in Alexandria.

In Fragments of a Life Lived, lesbian documentarian Chloe Barreau revisits her past loves since she was a teenager, offering a unique perspective on human connection.

Australian film Strange Creatures is having its world premier at the festival, and tells the story of two brothers, one pansexual, reuniting to scatter their mother’s ashes after four years of not speaking to each other.

Turtles tells the story of an older gay couple who find themselves struggling with each other’s company in retirement before fighting to rekindle their flame.

Videoland is another film premiering at the festival and follows a young lesbian video store clerk in Australia in the 90s who watches every sapphic film she can get her hands on in navigating her identity before falling for a customer.

Closing the festival is the German film Gondola. Told without dialogue over 82 minutes, this film follows the romance between two young female cable-car conductors as they pass by each other in the sky at work.

-For more information go to www.queerscreen.org.au.

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Andrew Macdougall

Andrew is a Raging Bisexual, Journalist , Host of the PridePuckPod Podcast and Espresso fan.

https://linktr.ee/thisisdoogie
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