2024 Vancouver Queer Film Festival (VQFF) Announces Lineup: ‘Young Hearts,’ ‘Extremely Unique Dynamic’ and More

The festival takes place September 11-22 and will showcase 97 projects from 27 countries, with 28 features, 5 series debuts and 64 short films

The Vancouver Queer Film Festival (VQFF) has announced the entire lineup for their 36th annual Festival, which will take place across Vancouver from September 11-22, 2024 this year. The program includes international film and episodic content authored by 2SLGBTQIA+ creators, centered on 2SLGBTQIA+ protagonists, and celebrating queer storytelling and joy. The Festival includes parties, performances, post-screening Q&As with filmmakers, and industry events.

VQFF’s Opening Presentation: Closer features a collection of short films that highlight the solidarity and brilliance of our diverse queer community. Familiar faces, such as beloved actor Ben Whishaw (GOOD BOY, US) and rising local talents like Oji-Cree-Saulteaux poet jaye simpson (I’LL TELL YOU WHEN I’M READY, Canada) star as queer heroes in this dynamic collection. First dates, beautiful friendships, and tender parent-child relationships round out this rousing call to action: be ready to party and love one another throughout this year’s Vancouver Queer Film Festival.

The 2024 Centerpiece Presentation will be the BC Premiere of Canadian director Julia Jackman’s BONUS TRACK (UK), which follows 16-year-old songwriter George who longs to break free of his parents expectations and the small English town they call home. Canadian feature film premiere highlights include: Tribeca favourite RENT FREE (Fernando Andrés, US) follows ageing millennials who launch a social experiment to spend an entire year living “rent-free” by couch-surfing in a rapidly changing Austin, Texas; IF I DIE, IT’LL BE OF JOY (Alexis Taillant, France) follows three rabble-rousers who contemplate and advocate for their right to recognition, love, and sexual liberation as older adults; and the powerful documentary LIFE IS NOT A COMPETITION, BUT I’M WINNING (Julia Fuhr Mann, Germany), which debuted at Venice and explores the achievements, challenges, and legacies of a group of trans, intersex, and queer Olympic athletes who create a radical utopia to challenge the rigid gender rules of competitive sports and envision a more inclusive future. 

“I’m thrilled to follow up the success of last year’s festival with another lineup of outstanding films. It’s been a pleasure to witness the incredible calibre of work that 2SLGBTQIA+ filmmakers around the globe are creating,” says Charlie Hidalgo, Artistic Director, Out On Screen. “My respect to the programming team for all their dedication. This year’s festival is an opportunity for Vancouver audiences to discover urgent, innovative and empowering stories by us, for us and about us.”

Other VQFF 2024 feature film highlights include: winner of this year’s Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Documentary Feature at the Frameline: San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, FRAGMENTS OF A LIFE LOVED (Chloé Barreau, Italy) a hypnotic film that explores the complexities of sex and relationships; PARADISE IS BURNING (Mika Gustafson, Sweden) which won two awards at the Venice Film Festival, captures the turbulence of three sisters growing up without a safety net among the margins of working-class Sweden; the critically acclaimed YOUNG HEARTS (Belgium, Netherlands) from Anthony Schatteman, a giddy ode to teenagehood with its winsome and warm-hearted exploration of fierce young love; and the hometown premiere of Harrison Xu’s EXTREMELY UNIQUE DYNAMIC (Harrison Xu, Ivan Leung and Katherine Dudas, US) in which a pair of twenty-something Asian-American creatives are determined to make a movie reflecting their experiences as best friends where one happens to be gay and the other, straight; A MOTHER APART (Canada) the award-winning NFB documentary from Laurie Townshend follows powerhouse Jamaican-American poet and LGBTQ+ activist Staceyann Chin and a deeply personal journey to uncover the mysterious past of her elusive mother. Another must-see film this year is the previously announced closing night film LAYLA (UK), which debuted at Sundance earlier this year and follows an up-and-coming British-Palestinian drag queen lighting up local clubs with impressive creativity in the London queer scene.

Episodic projects including series KIN., from directors Justin Ducharme and Theo Jean Cuthand, which will screen to BC audiences for the first time. The five-part scripted series is an honest and comedic exploration of the contemporary, urban queer and trans Indigenous experience, following a group of friends and their social media-engrossed lives starring Ta’Kaiya Blaney (Monkey Beach) alongside an all-Indigenous cast and crew. Giselle Miller’s NOVELETTE IS TRYING; Vancouver’s first Black queer web series will have its world bow and a duo of Australian series TOUCH will have its festival premiere & TRIPLE OH! its Canadian Premiere. French series SPLIT written and directed by feminist author Iris Brey, starring Alma Jodorowsky from Blue Is the Warmest Colour will have its first screening to a Canadian audience at the fest.

With 10 shorts programs this year, there are so many wonderful films to watch. The Coast is Queer program features local films made by and featuring artists in our neighborhood, like Rose Butch, Romi Kim (SKIM), and Persephone Estradiol (jaye simpson). THE BIRDHOUSE, a film that centers the titular queer and trans-run event space and the untold labour and love poured into creating a haven beyond physical walls from director Romi Kim will screen amongst other notable films including: DRAG IS FOR EVERYONE a film that reflects on the support, pride, and joy fostered at the Carousel Theatre’s Drag Camp from filmmakers David Ng and Jen Sungshine (Love Intersections). 12 ANGRY LESBIANS from Patrice Leung, Gabriel Souza Nunes’ PASSIFLORA, Olivia Marie Golosky’s PÎĶÎWÎ, lisa g’s ARTIST / AUTIST and DIRT PRIDE from Christina Rosetti will also play. 

For the first time ever, the Vancouver Queer Film Festival’s dates will fall within the school year and will bring programming specifically to youth and school groups with The Future is Queer: Youth Programs co-presented by Out In Schools and The Cinematheque, two days of FREE youth programs that will increase young people’s access to transformative 2SLGBTQIA+ stories and support educators in building core competencies in many related subject areas. Troublemakers 8.0, the intergenerational film project returns to the big screen for the eighth year! Reel Youth and Out On Screen present four new films by youth filmmakers documenting the lives of local queer elders who inspire us through art and advocacy. This screening will be followed by a Q&A with the youth filmmakers.

The 2024 Festival program was curated by VQFF Artistic Director Charlie Hidalgo; Senior Programmers Daniel Crooke and Kathleen Mullen; Programmers Cole Forrest, Laura Arboleda, and Syriah Bailey; Associate Programmers Alayna Y, Chelsea Birks, Gavin K Somers, Jasmine “Audder” Monton, Lu Linares, Maria Cecilia Saba, Seán Maheux Galway; and Programming Consultant Shayna Maci Warner.

For the lineup of all the Short Films playing at VQFF and the entire 2024 program visit www.queerfilmfestival.ca.

VQFF FEATURE FILM PROGRAM: 

BONUS TRACK, BC Premiere (Centerpiece Presentation)
Julia Jackman | United Kingdom | 2023 | 98 min English with captions
Daydreaming through class every day about crafting his big radio hit—with the failing grades to show for it, 16-year-old songwriter George longs to break free of his parent’s expectations and the small English town they call home. Inspiration arrives when Max, the son of a world-famous rockstar, enrolls in George’s school and recognizes the megawatt talent hidden behind George’s teenage awkwardness. As their friendship deepens and their creative collaboration blossoms, George and Max are thrust into the spotlight while navigating the complexities of a possible first love.

LAYLA, Canadian Premiere (Closing Night Presentation)
Amrou Al-Kadhi | United Kingdom | 2024 100 min | English and Arabic with English subtitles
Drag liberation and sparkling self-expression turn the beat up loud in this joyful, exhilarating crowd-pleaser which premiered in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition of this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Making their feature debut with raise-your-voice realness, director Amrou Al-Kadhi channels their experiences in the east London queer scene into the unforgettable saga of Layla: an up-and- coming Palestinian drag queen lighting up local clubs with impressive creativity. Featuring a colourful community of artists and everyday queer superstars, Layla’s life off-stage takes a surprising direction when they start a love affair with a young corporate professional.                           

EXTREMELY UNIQUE DYNAMIC, BC Premiere
Harrison Xu, Ivan Leung, Katherine Dudas | United States | 2024 | 67 min | English with captions | BC Premiere
With relentless comedic timing and a contagious sense of discovery, Xu and Leung play Ryan and Daniel, a pair of twenty-something Asian American creatives in Los Angeles determined to make a movie reflecting their experiences as best friends where one happens to be gay and the other, straight. Invigorated by their desire to bust taboos and blend genres, they battle their low-budget limitations (on and off the screen) to craft a hilarious, heartfelt expression of their titular extremely unique dynamic. 

IF I DIE, IT’LL BE OF JOY (SI JE MEURS, CE SERA DE JOIE), BC Premiere
Alexis Taillant | France | 2024 | 80 min | French with English subtitles    
As GreyPride in Paris approaches, three rabble- rousers contemplate and advocate for their right as older adults to recognition, love, and sexual liberation. This beautifully filmed and inspiring documentary follows 81-year-old Micheline, brimming with sexual desire and looking for ways to express it; 70-year-old Francis, a feisty anti-ageism activist; and 68-year-old Yves, seeking love and companionship. The three set out to revolutionize senior living, challenge stereotypes, and combat discrimination through a collective effort to debunk preconceived notions of sex, love, and aging.                    

THE SUMMER WITH CARMEN (TO KALOKAIRI TIS KARMEN), Canadian Premiere     
Zacharias Mavroeidis | Greece | 2023 | 106 min Greek with English subtitles
The setting: The rocky, sun-kissed shores of a gay nude beach perched above the Mediterranean Sea in Athens, Greece. Our heroes: Best friends and former actors-turned-aspiring filmmakers Demos and Nikitas. Their objective: Finally crack their feature screenplay, a steamy autofiction about the highs and lows of their flings, family drama, and dog-sitting escapades of two summers earlier.                

WHAT A FEELING, BC Premiere    
Kat Rohrer | Austria | 2024 | 110 min | German with English subtitles        
A chance encounter at a lesbian bar brings two women leading strikingly different lives together in this winning romantic comedy. “You can dance right through your life” is the mantra of free-spirited, unattached Fa (Proschat Madani, Cuckoo), whose charm and popularity with women are well-established. She runs her own carpentry business and cares for her aging Iranian mother, who doesn’t know Fa is a lesbian. Marie Theres (Caroline Peters, Walk on Water) is a successful but slightly uptight doctor whose conventional life is upended when her husband of 20 years abruptly asks for a divorce. The two women could not be more different…or more attracted to each other. Each will have to break free from the confines they have built for themselves if they truly want to be happy.

DESIRE LINES, BC Premiere                    
Jules Rosskam | United States | 2024 | 83 min English with captions
Winner of the NEXT Special Jury Award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, director Jules Rosskam cracks open a portal with his liberating exploration of transmasculine sexuality that blends narrative and documentary forms. Within the halls of a vast queer archive, trans Iranian- American scholar Ahmad mines for a historical answer to his question: Is his gender identity at odds with his sexual desire for other men? Guided by a charismatic research assistant played by Theo Germaine (The Politician), Ahmad’s journey takes a turn when the archive transforms into a time-traveling gay bathhouse of erotic discovery. From here, Rosskam weaves together illuminating archival treasures and thrillingly candid interviews featuring trans men sharing their intimate odysseys of hooking up with cis gay men. Rosskam’s dynamic approach flips the script to create a sexier, more authentic, and bountifully gay film. 

BULLETPROOF: A LESBIAN’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING THE PLOT, BC Premiere
Regan Latimer | Canada | 2024 | 105 min | English with captions                
Every time a lesbian character dies on TV is a stake through the heart for director Regan Latimer. Latimer embarks on a cross-country quest to uncover why Hollywood keeps “burying their gays.” Exploring how and why there are a disproportionate number of lesbian deaths in media, Latimer interviews TV writers and executives, queer community members, and fans to unravel this troubling phenomenon. Featuring enlightening conversations with industry insiders, this insightful, funny, and personal hybrid documentary captures the crucial role of queer media representation while following Latimer’s journey of self-discovery and the powerful impact of seeing oneself on screen. Queer fandom is fighting back–join our media revolution!                 

RENT FREE, Canadian Premiere                    
Fernando Andrés | United States | 2024 | 93 min English with captions            
After a misguided seduction leaves them broke and without an apartment, aging millennials Ben and Jordan (played by charismatic duo Jacob Roberts and David Treviño) launch a social experiment to spend an entire year living “rent- free” by couch-surfing with friends, family, and strangers in a rapidly changing Austin, Texas. Collaborators Fernando Andrés and Tyler Rugh follow up their winning Three Headed Beast (VQFF ’23) with this renegade character-driven comedy tackling contemporary issues of rising rent, urban instability, and the tech-sector takeover of everyday life, and the nuances of queer male friendship.

SISTERS, BC Premiere
Susie Yankou | United States, Canada | 2024 88 min | English and Farsi with English subtitles        
Singer-songwriter Lou (Susie Yankou) and stand-up comedian Esther (Sarah Khasrovi) are inseparable best friends. They share everything from inside jokes to a deep curiosity about what it would be like to have a sister. Their codependent bliss is shattered when Lou’s father unexpectedly passes away, and Priya (Kausar Mohammed), a long-lost, very stylish half-sister, shows up to his funeral. As Lou explores her relationship with Priya, the newfound connection disrupts her bond with Esther and creates a growing rift. Facing the potential loss of her closest friend, Lou must navigate this complex new dynamic and redefine what family truly means.    
VERA AND THE PLEASURE OF OTHERS (VERA Y EL PLACER DE LOS OTROS), Canadian Premiere
Romina Tamburello, Federico Actis | Argentina 2023 | 103 min | Spanish with English subtitles
In this erotic coming-of-age comedy 17-year-old Vera steals keys from her real estate agent mother to run a secret business renting out an apartment to her classmates who need a place to get intimate. Bored by the banal routine of high school and volleyball practice, she discovers a thrilling outlet in her side hustle as she covertly eavesdrops on her clients’ most private moments. Listening to other people’s pleasure unexpectedly allows Vera to gain an understanding of her own desires. However, just as she begins to develop a sexual appetite of her own, Vera’s pleasure gets interrupted.

THIS IS BALLROOM (SALÃO DE BAILE), Canadian Premiere
Juru, Vitã | Brazil | 2024 | 92 min | Portuguese and English with English subtitles    
Ballroom filmmakers Juru and Vitã explore Rio de Janeiro’s unique Ballroom scene and House culture. For this ambitious project, the filmmakers organized a special event inviting Rio’s top Ballroom artists, representing 11 Houses from the city center and beyond. Led by prominent 2SLGBTQIA+ Afro-Brazilian performers, the Houses serve as life-affirming chosen families for the queer, trans, and nonbinary people of this tight community. Mixing elements of local traditions, popular culture, and North American influences, Rio’s Ballroom artists cook up their unique flavours of voguing, performance, music, fashion and dance. Infused in their artistry are the lived experiences of a resilient community pushing back against a racist, patriarchal state.    

PRIDE VS. PREJUDICE: THE DELWIN VRIEND STORY, BC Premiere
Darrin Hagen | Canada | 2024 | 80 min | English with captions                
In 1991, Delwin Vriend was fired from his teaching position at a Christian college in Edmonton for being gay. An unlikely hero, Vriend found himself at the center of a pivotal point in history. The case of Vriend v. Alberta, fought all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, challenged homophobic discrimination and expanded LGBTQ+ rights in Canadian workplaces.                                

A HOUSE IS NOT A DISCO, BC Premiere    
Brian J. Smith | United States | 2024 | 90 min English with captions
Fire Island comes alive in director Brian J. Smith’s loving portrait of the legendary gay hotspot and the makeshift community that travels by ferry every summer to call it home. Filmed with a warm sense of place and an eye toward its gorgeous natural environment, this documentary thrusts the viewer into the fun, euphoria, and kinship that ripple throughout the iconic Pines. Through on-the-fly interviews with its memorable inhabitants and rich observational insights that illuminate its charm, Smith evokes the island’s half-century of history as a queer haven while also exploring the possibilities for its more inclusive future. For those whose calendars aren’t complete without an annual jaunt to this New York paradise or those who’ve always wished to visit: climb aboard and bask in Fire Island’s glow.    

LESVIA, BC Premiere
Tzeli Hadjidimitriou | Greece | 2024 | 78 min | Greek, English, French, and Italian with English subtitles
The Greek island of Lesbos, the birthplace of Sappho, has long been a pilgrimage destination for lesbians worldwide. For decades, lesbian native director Tzeli Hadjidimitriou has documented the lives of locals and the annual gatherings of lesbians on Eressos’ beaches. Using archival film, photos, and personal diaries, Tzeli delves into the evolving relationships, struggles, and connections between the local Greek and these lesbian communities. Lesvia weaves Sappho’s poetry and legacy with Lesbos’ unique culture, capturing a fascinating group of people who all feel a deep connection to this island.

YOUNG HEARTS, BC Premiere
Anthony Schatteman | Belgium, Netherlands | 2024 | 99 min | German, English, French, and Dutch with English subtitles
In an idyllic countryside town in Belgium, young Alex moves in next door to Elias, a popular 14-year-old with a fun-loving family. Excited about the new kid in town, Elias soon becomes fast friends with Alex, even making a trip into the city to meet some of Alex’s family who run the local drag club. When Alex reveals he has dated boys before, Elias realizes he likes Alex more than just a friend, throwing him into a crisis of identity. Elias must find out if he can be as free in his own sexuality and desires as Alex seems to be.

FRAGMENTS OF A LIFE LOVED (FRAMMENTI DI UN PERCORSO AMOROSO), BC Premiere
Chloé Barreau | Italy | 2023 | 95 min | French and Italian with English subtitles
When you look back at your relationships, do you ever wonder why you had amazing sex with some lovers and not others? Or why you ended up with some partners long-term while others flitted in and out of your life?
Since she was 16 years old living between Paris and Rome, director Chloé Barreau has been photographing, filming, and collecting mementos from every woman and man she has ever loved. This fascinating documentary unfolds through candid interviews with her exes, from fleeting one-night stands to enduring relationships.

CARNAGE FOR CHRISTMAS, BC Premiere
Alice Maio Mackay | Australia | 2024 | 70 min English with captions
Santa slays in Australian wunderkind Alice Maio Mackay’s latest handmade horror delight. Her fifth feature in three years, this inventive slasher flick follows true-crime podcaster Lola as she returns to her conservative hometown for the first time since transitioning—just in time for the terrifying resurrection of a red suit-wearing urban legend with an axe to grind. As the body count rises and the killer circles closer, Lola’s ragtag team of queer and trans compatriots— complete with one totally wicked drag queen— must band together to rip the mask off this psychopath and take him down once and for all. Eye-popping colour and razor-sharp editing from new collaborator Vera Drew (The People’s Joker) fuels the playful nightmare flair of this exhilarating celebration of community power. Mackay’s infectious visual imagination proves that, when it comes to battling bigotry through pure cinematic force, this 19-year-old trans filmmaker is out for blood.

A MOTHER APART, BC Premiere
Laurie Townshend | Canada | 2024 | 89 min English and German with English subtitles
Powerhouse Jamaican-American poet and LGBTQ+ activist Staceyann Chin embarks on a deeply personal journey to uncover the mysterious past of her elusive mother, Hazel—a woman whose absence has shaped Staceyann’s poetry, politics, and bond with her daughter, Zuri. Traveling from Brooklyn to Montreal, Cologne to Jamaica, Staceyann navigates a complex emotional landscape as she grapples with Hazel’s choices. She must also balance her enduring childhood pain with the profound joy of motherhood.

THE ASTRONAUT LOVERS (LOS AMANTES ASTRONAUTAS), Canadian Premiere
Marco Berger | Argentina | 2024 | 116 min Spanish with English subtitles
When Pedro returns to Argentina for an extended vacation at his family home by the sea, he’s greeted by familiar faces and the promise of a leisurely, drama-free summer with friends. One afternoon on the beach, he runs into Maxi, a flirtatious but foolhardy—and straight—friend from the past who expresses an unrelenting curiosity about the easygoing Pedro’s sexuality as a gay man. Sparks fly as they fall into a surprising rhythm of mutual interest in spite of—or perhaps because of—this line in the sand. So when Maxi asks Pedro to play-act as his new boyfriend to rile up his ex-girlfriend, Pedro goes along with it…

PARADISE IS BURNING (PARADISET BRINNER), BC Premiere
Mika Gustafson | Sweden | 2023 | 108 min Swedish with English subtitles
Thrumming with the rough-and-tumble spirit of youth in rebellion, director Mika Gustafson’s film captures the turbulence of growing up without a safety net among the margins of working- class Sweden. Scraping by with ingenuity, sisters Laura (sixteen), Mira (twelve), and Steffi (seven) look after themselves in a council house with no guardian in sight. When social services comes knocking, Laura must find an adult willing to impersonate their mother to keep her family together. Her journey ignites a spark of self- discovery as the wild rituals of adolescence give way to the rush of a first crush.

UNUSUALLY NORMAL, BC Premiere
Colette Johnson Vosberg | Canada | 2024 98 min | English with captions
Meet Canada’s gayest family! Unusually Normal follows three generations of women in the Ford family, all of whom are gay. Director Colette Johnson-Vosberg got the opportunity of a lifetime when Karen Ford reached out and opened the doors to her home and her family’s extraordinary story.

THROUPLE, Canadian Premiere    
Greyson Horst | United States | 2024 | 90 min English with captions
Injecting a welcome dose of polyamorous desire to the landscape of contemporary gay romance, director Greyson Horst crafts a comedy of unexpected connection on the road to self- discovery. Aimless and stuck in an artistic rut, lonely singer-songwriter Michael (played by actor-screenwriter Michael Doshier) can’t seem to find his lane in either life or love. One fateful night while attending a friend’s show, his luck turns as he strikes up a conversation with Georgie and Connor, a friendly—and newly open—married couple. As Michael quickly falls into bed with the couple, both his creativity and the possibility of romance soar.

LIFE IS NOT A COMPETITION, BUT I’M WINNING, Canadian Premiere
Julia Fuhr Mann | Germany | 2023 | 79 min German and English with English subtitles
If history is written by the victors, where does that leave those who were never allowed to be part of the game? In this powerful documentary, a collective of queer athletes enters the Olympic Stadium in Athens to honour those who were excluded from standing on the podium. They meet Amanda Reiter, a trans marathon runner battling the prejudices of sports organizers, and Annet Negesa, an 800-metre runner pressured by international sports federations to undergo hormone-altering surgery. Together, the athletes create a radical utopia to challenge the rigid gender rules of competitive sports and envision a more inclusive future.

ROOKIE, BC Premiere
Samantha Lee | Philippines | 2023 | 95 min Tagalog and English with English subtitles
Ace’s first day at her new Manila high school is one she’ll never forget. As she awkwardly navigates the unfamiliar surroundings, she finds herself reluctantly joining the volleyball team. Jana, the team captain, perceives Ace as a threat, sparking an immediate rivalry. But, little by little, they discover that love and hate are two sides of the same coin and find themselves admitting their attraction to each other.    

ALL SHALL BE WELL (從今以後), BC Premiere
Ray Yeung | Hong Kong | 2024 | 93 min | Chinese with English subtitles
Long-term couple Pat and Angie have lived happily in their beautiful Hong Kong flat for decades, surrounded by family and friends who delight in their lively dinner parties. Pat’s sudden death changes everything in a split second. As Pat hasn’t left a will, her once seemingly supportive family now wrests control from Angie, leveraging Hong Kong law against her to make all the decisions and arrangements. Angie desperately wants to fight for Pat’s wishes and turns to her community of queer friends for support as she navigates not only her grief but also the impending loss of her home.

PERFECT ENDINGS (13 SENTIMENTOS), Canadian Premiere
Daniel Ribeiro | Brazil | 2024 | 100 min Portuguese with English subtitles
Guaranteed to get your heart pumping, the latest from Teddy Award-winner Daniel Ribeiro (crowd-pleasing favourite The Way He Looks, VQFF Opening Gala ‘14) pulses to the beat of a hot and heavy summer in the city. Fresh off a breakup from a long-term relationship and ready for a rebound, aspiring Brazilian filmmaker João battles writer’s block while diving headfirst into hookup apps in search of a spark, on and off the page, for his sexy new screenplay. He discovers a surprising fusion of both passions when he begins directing amateur erotic films, uncovering how art can imitate life and vice versa. Surrounded by supportive, fun-loving friends, João endeavours to put the pen down and surrender to self-discovery.

LOVE & REVOLUTION (TE ESTOY AMANDO LOCAMENTE), Canadian Premiere
Alejandro Marín | Spain | 2023 | 106 min | Spanish with English subtitles
Nominated for five Goya awards, Spanish filmmaking’s highest honour, and winner of one, this fist-pumping period drama from director Alejandro Marín thrusts audiences into the budding gay rights movement flooding the streets of 1977 Seville. Coming of age in a time of criminalized homosexuality and stifled free speech, teenage brainiac Miguel lives in the city with his adoring single mother Reme, a hardworking widow whose fierce love for her son guides her every step. When Miguel’s increasingly visible queerness lands him in the crosshairs of the state, Reme unexpectedly finds herself linking arms with a community of queer activists to ensure his safety.

VQFF EPISODIC PROGRAM:  

NOVELETTE IS TRYING, World Premiere    
Giselle Miller | Canada | 2024 | 100 min | English with captions
Vancouver’s first Black queer web series introduces Novelette, a cynical, anti-social, and newly single bisexual woman who reluctantly takes on a roommate to help with the rent on her East Van apartment. At first, the extroverted, outspoken Audre seems like the wrong choice. But, although their personalities clash, Audre’s boldness soon rubs off on Novelette in the best way, encouraging her to dive back into the dating pool. The world premiere screening launches the first five episodes of this ten-part comedy series from local filmmaker Giselle Miller, who writes and directs from her own experiences of identity and belonging in Vancouver.

KIN., BC Premiere
Justin Ducharme, Theo Jean Cuthand | Canada 2023 | 34 min | English with captions
This five-part scripted series is an honest and comedic exploration of the contemporary, urban queer and trans Indigenous experience following a group of friends and their social-media- engrossed lives. Exploring romance, identity, and belonging with an all-Indigenous cast and crew, KIN. offers a realistic window into the lives of Indigenous queer and trans people and the complexities they face as they come of age. This BC Premiere is a hometown celebration and a showcase of KIN.’s powerhouse on-screen talent.

SPLIT, Canadian Premiere
Iris Brey | France | 2023 | 111 min | French with English subtitles
Written and directed by feminist author Iris Brey, this French miniseries is a refreshing narrative about unexpected connections, intimate relationships, and sexual fluidity.
Stunt double Anna (Alma Jodorowsky, Blue Is the Warmest Colour) is intrigued by her latest assignment as a stand-in for charismatic star Eve (Jehnny Beth, Anatomy of a Fall). Anna has been content in her long-term relationship with Natan, who is the cinematographer on set. As desire grows between Anna and Eve, leading to a secret rendezvous in the dressing room and visits to the countryside, their relationship becomes harder and harder to keep hidden. 

TOUCH, Festival Premiere
Monique Terry, Abby Gallaway | Australia | 2024 | 55 min | English with captions
Fiercely competitive Cameron (Diana Popovska) seeks revenge on her cheating ex-girlfriend by beating her in the local touch-football competition. But when she catches feelings for her new teammate Angie, Cameron has to keep her plan a secret in order to win the competition…and Angie’s love.

TRIPLE OH!, Canadian Premiere
Poppy Stockell | Australia | 2023 | 42 min | English with captions
Queer dramatic rom-com Triple Oh! follows the lives of two ambulance paramedics, Tayls (Brooke Satchwell) and Cate (Tahlee Fereday), as they get to grips on life, death, and each other.