13th Queer Screen Film Fest

Queer cinema finds its home in the heart of Sydney this September — and you’re invited. Think of it as your curated festival pass to global stories that dare to be bold, tender, hilarious, and deeply human.

The 13th edition opens with Jim Queen, an animated satire that’s equal parts glitter and grit, following a buff influencer and a shy twink on a mission to reverse a mysterious virus turning queer people straight. It’s fresh off its Cannes premiere — and you’ll see why it’s generating buzz.

Close the festival with Sweet Milk Lake, an Australian drama that explores brotherhood, identity, and what we leave behind growing up. The stars, Harvey Zielinski and Hunter Page-Lochard, will be on hand for a post-screening Q&A — a rare chance to hear directly from the talent bringing these stories to life.

Elsewhere in the lineup, Lukas Dhont’s Coward brings the First World War to life with a romance that feels both timeless and urgent. Joan Chen shines in Montreal, My Beautiful, a quiet storm of emotion and connection. And don’t miss La Bola Negra, a Spanish epic with Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close playing roles that redefine grandeur on screen.

For pure joy, Hunky Jesus is a tribute to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — riotous, irreverent, and full of heart. Paloma Schneideman’s Sundance debut Big Girls Don’t Cry — executive produced by Jane Campion — offers a coming-of-age tale as tender as it is real. You’ll also find courtroom drama in The Education of Jane Cumming and the groundbreaking neo-noir classic Bound — both films that stand the test of time.

Australian talent takes spotlight too: the neon-drenched thriller Body Blow, Alice Maio Mackay’s genre-bending Our Effed Up World (for Trans and Gender Diverse Community Night), and shorts like G.O.A.T, Souvenir, and Spiders on My Lashline — all proof that homegrown storytelling is thriving.

This is more than a festival. It’s a gathering — a chance to experience stories that resonate, challenge, and celebrate.

Full program available at queerscreen.org.au.