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Mardi Gras Film Festival
Wednesday, 15 February 2023 until Thursday, 02 March 2023
There have been lesbian and gay film festivals in Sydney since 1978. Initially these were run by the Australian Film Institute. In 1986, the AFI partnered with what was then theSydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, to present an annual ‘Sydney Gay Film Week’during the Mardi Gras festival. The film festival was taken over by commercial concerns in 1991, but still screened as a highlight of the Mardi Gras season.
In 1993, a group of queer Sydney filmmakers, students and others approached Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras with a view to establishing an independent organisation whose primary focus was queer film and screen culture. This organisation, Queer Screen, had the central aim of reclaiming Sydney’s GLBTIQ film festival as owned and operated by the community. From that time, Mardi Gras was the principal funding body of Queer Screen, initially with a five-year funding agreement, followed by a three-year agreement in 1998. This agreement came to an end with the 2001 Mardi Gras Film Festival.
The Mardi Gras Film Festival has grown considerably since 1993. It is now one of Australia’s largest film festivals of any kind, and one of the top five queer film festivals in the world. It is highly regarded by filmmakers all over the world, and is the most important avenue for promoting gay and lesbian titles to distributors and exhibitors in this territory.
2023 programme...
Banned in its local country Singapore, this fast-paced and gripping take on free speech, privacy and gay rights is a must-see.
A love letter to breaking up, 8 Years is a sexy and poignant Spanish film about a recently separated couple trying to rekindle their spark.
Two trans friends work together to overcome the prejudice that overshadows their daily lives, in this empowering and hopeful Indian drama.
Intrigue is on the menu in this masterfully constructed Filipino mystery, guaranteed to keep audiences guessing until the credits roll.
Afternoon Delight with The LOVE Project
Afternoon Delight is a movie matinee, afternoon tea and fun social gathering for the older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTIQ+) community, friends and allies.
All Man: The International Male Story
How did an innocuous menswear catalogue become a homoerotic handbook? This fun doco chronicles the rise of the International Male catalogue.
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed
This extraordinary, Venice Gold Lion winning documentary is an electrifying portrait of the life of bisexual artist and activist Nan Goldin.
Asia-Pacific Queer Film Festival Award
Secret love affairs, rom-com obsessed teens and pop-culture-filled sexual fantasies are the subject of some of the best Asia-Pacific shorts.
All I Ever Wanted
Are You Still Watching?
Frozen Out
Happy Marriage
My Mother's Girlfriend
Ours
Tank Fairy
The Struggle
A seminal gay classic, this tender love story between two working-class teenage boys living on a council estate is full of heart and laughs.
Representing some of the best short films the 2023 festival has to offer, this collection will warm your heart and put a smile on your face.
The Bower
In 1991, Seb takes Terri to witness Derek Jarman’s camp canonisation. In 2021, Terri takes young Jude to the same spot amidst tough news.
First Date
Tina, a recently widowed farmer, doesn’t want to be left all alone when her adult daughter moves back to the city. So she intervenes.
A Fox in the Night
Whilst picking up something from a dealer before a night out, flamboyant and confident Lewis is confronted with an unexpected connection.
Lucky Fish
Two Asian-American teenagers meet in the bathroom of a Chinese restaurant while avoiding awkward dinners with their families.
Monsieur Le Butch
Jude wants top surgery. Mum wants an “old lady pass” on the whole pronouns thing. The two butt heads about gender, language and body image.
Unicorn
A bisexual man meets an attractive couple to explore the possibilities of life as a unicorn: a drama-free, emotionally non-threatening third.
Warsha
Mohammad is a crane operator working in Beirut. He volunteers to take on one of the most dangerous cranes to live out his secret passion.
Queer, bisexual, pansexual, fluid and other non-monosexual people take centre stage in this hilarious, touching and sexy shorts package.
Aspirational Slut
Duet
Half
Refused Classification
Show Pony
Unicorn
Why Not Both?
Wishy Washy
Amidst the Black Lives Matter movement, BLACK AS U R asks why those against racial injustice often don’t speak up when victims are queer.
Boy George, Marilyn, Princess Julia, Gary Kemp and more recount the rise of the London nightclub that launched the New Romantic movement.
Opposites attract when an icy 20-something hockey player has instant chemistry with her fiery new teammate, in this sincere romantic drama.
An essential chapter in emerging trans identity, Casa Susanna was a safe haven where transgender women found refuge in the ‘50s and ‘60s.
Like an exceptionally dry martini, this witty film about the importance of queer friendship (and drag) in New York is something to savour.
Upending the power dynamic between men and other genders, this provocative feminist revenge fantasy pulls no punches against the patriarchy!
Ready for an Icelandic buddy cop action spoof with a gay flex? Add sexual tension and a hilariously evil baddie for an unforgettable caper!
A hard-as-nails drill sergeant’s journey from serving in silence to true love, in this compelling character study based on a true story.
A quiet, ambitious and commanding exploration of a Moroccan-Dutch man’s life at a crossroads when his conservative family discover he’s gay.
A tender romance develops between a young man and the carefree outsider who shakes up his reality, in this astutely observed Polish drama.
A group of women and non-binary drummers gather to create a historic and ground-breaking Taiko performance, an art-form dominated by men.
Freshly dumped (via Zoom!), sexually frustrated bear Francisco wants to get hot and heavy during a pandemic. But how can he do that safely?
A powerful love letter to the trailblazing transgender individuals whose stories were buried within the case files of a 1950s gender clinic.
Winner of the Audience Award at Toronto’s Inside Out fest, Gateways Grind dives into the history of London’s longest-running lesbian club.
Featuring Emmy award-winning actor Colman Domingo (Euphoria), this collection of heartfelt shorts focus on gay men from all walks of life.
Birds of a Feather
Blonde Night
Mab Hudel
North Star
The Bower
The Third Solar Term
A Chinese-Canadian teen realises basketball is way more fun when he has a hottie neighbour to practise with, in this coming-of-age drama.
There’s only one thing on everyone’s minds, in this sexy selection of shorts about hot guys flirting, dating and hooking up with other men.
A Fox in the Night
Beautiful Stranger
Boyfriend
Outdoors
Tomorrow Then
Troy
A harmless crush becomes an all-encompassing obsession, in this technicolour psychological thriller that thrums with excitement and danger.
The line between the homoerotic and homophobic blur when a group of 20-something men spend a summer together, in Marco Berger’s latest film.
A powerfully moving hybrid documentary tackling the stigma people living with HIV face when disclosing their status in present-day Ireland.
In from the Side is a captivating drama exploring an illicit affair between two partnered members of a South London gay rugby club.
In Her Words: 20th Century Lesbian Fiction
Revisit (and discover!) your 20th century lesbian literary favourites and celebrate the trailer-blazing authors that created them.
Queer Screen’s industry networking is a chance to connect with other LGBTIQ+ industry members and find collaborators for your next project!
Inqueersition: Queer Screen Trivia Night
The word is out! Grab your GBF and head on down to The Bearded Tit, the ideal home for Mardi Gras Film Festival’s queer movie trivia night.
This Cannes Un Certain Regard Jury Prize-winning romance between a trans woman and a married man is a watershed moment for Pakistani cinema.
From Africa, Europe to throughout the USA, this diverse collection of shorts brings together the experiences of lesbians from across the globe.
First Date
Masquerade
Minutes
Shams
The Syed Family Xmas Eve Game Night
This is Katharine
A solitary cowboy dives headfirst into a grungy world of lust and love on the streets of Sydney, in this frank and sometimes confronting film.
The incredible true story of the Lotus Sports Club is an eye-opening snapshot of queer resilience in the face of prejudice in Cambodia.
A tender and authentic story of love and hope in working-class Brazil, following the everyday challenges of a tight-knit family of dreamers.
Raphäelle Perez delivers a star-making performance as a young, sassy woman at the start of her transition, in the latest film from the director of Sediments.
Eight films in the running for My Queer Career, Australia’s richest LGBTIQ+ short film prize, with over $16,000 worth of prizes to be won.
Dykes On Bikes: An Origin Story
From protectors in the streets to Sydney Mardi Gras icons, this is a love letter to Australia’s longest running LGBTIQ+ community group.
Ghosted
A weekend retreat with his put-upon boyfriend turns sinister for a social media influencer when he’s pursued by a persistent online stalker.
Pause
After two years abroad, with less than 12 hours in her rural hometown Rosie attempts to mend the broken heart of her childhood sweetheart.
Right Here
After coming out as non-binary to their parents, Grace meets their future self and realises who they want to be was inside them all along.
Single
Housemates Tilly, Luke and Bridie bamboozle their way through a kaleidoscope of psychedelic romantic encounters in Sydney’s inner-west.
Sparkles
A 30-something year-old woman with Down syndrome flees her small country town for the big city, befriending a drag queen along the way.
Tuī Ná
A 17 year-old struggles to reconcile his burgeoning queerness with his filial duties and expectations from his Chinese immigrant mother.
Number 96: TV's First LGBT Show
A special event celebrating groundbreaking Australian TV, followed by a discussion between historian Andrew Mercado and actor Joe Hasham.
A Serbian-Australian teenager develops intense feelings for his friend’s older brother, in this phenomenal Australian coming of age romance.
An endearing film about a queer throuple, inspired by director Ruth Caudeli’s (Eva and Candela) own real-life polyamorous experiences.
Featuring an all-star cast including Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton, this British crowd-pleaser joyfully puts the protest back into pride.
Coached by his father (Tim Roth), a teen boxer preps for a major match while grappling with his sexuality, in this hard-hitting Kiwi drama.
Queer Comedy Specials with Joel Creasey and Rhys Nicholson presented by Prime Video
A free screening of two brand new queer stand-up specials: Joel Creasey: Queen of the Outback and Rhys Nicholson's Big Queer Comedy Concert.
Be transported into the lives of diverse queer people from across the globe, in this insightful, inspiring selection of documentary shorts.
Beirut Dreams in Color
Love, Barbara
Peach Paradise
Prosopagnosia
Salman Toor’s Emerald Green
Space is Quite a Lot of Things
Victor's Body
Inner demons, horrifying faceless torsos and sexy tentacled monsters will have you screaming in fear (and laughter) in this exciting package.
Anaconda
Griffica
Hideous
MonsterDykë
Repression
The Demons of Dorothy
Join us for a special Rainbow Families screening of Raya and the Last Dragon: an exciting, epic journey into the fantasy world of Kumandra.
A fixture of "best in lesbian film" lists, this light-hearted romance between two Chinese-American women was Alice Wu's 2004 directorial debut.
Shall I Compare You to a Summer’s Day?
Arabic pop songs and polyamorous gay confessionals swirl together in this evocative experimental film about the love lives of gay Arab men.
“Are you a tower? Because Eiffel for you.” So goes the pickup line that catalyses this sweet rom-com from the director of Billie and Emma.
Smartphone Filmmaking Workshop
This smartphone filmmaking workshop will put the power to tell your stories your way into the palm of your hand, using your very own phone.
Perfectly capturing the charm and chaos of first love, this is a captivating adaptation of the critically-acclaimed Swedish YA novel.
Direct from TIFF, Soft is a warm-hearted coming of age gem about friendship and resilience, from genderqueer Canadian director Joseph Amenta.
Stephen Cummins Retrospective Gala
A celebration of Australian filmmaker and artist Stephen Cummins, Queer Screen’s co-founder who left an indelible mark on queer cinema.
Screens with:
Blue Movie
Body Corporate
Breathbeat
Deadpan
Elevation
Le Corps Image
Resonance
Taste the Difference
The HIV Gameshow
Teen rockers Manu and Felipe have their friendship tested when one develops an unexpected crush, in this refreshing coming of age tale.
Cate Blanchett delivers a ferocious, career-best performance in this acclaimed, award-winning portrait of an intimidating lesbian maestro.
A woman’s love for her husband is unwavering even as he falls for another man, in this achingly beautiful, award-winning Moroccan drama.
Love, mystery and time travel collide in this compelling drama starring a mesmerising Adèle Exarchopoulos (Blue is the Warmest Colour).
An exhilarating and unforgettable documentary chronicling the extraordinary Dr Bob Brown, Australia’s first openly gay member of parliament.
Inspired by writer-director Elegance Bratton's experience as a gay Black man in the US marines, The Inspection is a raw, emotive drama.
Lou, Avery and Rio’s lives are falling apart, but adultery and binge drinking are just the tip of the iceberg, in this Sydney-based drama.
Seeking a family reunion, Stéphane is drawn into a web of intrigue, but who’s the predator and who’s the prey remains unclear in the wickedly funny thriller.
Liv thinks she has everything figured out until she’s swept off her feet by free spirit Andrea in this feel good, award-winning rom-com.
Sydney drag icon and RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under alum Maxi Shield stars in a farcical comedy that brings to mind the works of John Waters.
Fates collide in a Toronto laundromat when a chance encounter sees love blossom between a young Tamil woman and a Mohawk-Iranian woman.
A straight man falls in love with a drag queen, in this crowd-pleasing French dramedy that questions the rigid confines of gender presentation and sexual labels.
Three Tidy Tigers Tied a Tie Tighter
In this unconventional, Teddy Award-winner, three queer youths embark on a surreal, dystopian adventure through the streets of São Paulo.
Trans and Gender Diverse Shorts
Transgender men, women and people outside the gender binary take centre stage in this assemblage of funny and powerful short films.
Gem
Happy New Year, Ms. Luna
How Not to Date While Trans
Monsieur Le Butch
Piercing
Privilegiada
Queer Parivaar
Two docos about trailblazing Australian trans women: the first to run for parliament, and the founder of Sydney institution Trans Glamoré.
Unidentified Objects takes us to the heart of what it means to truly be ourselves, in this quirky science-fiction odyssey.
A breathtaking meditative journey through the Amazon with Uýra, an indigenous non-binary artist treated as an outsider on their own land.
A celebratory screening of 1991 lo-fi cult classic Vegas in Space, a loving homage to science fiction B-movies starring an all-drag cast.
The powerful and erotically charged story of Santiago, a middle-aged gay man who loses his way during an eventful summer in South America.
A young lesbian unexpectedly bonds with her late-grandfather’s secret gay lover in this mysterious, beautifully affecting Georgian drama.
This well-made claustrophobic thriller is both a gripping tale and an absorbing character drama – a real stand-out in the festival line-up.
Romance, flirting and sexual tension are in the air, in this short film package that’s all about women who love women, regardless of label.
Encore Martha
Me & Her(pes)
The Beginning & the Middle
Tuullik
Woman Meets Girl
Where one must choose between love and duty, identity and faith, You Can Live Forever asks the question: what do we sacrifice for paradise?
This fun and affirming package of short films about LGBTIQ+ youths is perfect for younger viewers – and those who remain young at heart.
Beast
Breathe
Homebird
Lucky Fish
Luv, Me
Make Me a King
The Birth of a Beautiful Butch
Who I Am
Comedian Scout Durwood creates her own perfect world in this camp-tastic escapade – a hilariously savvy musical for the TikTok generation!