Scottish Queer International Film Festival

2025 films... 

SQIFF 2025 Opening Night Scottish Shorts... 

This Werewolf Complex, Dir. Heather E Andrews, 2024, United Kingdom, 15 min

Moving portrait explores brain auras through personal voices, examining seizure warnings, social stigma, and their positive impact on artistic expression. 

TWISTED PAIR, Dir. Edward Gwyn Jones, 2023, United Kingdom, 13 min

Two characters engage in erotic, absurdist phone calls that invert power dynamics, sampling 1975-1985 queer cinema and pop culture. 

Late Bloomers, Dir. Axel Gutapfel, 2024, United Kingdom, 6 min

Late Bloomers depicts a post-nature world where Glasgow’s queer community creates reality through mimicking wilderness they’ve never known. 

Three Act Structure, Dir. Iona Rose Wheeler, 2025, United Kingdom, 3 min

Iona recounts and imagines experiences discussing gender with doctors. 

TAPS, Dir. Louis O. Utieyin, 2025, United Kingdom, 7 min

When Max unknowingly summons a demon on Grindr, he must do whatever it takes to survive. 

Taxonomy, Dir. Ren Leverentz, 2025, United Kingdom, 11 min

Using a combination of movement art and conversation, Taxonomy is a short documentary that explores the relationship between language and gender for trans and non-binary people. 

The Figure in the Carpet, Dir. Fibi Cowley, 2024, United Kingdom, 7 min

Personal reflection on living with hallucinations, told through experimental puppetry and informed by the director’s lived sensory experiences. 

Well … Actually, Dir. Zyra Evangelista, 2025, United Kingdom, 13 min

When xeir best friend pulls a prank that goes terribly wrong, an agoraphobic doomsday pepper becomes the world’s last hope for survival… or so they think. 

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Scottish Shorts 2 

A Journey Of The Leaves, Dir. Yash Zhang, 2024, United Kingdom, 11 min

When memories of his father’s violence chase him from China, a queer filmmaker drifts into an autumn-touched Estonian town. There, a wandering traveler, a bookstore owner, a poet’s living statue, and another queer Chinese soul carrying similar wounds guide him through the scattered pieces of his past. 

Be Honest!, Dir. Alice Harper, 2025, United Kingdom, 11 min

With a chance to win £100,000 for their ailing child, a couple enter a game show where they must face the most brutal challenge of all — being honest.  

Before You Leave, Dir. Louise Thomas, 2024, United Kingdom, 12 min

On the day before her move to Australia, Innes, a veterinarian in her mid-twenties, grapples with mounting uncertainty as she and her sister, Saoirse, navigate the streets of Edinburgh. On this journey, they deliver the last of her belongings to a coworker, an ex-boyfriend, and a childhood friend. Each encounter becomes a poignant reminder of what she’s leaving behind. 

Keith, Dir. Steven Fraser, 2024, United Kingdom, 8 min

A Glasgow filmmaker discovers a dead body behind bins and embarks on a phone-based investigation to identify the victim. Using animation techniques exploring social media, apps, and blogs, the film examines neurodiversity and autistic communication styles while building tension toward revealing the deceased person’s name. 

Bowl, Dir. John Kelbie, 2025, United Kingdom, 10 min

Arthur is an elderly, quick-witted, gay man who has recently been diagnosed with arthritis. Upon finding out that his old foe and competitor Norma is playing in the upcoming lawn bowls charity match, Arthur seeks the chance to prove himself. He faces many challenges along the way as he bickers with Norma and comes to terms with his illness and the losses he has faced, but with a little help from Norma’s granddaughter Jenn, he is able to confront his past and learn what is truly important to him. 

Cahā, Dir. Chak Hin Leung, 2024, United Kingdom, 10 min

Intimate documentary capturing two immigrants—Indian and Bruneian—meeting in a London teahouse. Over tea (“cahā”), their casual conversation reveals profound stories of sacrifice, identity, and adaptation. The film explores immigrant experiences and colonial tea legacy, showing how this simple ritual creates unexpected connection and understanding across borders. 

Changing Homes, Dir. Mano Mandal, 2025, United Kingdom, 6 min

An Indian nonbinary transmasculine person goes to a European beach for the first time since their top surgery. As they sit and read about a historical trans person, they navigate the idea of being shirtless in public for the very first time. While doing so, they reflect on Eurocentric body standards and on their sense of home — in their own body and amidst bodies of water. 

First Contact, Dir. James Crang, 2025, United Kingdom, 8 min

In isolation on the moon, a gardener tends to his small patch of life. When another person appears, he is forced to confront his fears of connection. Will he nurture a bond that could bring light to his lonely existence, or will his anxiety keep him in darkness? 

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How We Loved, How We Broke... 

Aliens In Beirut, Dir. Raghed Charabaty, 2025, Lebanon, 17 min

A Lebanese immigrant returns to Beirut for the first time in a decade, only to find love and horror by the sea, in the alleyways, and on the elusive rooftops of the city – right before the 2020 Beirut Port Explosion. 

At Least We Had This Moment, Dir. Joshua de Vera, 2025, Philippines, 20 min

In his quest to capture the aged architecture of Manila, film photographer Dino seeks the company of a local stranger, Vince. But as the city noises grew, their stories stood out. 

Earworm, Dir. Ilias Merabiha, 2025, France, Germany, 11 min

Tormented Gaspard battles a parasitic worm feeding on his grief after romance ends, undergoing cathartic metamorphosis through healing rituals. 

EDEN (باغ عدن), Dir. Rustin Zam-Zam Madadi, 2024, United States of America, 10 min

In the sun-soaked suburbs of Orange County, CA, Roya returns home seeking a fresh start, only to become entangled in a web of desire at an all-women’s yoga studio with their trans masculine counterpart. As loyalties shift and old wounds resurface, the studio transforms into a battleground where love and hate collide. 

Fortune Favours the Fantabulous, Dir. Emmanuel Li, 2023, United Kingdom, 25 min

Non-binary fortune teller Fei Liu’s marsh tent becomes invaded by phantoms over three days, threatening their reality and future. 

Purebred, Dir. Caleb J. Roberts, 2025, Ireland, United Kingdom, 15 min

During a heatwave in Belfast, transgender man Owen returns to the flat of his on-off-again lover Seán after taking a pregnancy test. 

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Rookie, Dir. Samantha Lee, 2023 

Ace is a tall, awkward teenager who moves to an all-girls Catholic high school in the Philippines. The volleyball coach spots Ace on her first day, and invites her to try out for the team. She is initially no good at the sport and socially ostracised, but things begin to change when she falls for the highly motivated team captain, Jana, who dislikes her because she sees her as a threat. But the girls and their teammates must nonetheless join forces: not only to successfully compete in competitions, but also to face up against a more disturbing, insidious threat. Powered by authentic performances, Samantha Lee’s heartfelt film captures the resilience of the young athlete as she struggles for acceptance, and the strength of female solidarity in a society rigged against women. 

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NO PRIDE IN GENOCIDE... 

Blood Like Water, Dir. Dima Hamdan, 2023, Palestine, 13 min

When a Palestinian man is blackmailed with footage of him having sex with another man, he and his family are forced to make a terrible decision: collaborate with the Israeli occupation or be publicly shamed. Based on true stories. 

I Never Promised You a Jasmine Garden, Dir. Teyama Alkamli, 2023, Canada, 20 min

Tara, a queer Arab woman in her late 20s, attempts to suppress her internal emotional turbulence during a phone call with her best friend Sarab, with whom she is in love. 

Cinema Fouad, Dir. Mohamed Soueid, 1993, Lebanon, 41 min

Documentary portrait of Oscar Al-Halabiye, a Syrian trans woman in Beirut working as domestic worker and belly dancer. Through intimate scenes of daily life, she reflects on gender reassignment desires, mourning her Palestinian lover’s death, and facing societal aggressions that echo even in the filmmaker’s provocative interview style.

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A Nova Era... 

How a river is born, Dir. Luma Flôres, 2025, Brazil, 9 min 

Ayla wakes up in a mountainous landscape, surrounded only by vegetation and a river. Driven by curiosity and a desire to get to know the place, she goes on a journey of discovery and diving. As she discovers where she is, she also discovers herself. 

Telepathic Encounters, Dir. Henfil, 2025, Brazil, 5 min, 

A love at first sight between two young girls unveils an unexpected telepathic community amid a silent library. 

If I’m Here It Is By Mystery, Dir. Clari Ribeiro, 2024, Brazil, 22 min

New Rio, 2054. Renowned witch Dahlia arrives at the port with a mission: to found the most powerful Clan that has ever existed and thus defeat the Order of Truth. In the future, many people are trans — but only a few are witches. 

Vollúpya, Dirs. Éri Sarmet, Jocimar Dias Jr., 2024, Brazil, 21 min

In a post-apocalyptic future, an intergalactic explorer lands at an abandoned museum on a quest to find traces of his long-lost ancestors, and ends up being teleported to the dance floor of a Brazilian queer nightclub in the 1990s. 

Kings, Dir. Juliana Pamplona, 2024, Brazil, 15 min 

A poetic documentary on a diverse group, identified with the dyke-queer culture, that spends a day experimenting as drag kings at a bar in the borough of Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro. 

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For Real?... 

Skinless, Dirs. Estibaliz Villa, Erik Campos, 2024, Spain, 11 min

After an environmental catastrophe, the only survivors left live sheltered wearing the biodermis, a suit they can survive with but doesn’t allow them to feel touch. After years of lockdown, Nora and Dani go outside. 

Just above the tear duct on each side, Dirs. Cáit McClay, Éiméar McClay, 2024, United Kingdom, Ireland, 20 min

Using St. Conal’s Hospital archives, this film examines Ireland’s 1950s psychiatric institutions and their carceral, therapeutic, and socioeconomic influences. 

The Xenogender, Dir. Masataka Ishizaki, 2025, United Kingdom, United States of America, 15 min

Japanese immigrant Kenzo in New York confesses his crocodile identity to date Jack, but becomes more absorbed in videos afterward. 

The Martial Forest, Dir. J Triangular, 2025, Colombia, Taiwan, 9 min

Exiled Kung Fu master Big Sister 13 leads trans fighters in creating the Martial Forest, where care equals combat power. 

The Generators, Dir. Georgie Cowan-Turner, 2024, Ireland, 14 min

In a future drained of colour, Oscar and his ailing husband struggle with a medical system where energy credits are the new currency. When a hospital visit reveals a zero credit balance, Oscar must join the human generators and physically power Alex’s treatment himself. But as his energy fades, so does the possibility of a future together.

Hide and Seek, Dir. Junjie Xu, 2024, United Kingdom, 6 min

Hide and Seek is a 3D animated short film that takes viewers on a bittersweet journey. It presents a story of a person hiding their queer identity from their parents at different stages of life. The film highlights the struggles faced by the queer community as they grow up and explores the fantasy of queer spaces with queer phenomenology. 

Clear, Dir. Hogan Seidel, 2024, United States of America, 6 min

Clear is a visceral confrontation with the illusion of “safety,” where altered 16mm footage and layered audio reveal the quiet violence surveillance imposes on trans and gender-nonconforming bodies. 

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Squad Goals... 

We’ll Go Down In History, Dirs. Cameron Richards, Charlie Tidmas, 2025, United Kingdom, 25 min

We’ll Go Down In History tells the story of TRUK United, a grassroots, proudly trans football club. Filmed over two years, it captures the team’s highs and lows on and off the pitch as they create a safe haven for their community in the face of rising transphobia. 

Three Vendors of Ipanema, Dir. Jonathan S. Lee, 2024, United States of America, 25 min

Three street vendors from Rio’s favelas sell homemade food on Ipanema Beach, embodying dignity and beloved by LGBTQ+ community. 

The Backstreet, Dir. Romain Beck, 2024, United Kingdom, 29 min

London’s legendary leather club The Backstreet faces closure after 37 years. Regulars share intimate memories while curators preserve relics of this secret haven’s legacy. 

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Legacies... 

Birthdays, Dir. Adrian Jalily, 2024, Denmark, 19 min

Second-grader Bruno faces social isolation for being different, forcing his Iranian father Marlon to confront his son’s otherness and exclusion. 

Oceania, Dir. Valentin Noujaïm, 2024, Lebanon, 24 min

Najib, 16, spends his summer on a video game, until his mother, Asma, discovers the death of their elderly and lonely neighbor. He steals the keys to the apartment, and dives into an unexpected world. 

Burcu’s Angels (Preview Screening), Dir. Özgün Gündüz, 2025, Canada, 20 min

Turkish queer elder Burcu Özdemir’s Vancouver vintage store has served as a sanctuary and “coming out center” for thirty years. 

While We Still Have Time, Dir. Ava Grimshaw-Hall, 2024, Australia, 15 min

A daughter reconciles with her distant sperm-donor father as he manages an aggressive prostate cancer, with little indication of how much time there is left to find out who he really is. 

Find The Boy, Dir. Paulin.e Goasmat, 2025, France, 18min

As Charly, a young trans man, is laid to rest under his birth name, Tom, Louise and BB, his queer pals, decide to pay their last respects in his own image in a place where they used to meet, Charly’s childhood home. But Victor, his brother, had the same idea. 

Scattered Pictures, Dirs. Ibai Vigil-Escalera, Jose André Sibaja, 2025, United States of America, 8 min

Through the grainy nostalgia of 8mm film and the intimacy of voice-over narration, Gabriel takes us on a deeply personal journey of self-discovery. 

Sole, Dir. Ana Berdeja, 2024, Mexico, 15 min

Veteran embalmer Sole faces a dilemma: honor a transgender man’s wishes or his family’s demands while hiding her own secret. 

Eachdraidh Na Tìre 

Dissonance, Dir. Aderayo Adenekan, 2025, United Kingdom, 30 min

Experimental short following a young Black woman exploring her queerness after moving cities, battling internal conflict from homophobic upbringing. Split between wordless narrative and documentary epilogue, the film uses movement, sound, and symbolism to capture psychological dissonance between taught identity and authentic self-discovery. 

who will be remembered here, Dirs. Michael Sherrington, Lewis Hetherington, CJ Mahony, 2025, United Kingdom, 30 min

A cry against cultural erasure. Four queer people across Scotland’s historic landscapes question the stories we tell and their impact on future generations. This intimate film archives marginalized identities, claiming space in history as a beacon for those who follow—a tender refusal to be forgotten. 

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The Stage is a Body... 

ANDRO, Dir. Dominik Gasser, 2025, Germany, 27 min

ANDRO DADIANI’s political performances dissect the oppression by state and church in Georgia and conquer Tbilisi’s urban spaces. As a queer, non-binary protest and performance art figure, their identity remains a secret. The danger of open resistance is too great. 

Thunder Bird, Dir. Yadanar Oo, 2025, Myanmar, 16 min

65-year-old Mommy Soe leads Myanmar’s pioneering Thunder Bird drag troupe, established 50 years ago. After surviving decades of social rejection, political upheaval, and recent civil war, she faces her greatest challenge: keeping the troupe alive after losing her life partner Abai, while navigating dangerous military checkpoints to perform. 

Anziety, Dir. David O Carrol, 2024, Ireland, 10 min

Anziety is Ian’s journey to becoming a drag artist.

Weaving through death, loss, and foster care, he brings us to his darkest moments, yet we end up in a room full of love.

Both a celebration of unwavering loyalty and creative self-expression, Anziety moves between an intimate reflection on Ian’s past and a contemporary portrait of his present. 

Shame (عيب), Dir. Hadi Moussally, 2024, Lebanon, 5 min

In the 19th century, in the Levant region, Salma Zahore, along with her parents and neighbors, participated in a photoshoot using a long exposure technique. At the end of it, Salma decided to take off her coat, revealing her body. Unaware of the chaos this gesture could cause within her circle, she did not know it could lead to shame (عيب). 

The Insect Graveyard, Dir. Alex Simões, 2023, Portugal, 20 min

Where were you when you realized the irreversibility of death? From mourning, Alex retrieves the environment of his childhood and transforms memory into a space of performance for overcoming. 

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Aunties... 

Two Travelling Aunties, Dir. Christine Seow, 2025, Singapore, 22 min

Two spirited Singaporean seniors ditch conventional living for van life, embracing adventure, newfound freedom, and the joy of living on their terms. 

Warm Shadows, Dir. Aakash Chhabra, 2025, India, Singapore, 15 min

Priya, 50, makes her maiden trip to the sea. At dusk, she stands at the shore and overlooks the vast horizon. In a distant part of the world, Raag, 20s, is in a taxi which passes through a metropolitan. A fragmented voice-over unfolds the tender relationship the two share. 

Toad Song, Dir. Qin Qin, 2025, China, 15 min

Eight-year-old Xu Letian is called to bring his parents to school after getting into a fight and bringing tadpoles. Xu Letian must find a new home for the tadpoles, and on his journey, he stumbles upon a secret that sets his family apart from others. 

Handwoven, Dirs. Dasha Levin, Mason Cazalet, Mihika Das, Matthew Wisdom, 2024, India, Ireland, United States of America, 9 min

A lyrical portrait of Nikyle Begay, a non-binary shepherd and weaver; working to preserve their way of life through the traditional art of weaving. 

We Are Here, Dirs. Zhao Jing, Shi Tou, 2015 

This documentary from LGBT activists Zhao Jing and Shi Tou revisits the 1995 United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, which was hosted in Beijing. The conference was attended by 300 lesbian women from around the world, whose organisers sought to facilitate queer participation, visibility, and recognition in the context of broader discussions around women’s rights. The first-ever lesbian tent at a UN NGO forum was created, where ideas were shared, connections were made, and identities were affirmed; the gathering helped spearhead the birth of the queer lala movement in China. Featuring footage of the event, and interview commentary from those who participated, We Are Here testifies to the importance of global queer interactions in shaping the ongoing struggle for equality. 

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Halloween Night: The Serpent’s Skin, Dir. Alice Maio Mackay, 2025, Australia, 83 min 

First up is ¡Beso de lengua! by José Luiz Zorrero, a surreal and seductive descent into a world where desire takes monstrous form. Then, The Serpent’s Skin by Alice Maio Mackay slithers into darker territory, weaving a tale of trans identity, vengeance, and the supernatural, with all the blood-soaked camp you’d expect from a Mackay horror.

Both films push the boundaries of body, gender, and genre, creating a perfect night of queer frights and delights. The fabulous Jaye Hudson from TGirlsOnFilm will introduce the films and host a Best Halloween Costume Competition! Come dressed to impress for a chance to win a pint of SQIFF and Closet Brewing’s Director’s Cut. Let’s celebrate Halloween the queerest way we know how! 

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Queer Freedom... 

Just Me, Dir. Mattie Kennedy, 2014, United Kingdom, 3 min

A film about individual identities and family ties, Versions is made through the technique of stop-motion and collage in which the filmmaker uses various silhouettes, which could potentially represent rebirth. 

Izzy Aman: The Joy of Drag, Dir. Isabella Walton, 2023, United Kingdom, 13 min

This film explores the rich expressive world of drag kinging through the experience of one individual: Isabel Adomakoh Young, known as Izzy Aman in the drag world. 

Coming out Autistic, Dir. Steven Fraser, 2023, United Kingdom, 4 min

Coming out Autistic is a short animated documentary that explores the experience of telling the world that you are autistic when you also identify as LGBTQ+. 

S.A.M., Dirs. Neil Ely, Lloyd Eyre-Morgan, 2020, United Kingdom, 16 min

S.A.M. is a short drama film in which two teenagers bond after meeting in a park after school. 

Sparkle, Dir. Matthew Hellett, 2008, United Kingdom, 3 min

Sparkle, made by Matthew Hellett, charts his transformation into a glamorous alternative persona, the drag queen Mrs. Sparkle. 

(Un)fit to Work, Dir. Yasmin Godo, 2023, United Kingdom, 5 min

A disabled mechanic takes us on a musical journey of 80s disco & ballroom through his imagination after he’s denied access to apply for the job he’s best suited for at his local job center. 

Born to Dance with an Extra Chromosome: the Drag Queens (and Kings) with Down’s Syndrome, Dir. Nikolay Nikolov, 2020, United Kingdom, 10 min

Born to dance with an extra chromosome: the drag queens (and kings) with Down syndrome. This short film follows Drag Syndrome during a performance at the Ace Hotel in East London. 

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Re:Frame... 

Pretty Sick, Dirs. Zed Von Benzon, Aster Emschild, 2025, United Kingdom, 10 min

Glasgow-based disability advocate and artist Sara, who masked before COVID, creates bold glittering mask jewelry, transforming survival symbols into defiance and hope. This intimate documentary explores ongoing pandemic impacts on those still masking, weaving together disability, activism, and fashion while advocating for visibility and inclusion. 

Modernism/Us, Dir. Morgan Black, 2025, United Kingdom, 14 min

Two lovers – Isla and Tris – find themselves emotionally, verbally and physically dancing around the consummation of their mutual affections. Driven by music, they discuss and express their feelings for each other in a series of vignettes, leading towards an emotional and ultimately fulfilling climax. 

Thresh/olding, Dir. Deviji Jaani-Jaan, 2025, United Kingdom, 5 min

Thresh/olding is an experimental film dreaming the QTIPoC body through poetry, movement, selkies and mangroves roots as radical, fecund sites of queer and trans resilience and resistance. 

WORM, Dirs. Lish Adam, Jules Brick, Jo Hauge, Cal Mowatt, 2025, United Kingdom, 13 min

I want to share a body with you and also with a worm. Worms can feel with their whole bodies. 

Bianca, Dir. Priscila Fróes, 2025, United Kingdom, 8 min

A trans woman blends documentary footage of her past as a sex worker in Porto Alegre and Rio de Janeiro with experimental visuals and a hybrid soundscape to transform marginalised memories into a powerful act of cinematic reclamation. 

Lock In, Dir. Louis Utieyin, 2025, United Kingdom, 8 min

JJ decides to try out a new spiritual retreat because they are struggling with their mental health. 24 hours later they are in an interrogation room and try to make sense of what happened at the retreat. Reality and imagination begin to blur. What is real and what is fake? 

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Animation Now... 

The Last Garden, Dir Eloise Jenninger, 2024, United Kingdom, 8 min

For Henry, the community garden is his escape from the daily toil in the city. However, the day has come for it to be demolished, Henry and his community can’t agree on how to save it. 

The Prospectors, episode 1 Pip Pop’s Find, Dir. David Hutchison, 2025, United Kingdom, 10 min

Cat dads Ahab and Gert discover rejuvenating goo on their asteroid, but sharing it leads to capture by space cannibal Sunny Bean. 

Two Black Boys In Paradise, Dir. Baz Sells, 2025, United Kingdom, 9 min

A movingly tender animation, based on Dean Atta’s eponymous poem, sees two boys (Edan, 19 and Dula, 18) on a journey of self-acceptance and love – for each other and themselves. 

Beacon, Dir. Alicia Brown, 2025, United Kingdom, 2 min

An animation about finding a way home after crash-landing on an unknown planet. 

Colour Me Pink, Dir. Anika O’Hagan-Ploug, 2024, Ireland, 3 min

Music Video for indie pop song Colour Me Pink by K E L, created by Anika O’Hagan-Ploug. 

Dragfox, Dir. Lisa Ott, 2024, United Kingdom, Switzerland, 8 min

Sam’s search for identity gets interrupted by a mysterious neighbourhood fox. Together they embark on a magical journey to the attic to discover the surprising things they might have in common, and how to celebrate the ways in which they differ. 

Falling for Greta, Dir. Gustavo Arteaga, 2023, United Kingdom, 11 min

When love comes knocking Greta’s world is turned upside down. As her passion grows complications follow but change is coming in the shape of water. 

Hey Dad, Dir. WeiFan Wang, 2023, Taiwan, 6 min

I’ve practiced these words for 20 years now, but maybe being candid isn’t the best idea. I’m starting my countdown again, another 20 years. Maybe it might be the right time by then. 

Grand Dandy (For Ezra), Dirs. The Campbells (Jen and Crystal Campbell), 2024, United Kingdom, 4 min

Non-binary grandparent Libro Levi Bridgeman shares tender moments with grandson Ezra while exploring how to explain their queer identity lovingly. 

Fried!, Dir. Lizzie Watts, 2025, United Kingdom, 10 min

As Dev drives home from a mysterious, ageing nuclear facility, he becomes stranded at an isolated emu farm run by old mystic lesbians. Suspicious of their intentions, Dev fears they will sacrifice him at the local stone circle. 

Midnight at Mickey’s, Dir. Vin Wolff, 2024, United Kingdom, 5 min

Two tough guys face off in a seedy late-night diner. 

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Queerly Beloved... 

Bury Your Gays, Dir. Charlotte Serena Cooper, 2025, United Kingdom, 20 min

Bury Your Gays follows actor Grace, who can’t understand why every role she lands ends in her untimely death—until a mysterious agent explains the ‘Bury Your Gays’ trope. Now, trapped in a genre-hopping battle for survival, Grace has one mission: do not die. 

ASL, Dir. Cal Freeman, 2024, United Kingdom, 5 min

Rulf (19) meets Ziggy (38) for a car hookup, but attraction turns awkward when Ziggy’s internalized homophobia clashes with Rulf’s progressive views. After confronting contradictions and guilt, a flamboyant radio ad breaks the tension. They reconnect through laughter, reconsidering their desires before finally embracing their mutual attraction. 

Bi-Nocular Panic, Dir. Anouk Witkowska Hiffle, 2024, United Kingdom, 7 min

Cass and Jane spend their afternoon doing what every normal teenager does on a sunny day: spying on boys. But when the captivating Melody appears, Cass realises she might be interested in more than just boys. 

Gender Reveal, Dir. Mo Matton, 2024, Canada, 13 min

Rhys, a dedicated people pleaser, winds up at their boss’ gender reveal party with their two partners. The trans throuple soon realize that they are dealing with more than they were prepared for and their ability to survive the event comes into question. 

Sriracha, Dir. Weili Hsing, 2024, United Kingdom, 10 min

In a chaotic London kebab shop, Asian drag king Li clashes with traditional Turkish chef Hamza over sriracha. When drunk British lads arrive seeking trouble, a simple condiment dispute erupts into a full food fight. Through the mayhem, Li and Hamza discover their shared experience bridges cultural divides, forging unexpected friendship. 

Principal Boy, Dir. Maz Murray, 2024, United Kingdom, 22 min

Principal Boy follows the audition, rehearsal, and performance of British pantomime’s traditional lead—a male hero conventionally played by a woman in drag. Using and subverting pantomime conventions, it explores trans and gender-nonconforming representation in mainstream culture, examining presence and absence in film and theatre. 

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Closing Film: Dreams in Nightmares, Dir. Shatara Michelle Ford, 2024 

Three queer black femmes embark on a road trip across the Midwest United States in search of their missing friend. The trio face challenges as they encounter different communities along their journey and this prompts  reflection on the group as friends, as well as individuals.

Expect tender friends and lovers, open country roads and a chance to dream in a world of nightmares. 

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