For Julia, facing life after the loss of her partner seems like an impossible task. But León, their son, is the fuel to keep going. Nothing is easy after Barby’s death, between the return of León’s biological father, Barby’s mother’s distant attitude, and the struggle to keep their restaurant open. Outstanding performances by a talented ensemble of actors add complexity and honesty to their roles, enhancing a well-crafted narrative. Directing duo Andi Nachon and Papu Curotto bring us a story about love, grief, and a little bit of family chaos. León is a tale about the joyous and difficult task of loving and understanding one another.

Canadian Premiere

Fanny, a 17-year-old student from France, goes on a language exchange trip to Germany where she will stay with her pen pal, Lena. Lena is cool, easygoing, seems to make friends with ease, and is extremely politically active. Fanny is troubled, shy, lonely, and dreams of a life like Lena’s. Willing to do anything to impress Lena, Fanny sees her time in Germany as an opportunity to invent a different life for herself but as her and Lena grow closer, she runs the risk of becoming caught up in her own web of lies.

This film contains sexual content.

North American Premiere

Helen lives with her ex-husband, his girlfriend, their new baby, and her ex-mother-in-law, who luckily remains her trusted ally. As she goes back and forth between working at the chicken factory and taking care of everyone at home, her dreary routine begins to take its toll. A bright spot appears in her otherwise mundane life when her high school crush, Joanne, returns to town. A musical drama set in northern Wales, Chuck Chuck Baby follows one woman as she finds the courage to stand up for herself and finally go after the life she deserves.

After a near-death experience lights a flame within both Grandma and Grandpa, they decide to grab life by the boas and tell the world their deepest secret: they’re gay. Having lived under the guise of a straight relationship for decades, they’re coming out of the closet, ditching their small-town life, and going after their big gay dreams. First stop, the big city, to learn “how to be gay” from the best gay people they know – their grandchildren. Navigating the queer dating scene, dating apps, queer fashion, and even a gay dodgeball league, this late-in-life coming out story is all about being empowered to love authentically no matter your age.

Join us for a screening of seven episodes and a panel featuring cast and crew.

World Premiere

When true-crime podcaster and sleuth Lola visits her hometown for the first time since running away and transitioning, the local urban legend, The Toymaker, is the least of her worries. But when the vengeful ghost of the historical murderer seemingly rises again, Lola must fight against not only a psychotic killer, but also a town haunted by secrets. Can Lola and her band of unexpected allies save Christmas? A transgender holiday film by prolific teenaged filmmaker Alice Maio Mackay and edited by The People’s Joker filmmaker, Vera Drew, Carnage for Christmas is destined to be a queer horror classic.

This film contains scenes of violence with graphic images of blood and gore.

Canadian Premiere

Angie and Pat have lived together for over three decades in their flat in Hong Kong, a flat that often hosts friends and family for dinners and get togethers. When Pat unexpectedly passes away without a will, Angie learns that she has no legal right to the home they shared and finds herself at the mercy of a once supportive family displaying dwindling goodwill toward her. Supported by the group of queer women that make up her chosen family, Angie embarks on a later in life journey toward independence. Inspired by shocking true stories, director Ray Yeung explores the often precarious life of aging members of LGBTQ+ communities.

Canadian Premiere

The First Women follows a group of women nearing their 60s who live in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro and share a common past: they were a part of the first ever women’s soccer team in Brazil. However, travelling around the world playing football in the 1980s and ‘90s did not guarantee them any notoriety. Today, most of them make their living from informal jobs, such as street vendors, Uber drivers, chefs, and construction workers. The film intimately reflects on the past, while following present day routines alongside consecutive matches played by the Brazilian men’s team in the World Cup. What is revealed is the incredible, and previously ignored, history of the first female national team to represent the country of football.

North American Premiere

New school, new classmates, new crushes, and a new sport. Ace’s first day at her new school starts out on the wrong foot and ends up with her becoming the newest member of the volleyball. team against her will. Jana, the team captain, sees Ace as a threat, and a rivalry is born. But love and hate are two sides of the same coin, and little by little, they will discover their feelings for each other. But just when everything seems to shine brighter, a black shadow returns. Rookie is a charming coming-of-age story where love, in all forms, takes centre stage. No matter the obstacles and challenges one might face, believing in yourself and protecting the ones you love is always the right choice.

North American Premiere

Have you had the pleasure of meeting Canada’s gayest family? Unusually Normal (Our Gay Family) follows three generations of women in one family who, get this, are all gay. Set against the backdrop of their loving and wholly authentic household, this family, with over 165,000 devoted TikTok followers, invites you into their world – a world where normal takes on a whole new meaning. As we traverse through three distinct eras alongside these extraordinary women, we witness their unwavering resilience in the face of adversity. From navigating the tumultuous waters of homophobia to grappling with profound family loss and navigating the complexities of clandestine love, theirs is a story of triumph against all odds.

World Premiere

Filmmaker Regan Latimer takes an insightful, immersive, and deeply personal look at
Queer representation in television, and the power of the media to shape how we see ourselves. Witty, fast-paced, and laced with pop culture references, Regan journeys across North America and beyond in her quest to understand the forces that influence the stories we see on our screens. Original animation and personal anecdotes are interwoven with wide-ranging conversations with television insiders, LGBTQ+ community advocates, and people who just love to watch TV. As Latimer navigates an ever-evolving media landscape, the filmmaker learns firsthand that representation done well has the power to transform.

World Premiere