Celebrate pride, whatever your stripes. Not every character here is out and proud in ideal circumstances, but the importance of reckoning with the disempowerment of LGBTQI+ communities everywhere, while also rejoicing in self-expression and diversity, is not lost on the artists of these films, either.
Several of their works also contend with the fluid intersection of cultural and sexual identity, and the fascinating push-pull between those two hemispheres (see also: Black Milk).
In this bright, affirmative lesbian teen rom-com, a girl awkwardly angles for the attention of her high school crush with a little help from the ghost of her aunt, a queer activist with a poignant history in the fight for LGBTQI+ rights.
Understated yet emotionally resonant, Faraz Shariat’s semi-autobiographical coming-of-age drama is both timely in its exploration of a global humanitarian crisis and a testament to the transformative power of queer love.
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The Steelers journey to compete in the World Cup of gay rugby in this hopeful yet emotionally honest sports documentary about playing for pride, whoever your team is.
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Director Ray Yeung breaks new ground with Suk Suk (‘uncle’ in Cantonese), an affecting portrayal of two gay men in modern Hong Kong as they find each other in their later years and struggle with enduring matters of identity, desire and belonging.
A smart and nuanced portrait of gay love matched with suspenseful and unexpected turns, Marco Berger’s latest film continues his acclaimed run of dramas exploring queer male desire and romance.