Lights, Camera, ‘Q-thartic!’

Movies have a way of making us feel. We connect, we release. And that’s exactly what this year’s Seattle Queer Film Festival is all about.

The theme for the 29th annual festival is Q-thartic. “Our theme centers on the emotional release that cinema can provide, offering a much-needed space for healing, validation, and connection,” says festival director Trent Farrington. “In a time when marginalized communities are still fighting for visibility and justice, it’s vital that we uplift queer voices through the transformative power of film.”

The festival runs from Oct. 10-13, with in-person screenings at SIFF Cinema Egyptian and AMC Pacific Place. And if you’re in the mood to cozy up at home, the virtual portion runs from Oct. 14-20. This year there are 101 films from 26 countries.

Opening night features the Pacific Northwest premiere of Ponyboi, a debut film from Salvadoran-American filmmaker River Gallo. It’s about Ponyboi, an intersex sex worker on a journey of survival and self-discovery after a drug deal goes wrong. “We’re beyond thrilled to open the festival with Ponyboi,” says Farrington. “This film isn’t just a feature — it’s an evolution. Back in 2019, it captivated our audience as a short film and won an Audience Award that year. Now, we are honored to present the full-length version.”

Murray Bartlett and River Gallo in Ponyboi

Photo courtesy of Seattle Queer Film Festival

Other must-see films:

World Premier: Connection | Isolation

Two people wearing masks sit and converse on a bench in a wooded park area, illuminated softly by dappled lights filtering through the trees. The quiet scene is captured perfectly by a camera, evoking a sense of Q-thartic tranquility amidst nature.

Úmi Vera and JJ Jones in Connection | Isolation by G. Chesler

Image by Emilia Quinton and Aubree Bernier-Clarke

A documentary profiling eight trans, postgender, and genderqueer individuals navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The documentary explores their efforts to build community amid rising racism, police violence, and the exclusion of disabled people.

U.S. Premiere: Hero Camp!

Sam Ho, 2024, United States, 77 min.

This coming-of-age documentary, from Chinese American filmmaker Sam Ho, follows three queer teens as they discover themselves at a live-action role-play camp in suburban Massachusetts.

Spotlight Feature: The Astronaut Lovers

Marco Berger, 2024, Argentina & Spain, 116 min.

Set against a dreamy Argentine summer, this comedy from award-winning Argentinian director Marco Berger is about Pedro’s return to Argentina and his reunion with childhood friend Maxi. Pedro, who is openly gay, finds amusement in Maxi’s teasing flirtations — until things get complicated when Maxi claims Pedro is his boyfriend to make his ex jealous.

Pacific Northwest Premiere: Asog

Seán Devlin, 2023, Canada & Philippines, 101 min.

A glitter-filled, road trip movie about a non-binary comedian in the Philippines, chasing their dream of drag pageant glory. With Alan Cumming as co-executive producer, this one has already won some major awards, and it looks hilarious and tender.

No One Asked You

Lizz Winstead (co-creator of The Daily Show) teams up with Abortion Access Front to hit the road and support abortion clinic staff while busting stigmas along the way.

Closing Night: Gondola

Veit Helmer; 2024; Georgia & Germany; 82 min.

A nearly wordless love story set high in the mountains of Georgia. It’s about two women who work as gondola operators, their love story developing as they soar through the sky. It’s directed by German filmmaker Veit Helmer, who is known for his unique no-dialogue style.

Four people stand close together, looking up with concerned expressions under the bright lights. They are surrounded by a translucent plastic curtain, and some have bloodstains on their clothing. It's unclear what they're witnessing, but the scene feels almost cinematic—like a q-thartic moment captured on camera.

Mother Father Sister Brother Frank

Image courtesy of Seattle Queer Film Festival

And if you’re in the mood for some scares, the festival’s got you covered with a lineup of thrillers and creepy movies. Check out Under the Influencer, Mother Father Sister Brother Frank, or the unsettling Haze. Plus, don’t miss the late-night shorts program Fright Night and After Dark Special — perfect for getting into the Halloween spirit.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a festival without parties. There’s the Opening Night bash at SIFF Cinema Egyptian and a Closing Night celebration after Gondola on Oct. 12.

Gondola

Image courtesy of Seattle Queer Film Festival

Hybrid passes are $200, virtual passes are $125, and single tickets range from $15 to $30. For tickets, the full lineup, and more, go here.

The Seattle Queer Film Festival is put on by the nonprofit Three Dollar Bill Cinema. They also host TRANSlations: Seattle Trans Film Festival, Three Dollar Bill OUTdoor Cinema, and Reel Queer Youth, which provides media education for LGBTQ+ youth.