The ninth edition of the LGBTQIA+ film festival returns with a slew of cult classics, new indie favourites and thought-provoking documentaries. The month-long programme held at Filmhouse kicks off with To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. Directed by Beeban Kidron, the ’90s drag road-trip comedy starring Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo follows the trio as they struggle to make their way to Los Angeles after their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere.
The film programme’s roster continues with screenings of Cactus Pears, a drama set in rural India; Montreal, My Beautiful, a story about a Chinese Canadian immigrant who falls in love with a free-spirited woman; and Yihwen Chen’s Queer as Punk, which documents Singapore and Malaysia’s queer history. The film festival concludes with a special screening of Brokeback Mountain, where everyone’s invited to dress up in their best rodeo getup. The movie will be followed by a panel conversation that discusses the cultural impact of Ang Lee’s Western flick, and how queer stories have evolved on screen. Ticket sales from the event will go toward supporting Proud Spaces and their ongoing work with the LGBTQ+ community.

