Queer Screen has just unveiled the full lineup for the 13th Queer Screen Film Fest (QSFF26), and it's shaping up to be one of the biggest years yet for LGBTIQ+ cinema in Australia.
The festival runs 2 to 8 September on the big screen at Event Cinemas George Street Sydney, followed by a curated on-demand season available nationwide from 9 to 16 September 2026 — so wherever you are, there's a way to catch the program.
What's on the program
QSFF26 features 28 films in total — 12 features and 16 shorts — spanning countries, genres, and stories from across the queer experience. The festival also sees the return of the Pitch Off Competition and Emerging Narrative Feature Competition, plus a brand-new addition this year: Queer Screen Studio, a full day of masterclasses, panels, and networking for filmmakers, covering everything from investor pitches to post-production and navigating the global festival circuit.
Opening and Closing Night
Kicking things off on Wednesday 2 September is Jim Queen, fresh off Cannes and the Sydney Film Festival. Directed by Marco Nguyen and Nicolas Athané, this neon-soaked animated French/Belgian odyssey sends up queer iconography in a disco-fuelled apocalypse where a virus threatens to turn queer people straight.
Closing the festival on Tuesday 8 September is the NSW Premiere of Sweet Milk Lake, an Australian drama exploring brotherhood, belonging, and trans identity in a hyper-masculine rural town. The film is written, directed by, and stars Harvey Zielinski (Deadloch) in a dual performance, alongside Hunter Page-Lochard (Cleverman), Kieran Darcy-Smith (Animal Kingdom), and Nic Cassim (The Correspondent). Zielinski will be at the cinema for a special Closing Night Q&A.
Emerging Narrative Feature Competition
This year's competition spotlights bold new voices from around the world, including:
- Big Girls Don't Cry (New Zealand) — a Sundance hit executive produced by Jane Campion, delivering 2000s nostalgia and teenage queer angst
- The Education of Jane Cumming (UK/Germany/Switzerland) — starring Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve), based on the true 19th-century Scottish trial that inspired Scotch Verdict
- Montreal, My Beautiful (Canada) — starring Joan Chen in a career-defining role as a mother navigating late-in-life queer discovery
- Test (USA) — Frameline 2026's Outstanding First Feature winner, a visceral drama about bodybuilding, faith, and desire
Panorama & Global Gems
Also screening: La Bola Negra, starring Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close; Coward, Lukas Dhont's Cannes-winning WWI romance; Sydney director Dean Francis's Body Blow; the documentary Hunky Jesus, featuring San Francisco's Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence; a 30th anniversary screening of Bound; and Alice Maio Mackay's retro sci-fi horror Our Effed Up World, produced by Jane Schoenbrun.
Shorts Programme
The Sweet, Cheeky, Fearless shorts collection dives into the funny, awkward, and moving realities of queer life, with standouts including Eyeliner (UK), G.O.A.T (Australia), Kiloran Bay (UK, starring Alan Cumming), and Sunday Lunch(UK). A further slate of shorts will screen alongside the festival's features throughout the week.
Beyond the screen
QSFF26 isn't just about what's on screen. The Queer Screen Pitch Off Competition takes place live at Event Cinemas George St on Saturday 5 September, with finalists competing for a $10,000 cash grant to fund their next short film. The following day, Queer Screen Studio launches at AFTRS — a full day of industry panels and masterclasses supported by Screen NSW, designed to empower the next generation of LGBTIQ+ storytellers.
The essentials
- Dates: 2–8 September 2026 (in-cinema at Event Cinemas George St) | 9–16 September 2026 (on-demand, nationwide)
- Tickets: Member pre-sale opened Tuesday 4 August; general public on sale from Wednesday 5 August
- Single tickets: $25 Adult | $22 Concession | $21 Queer Screen Member
- Opening Night Film + Party: $60 Adult | $56 Member/Concession
- Flexi Passes: Flexi 5 ($110 / $90 Member) | Flexi 10 ($180 / $170 Member)
- Full program and bookings: queerscreen.org.au
“It's an exciting, strong year for LGBTIQ+ cinema,” says Benson Wu, CEO of Queer Screen. “From major festival hits straight out of Cannes and Sydney Film Festival to groundbreaking Australian debuts, Queer Screen is showcasing a wealth of new, creative LGBTIQ+ cinematic styles and storytelling. We want audiences to walk away with a lasting impact and a genuine excitement for what's next.”
