By Bryan Nieves
The Eighteenth edition of Cinema Diverse, The Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Film Festival will soon be underway. The schedule is set, and tickets and passes are now on sale. The festival, which includes forty-nine feature films and over 100 short films this year, runs for two long weekends at the Palm Springs Cultural Center: September 21-24 and September 28-October 1. Films will be screening in all three of the Camelot theatres.
Cinema Diverse is dedicated to advancing and further strengthening our diverse gay community through the establishment of a world-class film festival that presents lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender cinema from around the world.
Following are some of this year’s other feature films, please visit www.cinemadiverse.org for complete list of films and showtimes.
Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day
Four close friends are renowned filmmakers in Yugoslavia in the 1950s, but their sexual orientation raises suspicion. A communist party loyalist is sent to sabotage their lives, turning their pursuit of freedom into a battle for survival. Croatian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.
The Big Johnson
Dean Johnson was a famous New York drag queen, rock star, sex party promoter and late in life, an escort. In 2007 Dean went on a job and never came back. Was it just an accidental overdose or something more sinister? Dean survived ups and downs, heroin, sobriety, love, sex, music, community, HIV, and poverty. Until he didn’t
Shorts: Life, Love and Other Stories
ARTHUR AVE. (9m) In a Bronx bar, a clash between traditional Italian-American “wiseguys” and the LGBTQ+ community leads to a confrontation. Artold Bernice’s Cheek (15m) After being tracked down by an art major doing a dissertation on him, an artist that disappeared from the public eye must make a reckoning with his past. Compumentary (10m) A comedic and heartfelt mockumentary that unravels camp chaos, friendship, and crab costumes in a true-crime-inspired theatrical misadventure. Contact (6m) In a heartfelt night of vulnerability and laughter, two mismatched young women navigate through ‘The 36 Questions That Lead to Love’ experiment, where they must engage in an intimate four-minute gaze of uninterrupted eye contact. Just Between Us (16m) Sam and Dustin’s open marriage works… until a nosy friend asks if they ever have sex just the two of them. Kitty (19m) After being kicked out of his strict Mormon home, 17-year-old AJ finds himself lost on the streets of Atlanta. Love is just love (28m) A year after their painful divorce, Jake still longs for his ex-husband, Michael, despite the betrayal that tore them apart. Unbreaking (10m) An otherworldly child finds healing and a new best friend through the Japanese art of Kintsugi.
Encuerados
Encuerados chronicles the year-long involvement of seven Latino men in the leather scene, primarily focusing on the historical attainment of Leo Iriarte – the first Latino man winning the title of Mr. Los Angeles Leather.
Shorts: Films for HER
Bed Death (14m) When Frankie and Aster go away for the weekend to reconnect after a health scare has devastated their sex life, they find that romance is more complicated than they ever expected. Big Bass (14m) A filmmaker revisits a dream-like 1997 childhood memory involving her queer identity, a legendary PE teacher, and a mysterious plastic fish, exploring what it means to be seen before seeing oneself. Binge (18m) A woman struggling with a binge eating disorder attends her ex-girlfriend’s bachelorette party in an attempt to reconnect but her body anxiety build up until she panics and binges on the party’s hilarious vulva-themed cake. Birds of Paradise (13m) In 1930s Hollywood, a lesbian director’s film battles the Motion Picture Production Code Administration to protect her queer film, risking her career – and the loyalty of her cast – to maintain the homosexual themes in her film. Bride to Be (4m) As her wedding day approaches, a nervous bride’s plans fall apart, forcing her to confront her true self and the reality she’s been avoiding. DRAINOMANIA (15m) Unaware that her relationship is at a crossroads, lovable daydreamer Katie fails to complete a simple task at her girlfriend’s request: to clean the bathroom. Gillyfish (11m) When Gillian takes on her partner’s identity to confront their father, she finds a connection she didn’t expect in the strange exchange she has with him. Joey’s Heart (13m) Joey, an unlucky-in-love lesbian, thinks she’ll never find her someone special. Then she meets Alice at the laughter club. Perhaps her luck is about to change?
Light Up
Light Up tells the stories of six same gender loving men and a transgender woman who found their superpower by living in their truth. Their stories display aspects of the diverse LGBTQ+ community that are often underrepresented in television and media.
Exit Interviews
In “Exit Interviews,” middle-aged gay man Robert (Tuc Watkins) creates a documentary by interviewing six ex-boyfriends, each reflecting a chapter of his love life. With sister Deborah’s support, he navigates humor, heartbreak, and self-discovery, uncovering why his relationships ended in this intimate LGBTQ+ drama about love, loss, and growth.
Army of Lovers
Army of Lovers brings to light the lost story of the Sacred Band of Thebes, an elite force of 150 pairs of male lovers who became the most formidable warriors of the ancient world. Their story resurfaces as archaeologists discover long-buried evidence, revealing a forgotten chapter of love, war, and the fight for freedom.
Bear Week Diaries
Bear Week Diaries is a bold and intimate exploration of love, desire, and community set in the fabled LGBTQ+ haven that is Provincetown, Massachusetts. Part folk documentary, part boy-meets-boy scripted saga, the film twists conventional storytelling to present the Bear community in all its raw glory during the annual Bear Week celebration.
Thank You For Her
When aspiring fantasy novelist Anna Drake accidentally runs cyclist Lance off the road, she has no idea this chance encounter will change both their lives. As their romance blossoms, Anna finds herself falling for Lance’s free-spirited nature and determination, while keeping her brother Cam’s protective instincts at bay.
300 Letters
Jero and Tom are the young gay couple that everyone wants to be. But on the day of the first anniversary of their meeting, Jero returns home to find that Tom has abandoned him, leaving him a box of 300 letters as his only explanation.
The Healing Animal
The Healing Animal documents animal-assisted psychotherapy as well as the emotional and legal processes of gender transition. Charlee is a 25-year-old transgender college student who moved to Colorado to escape gender persecution in Kentucky. They are attending psychotherapy to secure legal rights to name change, gender marker change, and surgery.
Streets of Gloria
Gabriel, a young literature teacher, relocates to Rio de Janeiro and discovers The Glória—a pulsating bar and secret haven for the city’s outsiders. There, he meets Adriano, a magnetic male escort, and their electrifying connection pulls Gabriel into a world of passion and self-discovery.
Shorts: Aren’t We Always Coming Out?
302 (16m) An officer cadet opens a can of worms when he declares “302” to the Singapore army. Argie Berman (9m) A recovering alcoholic uses her coming out story in her stand-up act and her therapy sessions to explain her addiction and her relationship with her mother. Caroline (12m) Freya, a young law student, is a regular at Priscilla’s Room, a cabaret-style strip club, where she is captivated by Caroline, a dancer who always seems to notice her. Glimpse (Breve) (13m) Two inseparable teenage girls rehearse a first kiss “just for practice,” only to realize it might mean more than they expected. Mom, I Have Something To Tell You (30m) Mom, I Have Something To Tell You is a short documentary depicting the profound impact that mothers have on their gay sons’ wellbeing. My Parents (11m) Things go upside down for a Hawaiʻi high school student when he decides to come out to his parents. Shape Notes (12m) A middle-aged church organist seeks help caring for his aging mother and finds the courage to start exploring his identity.
Silent Crosses (14m) A crisis of faith ensues as a young parishioner visits his conservative priest.
The Activist
After a young LGBTQ+ activist is murdered, his lover suspects neo-Nazis and infiltrates their world, transforming himself in pursuit of truth and revenge. As suspects multiply and loyalties blur, the search becomes a dangerous journey where friend and enemy are indistinguishable, and the boundaries of truth fade into shadows.
I Love You, AllWays – West Coast Premier
Step inside The AllWays Lounge, New Orleans’ vibrant hub for drag and cabaret, where outrageous acts and unforgettable characters reign. From wild performances to heartfelt resilience, follow the colorful cast as they face hardships and disasters with creativity and grit to keep their beloved stage. from closing forever.
Surviving Voices
Three Films combine to share one powerful message: Surviving Voices: HIV Lifetime & Long-Term Survivors honors HIV Lifetime and Long-Term Survivors – those who acquired HIV at birth or as young children and those who acquired the virus before the availability of effective treatment in the mid-1990s. Surviving Voices: AIDS Memorial Quilt Panel Makers focuses on the Untold Stories of the AIDS Memorial Quilt; those of the people who commemorate lost loved ones by sewing Quilt panels. Finally, Gert’s Boys tells the story of Cindy “Gert” McMullin, an original volunteer and co-founder of The AIDS Memorial Quilt. Special Panel Discussion after the screening.
A Portrait of Love
A Portrait of Love is an extraordinary insight into a prolific artist and the love that inspired him. For over 20 years, artist Craig Ruddy and his partner Roberto Meza Mont documented their life together. Filmmaker and friend Molly Reynolds weaves Roberto’s footage into an intimate portrait of love, art, and loss.
Fathers of the Bride: A Yuletide Wedding Comedy
In this festive comedy, two dads, Leo and Rich, learn their daughter plans to elope. While prepping their annual Christmas bash, they secretly scheme for her dream wedding they never had. With meddling relatives, holiday chaos, and heartfelt moments, “Fathers of the Bride” celebrates love, loyalty, and chosen family.
Until the Silence World Premiere – A Here Films Original
In post-blast Los Angeles, three couples gather for one last candlelit dinner. As darkness closes in, they share stories, regrets, humor, and fragile love—a final testament to humanity. Written and directed by EMMY-nominated filmmaker Billy Clift.
Shorts: Stories of Our Lives
Scattered Pictures (9m) Through the grainy nostalgia of 8mm film and the intimacy of voice-over narration, Gabriel takes us on a deeply personal journey of self-discovery. Standby (25m) A disheartened, but dedicated middle-aged gay actor, living and working in NYC as a standby for an off-Broadway show, has his love for his art reawakened — with a jolt — in this valentine to the Theater. Stimulants & Empathogens (Stymulanty & Empatogeny) (25m) Closeted teen Antek invites his crush, drug dealer Kuba, to his villa under false pretenses, unaware Kuba is investigating him, leading to a comedy of errors that shifts into social satire before an unexpected emotional twist. The Father, the Son, and the Holy F*cking Spirit (14m) A reserved college student navigates new love while caught in the pull of a complicated affair with his professor. The New Gardener (16m) Larry and Leo’s long-term relationship is put to the ultimate test by the arrival of a very sexy, very criminal young man posing as their new gardener.
PROUD, The Pacific Way
Loïc, Reretini, Lalita, Tehau, and Sailali don’t fit traditional gender norms. On the Polynesian islands where they were born, some people call them “Mahu” or “Raerae,” while others speak of a “third sex.” They embody the expressive face of transgender identity in French Polynesia, and with tenderness and sincerity, they open the doors to their daily lives.
Fine Young Men
Alf returns to his Catholic school and encounters a new student, Oliver, who captivates him, leading him away from his lifelong friends. Yet, when faced with adversity, Alf betrays this attraction, opting to display his masculinity to his friends. This choice results in dire consequences that will leave an indelible mark on them all for life.
These films and more – lots more – tell the stories that are part of Cinema Diverse this year. Stories that help Cinema Diverse continue its mission of sharing films that empower the LGBTQ+ community, advance our efforts to gain equal rights, and introduce us to a world that has heretofore never known us. We believe LGBTQ+ films and LGBTQ+ film festivals are critical to our local community, and to the world community, because they tell stories that remind us of where we came from, who we are, and who we can be.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: The Eighteenth Edition of Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs, LGBTQ+ Film Festival
WHEN: September 21-24 & September 28-October 1, 2025
WHERE: Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 East Baristo Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262
TICKETS AND PASSES: www.CinemaDiverse.org
