{"id":2405,"date":"2026-09-05T18:43:08","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T18:43:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/?p=2405"},"modified":"2026-09-05T18:43:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T18:43:10","slug":"cinema-diverse-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/?p=2405","title":{"rendered":"Cinema Diverse 19"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Showcasing LGBTQ+ Cinema & Filmmakers<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Marcus DeLatorre<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cinema Diverse is back and Palm Springs is about to get a whole lot more fabulous. The celebrated annual showcase of LGBTQ+ cinema and the filmmakers behind it returns September 17\u201320 and September 24\u201327 for its 19th edition, bringing two weekends of provocative stories, unforgettable characters, bold documentaries, dramas, shorts and cutting-edge web series to the Palm Springs Cultural Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am really excited about this year’s program,\u201d says Michael C. Green, Cinema Diverse Festival Director and Executive Director of the Palm Springs Cultural Center. \u201cWe have a diverse selection of topics, with something for literally every letter of the LGBTQI+ alphabet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening night on Thursday, September 17, sets the tone with Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders, Emmy\u00ae-winning filmmaker Jeffrey Schwarz\u2019s fascinating new documentary about William Friedkin\u2019s controversial Cruising, the real-life murder that inspired it, and the fierce protests surrounding the film. With more than 100 short films, 53 feature-length films and plenty of discoveries in between, Cinema Diverse 2026 offers something for every kind of film lover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are films recommended by The Standard Magazine to put on your must-see list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the complete festival schedule and to purchase tickets  visit https:\/\/www.psculturalcenter.org\/filmfest<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday, Sept. 18<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:30am \u2014 Theatre One:<\/strong> Shorts: Hooking Up (93 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Demonboy \u2014 12 min. A reclusive young man develops an all-consuming obsession with another man he meets online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Out of Checklist \u2014 26 min. A divorced father asks his Grindr hookup to watch his twelve-year-old son for the weekend. What could go wrong?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Orchestra \u2014 18 min. A hopeful gay man meets a seemingly perfect match, but desire begins to blur the boundaries of trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unicycle \u2014 7 min. A desperate swiper discovers he may be looking for love in all the wrong places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zaddy! \u2014 30 min. A newly divorced 55-year-old doctor re-enters the dating world and falls for a 25-year-old stripper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noon \u2014 Theatre Three: Shorts: Our Favorite Docs (53 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Last Day In The U.S. \u2014 19 min. A 70-year-old undocumented mother returns to Mexico, facing a potentially final goodbye with her children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Love Does Not Ask \u2014 3 min. A poetic meditation on love beyond labels, fear, and permission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Queer Imagination \u2014 8 min. Artist Courtney Desiree Morris explores what queer imagination makes possible in the face of erasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Welcome to Tool Shed \u2014 23 min. A vibrant look at the queer seniors who gather at Palm Springs\u2019 legendary Tool Shed bar and sanctuary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:00pm \u2014 Theatre One:<\/strong> Armani and the Birth of Italian Fashion (92 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Featuring Giorgio Armani\u2019s first and final on-camera interview, this stylish documentary explores the fashion dynasties, rivalries, designers, and Hollywood insiders behind Italian luxury. In English and Italian with English subtitles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:15pm \u2014 Theatre Two<\/strong>: Femmenella Ballad (95 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seven transgender individuals from Naples\u2019 historic femmenelle community bridge centuries-old traditions and modern realities in this intimate portrait of identity, spirituality, resilience, and community. In Italian with English subtitles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:30PM \u2014 THEATRE THREE: Mermaid (93 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After losing the person who truly understood her, ten-year-old Cass finds hope through an unlikely friendship with a struggling drag queen and a vibrant chosen family. A moving story of identity, acceptance, and unconditional love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:30pm \u2014 Theatre One: A Man Walks Down The Street (93 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After 30 years abroad, Raanan returns to Israel to sell his mother\u2019s apartment. An encounter with an elderly stranger and an affair with a younger man force him to confront decades of internalized homophobia. In Hebrew with English subtitles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:45pm \u2014 Theatre Two: Barbara Forever (102 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A tribute to pioneering lesbian filmmaker Barbara Hammer, drawing on her own voice, personal archives, and rare footage to celebrate the visionary who transformed queer cinema and feminist art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5:00pm \u2014 Theatre Three: Reelkev Presents Webout Deja View (90 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fan favorites and new episodes return, including Don\u2019t Suck, Single, Out, The Homo Sapien Experience, Unrequited, and Guys Like You. Expect Broadway drama, dating disasters, hookups, and plenty of laughs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:00pm \u2014 Theatre One: Bi-Coastal (90 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sponsored By HERE TV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An aspiring filmmaker travels to New York to collect a debt but finds his Hollywood dreams slipping away. A journey of desire, excess, gender identity, and self-discovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:15pm \u2014 Theatre Two: In This Moment (82 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After betrayal shatters their marriage, a Filipino American writer and his husband struggle to reconnect in this tender drama about love, forgiveness, and healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:30pm \u2014 Theatre Three: The Divine Tragedy (101 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After being dumped by his wealthy partner of 25 years, former telenovela actor Cristian moves in with his younger half-brother, a gay sex addict. The mismatched pair must learn to coexist while rebuilding their lives. A sexy, funny Mexican romp. In Spanish with English subtitles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, Sept. 19<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:30am Theatre One: Shorts: Relationships (M) (106 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Afterparty 20 min. A hopeless romantic falls for his new roommate, confronting the realities of polyamory. B. Yourself 7 min. A woman assisting a social media influencer discovers a world where image is everything. Final Frame 15 min. A film editor races to finish a project after learning his partner is undergoing critical surgery. Muse 18 min. A withdrawn teen seeks peace at a desert meditation center but gets a picture-perfect roommate. Richard & Allan’s Crazy Adventure 13 min. Two gay men travel Eastern Europe while reflecting on growing up gay in 1950s America. True Love 17 min. An attempt to reconnect with an ex reveals the darkness of their relationship. Upon Starvation 16 min. A pickpocket who uses seduction to exploit others meets a student seeking genuine intimacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:45am Theatre Two: Shorts: Coming Out And Coming Of Age (78 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ashamed 10 min. A closeted married man gets one last chance to reveal his truth. Closet Combat Episode 3 10 min. A closeted teen turns a fight with his brother into a video-game battle against being outed. hi mom 4 min. Maya struggles to come out to her mother. Holding Your Breath 14 min. Two teenage friends discover unexpected feelings during a summer of swimming and games. I Wanna Hold Your Hand 3 min. A young boy gathers the courage to make the first move. Open All Night 14 min. A closeted Irish immigrant seeks refuge after being assaulted during a 1991 St. Patrick\u2019s Day parade. Separate Roads 15 min. Former sweethearts confront their painful past, including conversion therapy. The Late in Life Guide to Modern Day Lesbianism 8 min. A campy \u201990s training video welcomes late-in-life lesbians. Uniformed 25 min. A gay military police officer struggles between his uniformed life and his true identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noon Theatre Three: Shorts: Thrillers (87 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bad Dad 12 min. A secluded lake-house retreat becomes a psychological thriller when a stranger arrives. HVAC 11 min. A teenage apprentice becomes caught in a dangerous encounter involving confusing desires. Latin Lover 12 min. A hustler recounts the murder of closeted silent-film star Ramon Navarro. Tales of the Macabre 17 min. A radio host begins to fear a Halloween legend is coming to life. The Ghost at Skeleton Rock 20 min. During the 1992 AIDS crisis, an 18-year-old finds comfort in a ghostly confidant. Wake 15 min. WORLD PREMIERE A young man is terrorized by a monster under his bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:00pm Theatre One: Inside The Oasis: The Story Of South Florida’s Gay Mecca (48 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Narrated by Sharon Gless, this documentary chronicles South Florida\u2019s rise as an LGBTQ+ sanctuary through archival footage and firsthand accounts, celebrating activism and resilience while examining today\u2019s challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:15pm Theatre Two: Some Kind Of Wonderful (89 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

World Festival Premiere. Two new episodes of Ricky Reidling\u2019s acclaimed LGBTQ+ comedy-drama series, now set in Palm Springs. Think Sex and the City with a gay twist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:30pm Theatre Three: Not Your Average Girl (120 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A documentary following activist, author and National Trans Visibility March leader Hope Giselle as she champions equality, visibility and social justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:30pm Theatre One: Madfabulous (107 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1890s North Wales, flamboyant aristocrat Henry Paget arrives to claim his inheritance, challenging convention as he establishes his identity as the Fifth Marquess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:45pm Theatre Two: Karen Williams: I Had To Laugh (72 min.) WORLD PREMIERE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrea Meyerson\u2019s documentary celebrates pioneering lesbian Black comedian and activist Karen Williams, who broke barriers in the male-dominated comedy world while raising a family and using humor as a tool for healing. Featuring rare performance footage and interviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5:00pm Theatre Three: Reelkev Presents Webout: Seeking, Size Queens, Bears, Dicks And Barbie (90 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

New episodes of Seeking, Size Queens, Only Bears, Dick Bunny and Barbie, featuring queer dating, relationships, comedy and camp\u2014including a Designing Women parody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:00pm Theatre One: On The Road (93 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A rebellious drifter and solitary truck driver form an unexpected bond while traveling across northern Mexico, confronting danger, desire and buried secrets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:15pm Theatre Two: Glitterbaited (107 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A queer Cyrano de Bergerac follows a shy writer who helps his tongue-tied best friend pursue the man they both admire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:30pm Theatre Three: Our Civil Rights: Racial Equity, Adoption And Marriage (65 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Redlining 18 min. A Black and white family confronts prejudice, generational wealth and LGBTQ+ issues in 1970s Georgia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project Famiglia \u2013 The Road to Us 24 min. An Italian queer couple travels to Canada to pursue parenthood while confronting intolerance and questions of reproductive rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hong Kong, Let\u2019s Get Married! 23 min. A documentary examines the struggle for marriage equality in Hong Kong, including recent legal gains and setbacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday, Sept. 20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:30am \u2014 Theatre One: Shorts: Three Decades To Remember (104 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

April 14, 1982 (16 Min.) \u2014 World Premiere<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the eve of recording Thriller, Michael Jackson\u2019s carefully controlled world is disrupted by a hotel room service attendant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, Queer, and On TV (16 min.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rare footage from \u201cLavender Lounge,\u201d a groundbreaking \u201990s queer\/trans public-access show featuring San Francisco\u2019s first Dyke March and first official Pride video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kansas, 1989 (13 min.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Midwestern teen on the verge of coming out faces a dangerous night that changes his life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lesbians in Boystown (27 min.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The forgotten history of lesbian and queer women in West Hollywood, highlighting activism, the AIDS crisis, Dyke Marches, and grassroots organizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shelly\u2019s Leg (17 min.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After losing her leg in a freak parade accident, stripper Shelly Baumann uses her settlement to open a pioneering gay disco. Narrated by Kathleen Turner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spinach (15 min.) \u2014 WORLD PREMIERE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A neon-soaked look at queer nightlife and the AIDS crisis in 1989, where survival becomes an act of resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:45am \u2014 Theatre Two: Shorts: Other Voices (73 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not Exactly Strangers (15 min.) \u2014 A hookup between a Latina trans woman and a former acquaintance explores sex, history, and self-acceptance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peter (13 min.) \u2014 A trans man leaving a bar fears he may be followed by someone with sinister intentions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quinn (20 min.) \u2014 After surviving sexual assault, a young person exploring their identity searches for their attacker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top (16 min.) \u2014 A trans man and his girlfriend navigate the bureaucracy of gender-affirming top surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tr(ace)y (9 min.) \u2014 A young woman learns that authenticity matters more than acceptance from dates or society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noon \u2014 Theatre Three: Shorts: For The Boys (106 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cicada (17 min.) \u2014 A woman inherits her father\u2019s restaurant and confronts his complicated emotional legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get Into The Spirit (4 min.) \u2014 Two husbands try to communicate with the handsome ghost haunting their home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GROSS INCOME (13 min.) \u2014 A troubled accountant\u2019s meeting sends Jonathan into a bizarre series of financial encounters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morning Echo (19 min.) \u2014 Gabriel wakes to find his ex unexpectedly cooking breakfast in his kitchen after months of silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Next Day (6 min.) \u2014 After a traumatic event, a gay man confronts his fianc\u00e9 about their troubled relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Stick Up (7 min.) \u2014 A botched teen robbery leads to an unexpectedly charming meet-cute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

West Texas Home (15 min.) \u2014 An adult returns to a home that once saved him and faces a decision that could change everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u304a\u3081\u3067\u3068\u3046 (Omedet\u014d) (25 min.) \u2014 Two best friends celebrate a 25th birthday and promise to fulfill their dream of traveling to Japan together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:00pm \u2014 Theatre One: A Taste Of Heaven: The Ecstatic Song & Gospel Of Maestro Raymond Anthony (80 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A portrait of gospel visionary Raymond Anthony Myles, a queer Black man whose extraordinary voice brought him acclaim before his life was tragically cut short.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:15pm \u2014 Theatre Two: Girls And Boys (85 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Halloween reunion between a trans woman and her childhood best friend forces both to confront the past, identity, memory, and the possibility of love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:30pm \u2014 Theatre Three: The Queerdos (93 min.) \u2014 WORLD PREMIERE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A struggling delivery driver inherits a Hollywood Hills mansion and fills it with quirky queer tenants while navigating viral fame, celebrity history, and unexpected romance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:30PM \u2014 Theatre One: Uncle Roy (87 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A moving documentary about photographer and skating historian Roy Blakey, whose niece works to preserve his remarkable queer artistic legacy as he faces dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:45pm \u2014 Theatre Two: Punkie (74 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday Night Live star Punkie Johnson faces the pressures of stand-up comedy while confronting a deeply personal crisis in this intimate, candid documentary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5:00pm \u2014 Theatre Three: Reelkev Presents Webout: The Long Shorts (90 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Featuring One for the Team, a queer sports drama about a trans athlete seeking recognition for talent rather than gender; Jamaal, a darkly comic story about an AI robot entering a couple\u2019s home; and campy vertical series Waterboy and The Prince\u2019s First Love, featuring fast-paced romance, drama, and plenty of eye candy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:00pm \u2014 Theatre One: Lady Champagne (99 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

D\u2019Arcy Drollinger\u2019s outrageous comedy follows legendary San Francisco erotic dancer Champagne Horowitz Jones Dickerson White. A slapstick tribute to \u201970s exploitation cinema, filmed entirely in San Francisco with more than 80 queer and trans performers. Q&A with D\u2019Arcy Drollinger and cast members Matthew Martin, Steven LeMay, and Nancy French.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday, Sept. 24<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:00pm Theatre One: Lone Star Bull (90 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A gay-bar bouncer and drag queen\/medical student team up to solve their mentor\u2019s shooting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:15pm Theatre Two: The Stray House (82 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A widower turns his inherited home into a refuge, creating a chosen family that confronts prejudice and past trauma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:30pm Theatre Three: Snow Falling On Pumpkins (97 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s at 43, Michael finds meaning through a Cherokee spiritual guide and his loving partner, James.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:30pm Theatre One: Trial Of Hein (122 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After 14 years away, Hein returns to his North Sea island, only to have his identity questioned as buried secrets emerge. In German with English subtitles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:45pm Theatre Two: Out Of The Woods (92 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Max\u2019s memory fades, reconnecting with Diana forces her to choose between her longtime love and her marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5:00pm Theatre Three: Rank & File (15 min.) \/ Learn the Words, Bitch! (39 min.) WORLD PREMIERE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hosted by Tony Soto, this joyful documentary celebrates LA\u2019s beloved lip-sync competition and the resilience of drag, community, and chosen family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:00pm Theatre One: Proud Jewish Boy (90 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A documentary examines Herschel Grynszpan\u2019s life, his 1938 assassination of a Nazi diplomat, and the rumored homosexual relationship between the two men. In Hebrew, English, German and French with English subtitles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday, Sept. 25<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:30am Theatre One: Shorts: When Clothing is Optional (83 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six shorts exploring desire, intimacy, nudity, fantasy and relationships, including Aswim, Just Not Naked Enough, Naked Pool Party, Perfect Day, Strangers Between (WORLD PREMIERE) and The Narcissist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:45am Theatre Two: Shorts: The Blend (96 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five eclectic shorts featuring resurrected dragons, a drag queen seeking a magical cure for bad luck, theatrical intrigue, a mysterious encounter and two gay men exploring Eastern Europe and their shared history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noon: Theatre Three: Shorts: Love and Loss (74 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six shorts exploring grief, heartbreak, vulnerability, authenticity, complicated love and aging, including Dead Wife Montage, How About Annie?, If Lost Please Return To:, In the Light of Day, Love & Other Devastations and Milton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:00pm Theatre One: Mickey & Richard (71 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An intimate portrait of legendary gay model Mickey Squires, exploring fame, adult entertainment, connection and aging through rare footage and archival material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:15pm Theatre Two: Rank & File (15 min.) \/ Miss Personality (45 min.) WORLD PREMIERE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comedian Mina Hartong delivers a personal, hilarious stand-up special about her Dutch heritage, lesbian identity, Connecticut roots and teaching career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:30pm Theatre Three: Start-up Love (90 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young coders building an AI startup face romance, betrayal and a bisexual love triangle that threatens their friendships and business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:30pm Theatre One: Free at Heart (117 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 16-year-old discovers first love with his late father\u2019s friend\u2019s son, forcing them to choose between authenticity and the lives they know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:45pm Theatre Two: Free Beer Tomorrow (78 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A tribute to Jack\u2019s\/Summit Station, one of America\u2019s longest-running lesbian bars, celebrating generations of LGBTQ+ community, resilience and belonging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5:00pm Theatre Three: Surviving Voices: AIDS Caregivers (40 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors, nurses, friends, families and partners who cared for people dying of AIDS are honored in this documentary. Panel with Sister Roma, the Palm Springs AIDS Memorial and the Palm Springs Sisters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:00pm Theatre One: Tiger (126 min.) Sponsored By HERE TV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A gay masseuse\u2019s escalating conflict with his sister over property ownership pushes him toward the edge. A portrait of gay life in Japan. In Japanese with English subtitles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:15pm Theatre Two: Dangling Carrot (89 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An unemployed gay millennial navigates New York\u2019s hookup culture, romance, addiction and sobriety while learning to choose self-worth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:30pm Theatre Three: The Witches’ Pact (65 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A filmmaker follows a mysterious witches\u2019 video into a playful exploration of feminist community, resistance and belonging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, Sept. 26<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

10:00AM In a Whisper \u2014 Sponsored By The Desert Film Society (111 Min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A young woman returns from Paris to Tunisia for her uncle\u2019s funeral, confronting family tensions, memories, and changing relationships. French with English subtitles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:45am Theatre Two: Shorts: Sometimes We Grieve (84 min.)<\/strong> A Sunny Day in London (13 min., WORLD PREMIERE): A man returns to London seeking the love he never forgot. After Midnight (15 min.): Two strangers wander a deserted campus after meeting online. CLUTTER (15 min.): A cleaner confronting a grieving drag queen\u2019s mess faces her own loss and prejudice. Floss Every Day (12 min.): A lonely man works through grief and alcoholism. I\u2019m Doing Fine (14 min.): A home aide faces mortality, loss, and a missing key in one difficult day. In Every Single Room (16 min.): After heartbreak, Lenny returns to the beach town where their queer identity emerged. the layover (14 min.): A newly single man takes in his ex-boyfriend\u2019s grieving mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noon Theatre Three: Shorts: Three Decades to Remember (104 min.)<\/strong> April 14, 1982 (16 min.): Michael Jackson\u2019s world is disrupted by a hotel room-service encounter before recording Thriller. Here, Queer, and On TV (16 min.): Rare footage chronicles \u201990s queer TV, San Francisco\u2019s Dyke March, and early Pride. Kansas, 1989 (13 min.): A teen\u2019s coming-out experience takes a dangerous turn. Lesbians in Boystown (27 min.): The overlooked history of West Hollywood\u2019s queer women, activism, and community. Shelly\u2019s Leg (17 min.): After losing her leg, a stripper opens one of America\u2019s pioneering gay discos. Narrated by Kathleen Turner. Spinach (15 min., WORLD PREMIERE): Queer nightlife unfolds against the shadow of the AIDS crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:00pm Theatre One: There\u2019s Something About Oakwood (91 min.)<\/strong> Raleigh\u2019s historic Oakwood neighborhood, saved by gay men and widows, becomes an intergenerational LGBTQ+ haven\u2014but faces an uncertain future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:15pm Theatre Two: Our Family Pride (107 Min.)<\/strong> A father who comes out in his 50s forces his family to confront buried pain, embrace new beginnings, and rediscover love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:30pm Theatre Three: Summer Lost (82 min., WEST COAST PREMIERE)<\/strong> A man hiding a terminal illness at a wedding unexpectedly finds romance and learns to embrace life\u2019s final chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:30pm Theatre One: Bookends (99 min.)<\/strong> After a breakup, Nate moves in with his grandparents and discovers family secrets, dementia, and unexpected romance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:45pm Theatre Two: Trans Rising (94 Min.)<\/strong> A portrait of Amsterdam\u2019s vibrant transgender community, featuring activists, parents, artists, officials, and community leaders. English and Dutch with English subtitles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5:00pm Theatre Three: Myrna\u2019s Deal With The Dead (50 Min.)<\/strong> Myrna and psychic Dixie Longate hunt a kidnapped heir while unraveling secrets, scandal, and murder in this campy telenovela-style comedy benefiting LGBTQ+ youth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:00pm Theatre One: Downtown (98 Min.)<\/strong> Three young men find love, friendship, and freedom amid Amsterdam\u2019s 1980s gay nightlife and the emerging AIDS crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:15pm Theatre Two: Velvet Vision \u2014 The Story of James Bidgood (and the Making of Pink Narcissus) (91 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A portrait of visionary artist James Bidgood and his lasting influence on queer photography, film, beauty, and desire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:30pm Theatre Three: Teenage Wasteland: Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen (80 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Actor David Dean Bottrell revisits adolescence in this funny and touching concert film about growing up, queer identity, and self-acceptance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday, Sept. 27<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:30am Theatre One: Sweet Nothing (80 min.)<\/strong> Jack Bledsoe confronts his hidden prejudice while booking a drag queen, forcing him to face internalized homophobia, self-discovery, and the courage to embrace love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:45am Theatre Two: Shorts: Mash-up (104 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Homecoming (18 min., WEST COAST PREMIERE) A transitioning trans woman returns home with her pregnant partner for her parents\u2019 anniversary, challenging family expectations. Arman (13 min.) A closeted immigrant makes one final call home before marrying the man he loves. GRWM (12 min.) A young woman disguises herself as a man to join the Civil War army. Gumshoes (20 min.) Two bored procedural fans begin solving real crimes. Tsismosa (10 min.) Gossip turns a village serenade into comic chaos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noon Theatre Three: Shorts: For the Girls (102 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allora (10 min.) A girlfriend\u2019s meeting with a traditional Italian grandfather exposes jealousy and secrets. Blue Berri (17 min.) Two women share a secret relationship. Dancing in Argentina (13 min.) Two women find love while confronting ancestral trauma and oppression. Find Another Girl To Fix (5 min.) A campy Palm Springs lesbian romance. Fish & Chips (13 min.) An anniversary argument over dinner exposes deeper racial and queer resentments. Ronita Rambo (13 min.) A diner waitress gets help from two gay teens pursuing a new crush. Since She Left (13 min.) A woman questions her life, love and sexuality after returning home. TRAPPED (18 min.) Two neighbors confront avoided truths when trapped in an elevator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:00pm Theatre One: Barefoot Boy (97 min., WEST COAST PREMIERE)<\/strong> Legendary choreographer Bill Evans reflects on his artistry, resilience and queer identity before one final, career-defining performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:15pm Theatre Two: Beginning While Ending: A Life Like Most Others (102 min.)<\/strong> An uplifting documentary follows a nonbinary octogenarian and their LGBTQ+ chosen family as they navigate aging, identity, love and joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:30pm Theatre Three: Get Into The Spirit (4 min.)<\/strong> Two husbands communicating with a ghost discover unexpected ways the spirit can reach them. Pieces of Lilo (90 min.) After his abusive father\u2019s death, Jerry\u2019s buried trauma resurfaces through terrifying memories and hallucinations, pushing him toward psychological collapse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:30pm Theatre One: An Island Away From You (102 min.)<\/strong> A heartbroken chef escapes to Gran Canaria and unexpectedly falls for his best friend\u2019s father. Spanish with English subtitles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:45pm Theatre Two: Julian (91 min.)<\/strong> Fleur and Julian attempt to marry in every country where same-sex marriage is legal, finding love, hope and heartbreak along the way. English, French and Dutch with English subtitles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5:00pm Theatre Three: Rank & File (90 min.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Palm Springs seniors share stories of growing up and coming out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closing Night Feature<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:00pm Theatre One: Love Loaded (98 min., WEST COAST PREMIERE)<\/strong> In a sultry 1958 Los Angeles nightclub, torch singer Didi Scanlon becomes entangled in betrayal and murder when someone attempts to kill Dr. Jack Scanlon amid the return of Didi\u2019s former singing partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IF YOU GO<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHAT:<\/strong> The Nineteenth Edition of Cinema Diverse: The PS LGBTQ+ Film Festival<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHEN:<\/strong> September 17-20 & September 24-27<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHERE:<\/strong> Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 East Baristo Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TICKETS AND PASSES<\/strong>: www.CinemaDiverse.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Showcasing LGBTQ+ Cinema & Filmmakers By Marcus DeLatorre Cinema Diverse is back and Palm Springs is about to get a whole lot more fabulous. The celebrated annual showcase of LGBTQ+ cinema and the filmmakers behind it returns September 17\u201320 and September 24\u201327 for its 19th edition, bringing two weekends of provocative stories, unforgettable characters, bold documentaries, dramas, shorts and cutting-edge web series to the Palm Springs Cultural Center. \u201cI am really excited about this year’s program,\u201d says Michael C. Green, Cinema Diverse Festival Director and Executive Director of the Palm Springs Cultural Center. \u201cWe have a diverse selection of topics, with something for literally every letter of the LGBTQI+ alphabet.\u201d Opening night on Thursday, September 17, sets the tone with Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders, Emmy\u00ae-winning filmmaker Jeffrey Schwarz\u2019s fascinating new documentary about William Friedkin\u2019s controversial Cruising, the real-life murder that inspired it, and the fierce protests surrounding the film. With more than 100 short films, 53 feature-length films and plenty of discoveries in between, Cinema Diverse 2026 offers something for every kind of film lover. Here are films recommended by The Standard Magazine to put on your must-see list. For the complete festival schedule and to purchase tickets  visit https:\/\/www.psculturalcenter.org\/filmfest […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2406,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[2747,112,1265,1559,8,335,56,728],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2405"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2405"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2405\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2407,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2405\/revisions\/2407"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2406"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}