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Are you a queer filmmaker ready to showcase your latest project?
In celebration of Pride Month, we’ve curated a list of essential queer film festivals to get you started. These festivals—from historic institutions to exciting newcomers—are dedicated to celebrating and amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices in cinema.
Most queer film festivals now offer virtual screening options alongside in-person events, so no matter where you’re based, you can engage with these communities.
Dates: June 18–28, 2025
No roundup of LGBTQ film festivals would be complete without Frameline—the longest-running queer film festival in the world.
Frameline has championed LGBTQIA+ cinema since 1977 and remains the only BAFTA-qualifying queer film festival on this list. They also operate a nonprofit distribution program dedicated to LGBTQIA+ films.
Deadline entry date: December 4, 2025 (Earlybird), January 24, 2025 (Regular), February 14, 2025 (Late), March 5, 2025 (Extended).
Deadline entry fee: $35 (Earlybird), $50 (Regular), $70 (Late), and $85 (Extended). Discounts available for FilmFreeway Gold Members and students.
Dates: June 20–28, 2025
Presented by Out Film CT, the Connecticut LGBTQ Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the state—not to mention one of the longest running queer film festivals in the country.
Now entering its 38th year, the fest offers an inclusive platform for diverse queer narratives and regularly spotlights underrepresented filmmakers.
Deadline entry date: January 15, 2025 (Earlybird), March 1, 2025 (Regular).
Deadline entry fee: $15 (Earlybird), $20 (Standard). Discounts available for FilmFreeway Gold Members and short film submissions.
Dates: June 27, 2025–June 29, 2025
Celebrating its 36th year, the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival stands out among LGBTQ film festivals for its tropical setting. The festival emphasizes community, cultural celebration, and inclusivity, with a mix of local and international programming.
Deadline entry date: December 26, 2025 (Earlybird), January 24, 2025 (Regular), March 31, 2025 (Late).
Deadline entry fee: $30 (Earlybird), $50 (Regular), $75 (Late). Discounts available for short film and episodic submissions. If you are a Hawaii-based filmmaker, a fee waiver may be available. Contact the festival for details.
Dates: July 10, 2025–July 12, 2025.
Three Dollar Bill Cinema is shaking things up this year! For the first time, they are combining two LGBTQ film festivals into one: the Seattle Queer Film Festival and the TRANS|Lations: Seattle Trans Film Festival.
Unifying these queer film festivals provides a larger platform to elevate queer and trans voices, ensuring their stories are recognized and celebrated. Attendees can anticipate memorable parties, discussions, and community events that make this festival an essential experience.
Deadline entry date: 2026 Dates TBD.
Deadline entry fee: TBD $20 (Earlybird), $25 (Final). Discounts available for students, FilmFreeway Gold Members, and short film submissions.
Dates: August 14–21, 2025
Durham, North Carolina hosts the OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival. This LGBTQ film festival has been screening movies since 1995 and features highly accessible entry fees, especially when compared to many other queer film festivals.
Deadline entry date: April 18, 2025 (Earlybird), May 15, 2025 (Shorts), June 4, 2025 (Features).
Deadline entry fee: $1 (Earlybird), $10 (Shorts), $20 (Features). Discounts available for FilmFreeway Gold Members.
Dates: August 20–24, 2025
Austin’s PRISM Film Festival, presented by aGLIFF (All Genders, Lifestyles, and Identities Film Festival), has been a trailblazer for queer film festivals in Texas since 1987.
Predating even SXSW and the Austin Film Festival, PRISM champions bold, boundary-pushing cinema with a focus on inclusivity and artistic innovation.
Deadline entry date: March 1, 2025 (Earlybird), April 1, 2025 (Regular), May 1, 2025 (Late), May 31, 2025 (Extended).
Deadline entry fee: $25 (Earlybird), $30 (Regular), $35 (Late), $45 (Extended). Discounts available for FilmFreeway Gold Members and some submission types.
Dates: August 21–24, 2025
One of the only LGBTQ film festivals in San Diego, FilmOut fills theaters with over 2,000 attendees across a packed three-day program. Screenings include international, documentary, short films, and feature films.
Deadline entry date: April 30, 2025
Deadline entry fee: $30. Discounts available for FilmFreeway Gold Members, students, and short film submissions.
Dates: September 18–October 5, 2025
Now entering its 43rd year, Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival, is one of the longest-running LGBTQ film festivals in the world.
Held across multiple Chicago venues, Reeling screens 75–100 films annually and draws both local audiences and regional attention across the Midwest.
Deadline entry date: March 20, 2025 (Earlybird), April 24, 2025 (Regular), May 29, 2025 (Late).
Deadline entry fee: $25 (Earlybird), $35 (Regular), $40 (Late).
Dates: September 25–October 5, 2025
The Atlanta-based Out On Film is one of the few Oscar-qualifying LGTBQ film festivals in the world.
The short film that wins the Jury Award for Best Drama Shorts is eligible for consideration for the following year's Academy Awards. They’re also respected for their award-winning visiting filmmaker series.
Deadline entry date: February 15, 2025 (Earlybird) May 26, 2025 (Regular), June 26, 2025 (Late).
Deadline entry fee: $30 (Early), $40 (Regular). $50 (Late). Discounts available for FilmFreeway Gold Members, students, and some submission types.
Dates: October 9–19, 2025
Head to Western New York for ImageOut: The Rochester LGBTQ+ Film Festival. In addition to presenting queer film festivals each fall for the past 33 years, ImageOut produces special events like art exhibitions, panel discussions, and more.
Deadline entry date: March 21, 2025 (Earlybird), July 25, 2025 (Regular), August 15, 2025 (Extended), September 5, 2025 (Late).
Deadline entry fee: $15 (Earlybird), $30 (Regular), $45 (Extended), $60 (Late). Discounts available for FilmFreeway Gold Members, students, and short film submissions.
Dates: October 9–21, 2025
New York City’s NewFest presents LGBTQIA+ programming year-round and its annual film festival is one of the most respected LGBTQ film festivals in the country. It hosted the world theatrical premiere of Paris Is Burning and the New York premieres of many other queer cinema treasures.
Deadline entry date: March 6, 2025 (Earlybird), May 7, 2025 (Regular), June 11, 2025(Late), July 2, 2025 (Extended).
Deadline entry fee: $35 (Earlybird), $50 (Regular), $75 (Late), $100 (Extended). Discounts available for FilmFreeway Gold Members and some submission types.
Dates: October 10–12, 2025
Part of the vibrant tradition of queer film festivals across the country, the Out Here Dayton Film Fest (formerly known as the Dayton LGBT Film Festival) has been sharing bold, authentic storytelling with Ohio audiences for nearly two decades. In fact, 2025 finds the festival celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Deadline entry date and fee: Submission deadlines and fees for 2025 have not yet been announced, but you can follow Out Here Dayton on Instagram for updates.
Dates: October 24–26, 2025
Hosted in downtown Salt Lake City, the Utah Queer Film Festival (formerly known as Damn These Heels) offers a vibrant platform for queer voices in a region where LGBTQIA+ stories are often underrepresented. In addition to film screenings, the Festival offers community events like banned book swaps, a “defending drag” discussion, and workshops with visiting artists.
Deadline entry date: March 1, 2025 (Opening Deadline), April 12, 2025 (Second Deadline), May 10, 2025 (Third Deadline), June 13, 2025 (Fourth Deadline), July 6, 2025 (Final).
Deadline entry fee: $25 (Feature), $15 (Short). Discounts available for FilmFreeway Gold Members.
Dates: November 12–15, 2025 (In-Person), November 16–23, 2025 (Online)
The San Francisco Transgender Film Festival holds the distinction of being both the first official transgender film festival in North America and the longest-running transgender film festival in the world. Their mission is to “promote the visibility of transgender and gender variant people and challenge the mainstream media’s negative stereotypes of our communities.”
For their 2025 run, the festival is prioritizing short films that run 20 minutes or less.
Deadline entry date: June 4, 2025 (Regular), June 25, 2025 (Late).
Deadline entry fee: $15 (Regular), $20 (Late).
Dates: 2025 festival dates TBD
Dedicated exclusively to queer documentaries, QDoc Film Festival is one of the only U.S. events of its kind. Featuring powerful nonfiction films that span activism, art, and personal stories, QDoc continues to expand the definition of what LGBTQ film festivals can showcase.
Deadline entry date and fee: QDoc is a curated festival and does not have open submissions.
Dates: 2026 Dates TBD
The LA Queer Film Festival is part of the LA Film Festivals family that includes the LA Comedy Film Festival, the LA Women in Film Festival, and many more. Acceptance into the festival includes invitations to networking events, free screening passes, and awards consideration.
Deadline entry and fees: 2026 dates and fees TBD.
Dates: Wicked Queer will return in 2026! Dates TBD.
Founded in 1984 by film programmer George Mansour, Wicked Queer is one of the longest running queer film festivals in the world.
Deadline entry date and fee: Deadlines and fees for 2026 have not yet been announced, but you can follow Wicked Queer on Instagram for updates.
Dates: 2026 Dates TBD
Boston-based Wicked Queer:Docs festival is the younger sister of Wicked Queer. It was created in 2022 to provide a platform in the Northeast to exclusively celebrate queer documentary filmmaking in both short and feature form.
Deadline entry date and fees: Dates and fees to be announced.
Dates: 2026 dates TBD
North Carolina’s Reel Out Charlotte film festival is hosted by LGBTQ tax-exempt organization Charlotte Pride.
Deadline entry date and fees: 2026 dates and fees have not been announced.
Dates: 2026 dates TBD
The Puerto Rico Queer Filmfest has been screening local and international films since 2009. Uniquely, it’s one of the few queer film festivals that offers free submissions—and it continues to spotlight local and international talent alike.
Deadline entry date: 2026 deadlines have not been announced yet.
Deadline entry fee: Free.
Dates: 2026 dates TBD
In addition to its annual film festival, QFest St. Louis offers year-round events including educational programming. Its donation-funded “Gay-It-Forward” program allows shorts screenings to be free for all to attend.
Deadline entry date and fee: Deadlines and fees for 2026 have not yet been announced, but you can follow QFest on Instagram for updates.
This list represents some of the best LGBTQ film festivals in the world. Don’t keep organizers and audiences waiting—submit your project now.
For more ideas on where to submit your work, check out our guide to some of the best BIPOC film festivals to bookmark. And when it comes time to hit the festival circuit, make sure to check out our guide to making the most of your film festival experience!
