This will be a little different to the other pages; where I will be documenting the very best queer films I have seen (both features and shorts).In the majority of the cases, this will have been at the most excellent Leeds Queer Film Festival; but of course there are other examples too.
Aikāne (2023)[Short] A visually glorious tale with excellent sound work in creating a dialogue-less story that I very much enjoyed.
Air (2018)It was a slow burn, but I became very enchanted by this German romance.
all the words but one (2024)[Short] Frankly an absolutely phenomenal piece that absolutely had me, and gave me emotions I never knew I had. Tremendous and handled in a grown up manner, and redefining the tropes. Remarkable.
A Moment in the Reeds (2017)This wonderful and atmospheric romantic drama set in Finland draws you deep into a world that you would have previously not considered visiting, and yet you take away something relatable.
An Avocado Pit (2022)[Short] This Oscar-nominated short is ultimately about two people navigating getting to know each other. Beautiful.
Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story (2024)Told brilliantly by blending real relative's stories, and trans actors being rotoscoped onto genuine Jackie audio - plus real 'down-the-phone' recordings from Jackie herself.
ASOG (2023)Quite unlike anything I've seen before; a quasi-documentary, quasi-narrative, set in the post-devastation years of the Filipines after tropical storm Yolanda.
Block and Censor (2019)Insight into China's frightening level of censorship, in this case in relation to queer media.
Blue ID (2022)A brilliantly well-made documentary, evidently spanning ten years(!), of the life of a former Turkish TV star; transitioning and facing an unholy amount of adversity.
Burton Before and After (2017)[Short] Documentary looking back at a person's transition from 15 years later, through the medium of home videocamera footage.
Dear Fredy (2017)An utterly harrowing and just as equally important story from the holocaust. Perhaps the most emotionally effecting film I have seen in recent memory.
Dyke Jails (2018)I was blown away by this Spanish prison documentary. It is remarkable how such a range of topics - all in relation to female imprisonment - could be covered during its course, and have such an impact too.
F**ked (2023)[Short] One of the funniest shorts; 'Woman' made me laugh out loud.
Gender Reveal (2024)[Short] Dark humour abounds at the absurdity of the ritual of the same name - and perfectly executed.
Graveyard Shift (2022)[Short] A wonderful Yorkshire short; incredibly contemporary and with a hint of Pratchett in the details. Lovingly done, with a cracking script.
I'm Moshanty. Do You Love Me? (2019)A fabulous albeit revealing documentary about an openly transgender musical star in Papua New Guinea.
Kokomo City (2023)An absolutely wonderful exploration of black, trans sex workers in the Eastern USA. Very much more than just one level of personal experiences; four distinct personal experiences - and so much more examining all aspects of black, trans sex workers in both the immediate experiences and much wider cultural and social settings.
Layla (2024)If ever there was a film so accurately constructed to keep you guessing throughout; this was it. The two leads pitch it perfectly; leading you this way and that - red flags on both sides - and yet still maintaining that genuine feeling of a genuine relationship.
Open Windows (2014)The first film I saw at the first LQFF I attended back in 2015.
Otherness (2023)A really broad and rich documentary with many diverse lesbian perspectives, woven together so beautifully and with an arty finale that really gave the whole thing the gravitas it had been imbued with by the individual voices.
Piece by Piece (2023)[Short] A brilliant and heart-warming two-hander with a subtle but beautiful twist.
Queen Size (2023)[Short] A simple narrative about helping out another human, beautifully short and performed.
Rebel Dykes (2021)Landmark retrospective documentary on the feminist queer scene of London in the 1980s.
Rebellious Essence (2017)[Short] The best animation that sums up the irrational case for documenting gender identity. Starring cats.
Salamagan (2018)[Short] Delicately deals with the myriad of pain points when coming out to people, but manages to send you off laughing.
Sally (2024)A great documentary about arguably a great woman at the centre of the radical feminist movements in the 70s; but also the contradictions that made her the focal point, and the terrific tapestry of other people that made up that community and laid important foundations for important causes along the way.
Stone in Stomach (2024)[Short] An incredibly French/Belgian exploration of what love means to people, and how to communicate that to each other.
The Sad Girls of the Mountains (2019)Seemingly a documentary about radical adult performers who have isolated themselves in the mountains. And brilliantly, not all is as it seems.
Tommy Brilho (2018)[Short] The funniest and quietly clever film about an invisible person trying to get noticed by their crush.
TOPS (2023)[Short] Trans folk are hilarious! Amy Pennington leads an incredible spoof 90s show unironically putting the spotlight on trans people; but the real genius is allowing genuine moments of personal reflection; sympathetically intercut with the host being a goof.
Transformer (2017)A powerful documentary about trans weightlifter Janae Kroc. A timely reminder of the depth of human experience
Tres (2017)[Short] How else to prepare for a role than to ask your girlfriend to sleep with your flatmate? A few choice minutes of hilarity ensues.
Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things (2016)An important Inuit documentary that just about balanced a variety of viewpoints and, hopefully, continues some important conversations.
UR Dead To Me (2017)[Short] A quirky and surprisingly very poigniant story about girls delivering dead flowers to different folks.
Visiting Johanna (2023)[Short] Wonderfully understated piece about sibling love that can translate to how anyone should behave really when confronted with new scenarios.