Nikki Hiltz, America’s fastest 1500m runner, is on the brink of making history at the highest level of sport. As they chase excellence, Nikki grapples with the challenge of embracing their trans nonbinary identity while competing in a world that demands conformity. Once the credits roll, the night keeps going. Join us for the opening night after party, with grazing table food to enjoy while you toast the start of the festival with your people.   The Capitol Address: 113 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000 6 PM — Doors Open 6:30 PM — Opening night starts 11:30 PM — End   Drainks are sponsored by: Stomping Ground Brewing Co Squealing Pig Wines The Melbourne Gin Company Matéo Soda Raffle Prize Provided by On Store Melbourne Emporium: Prize 1: Full Apparel Set (Top, Bottom) Cloud Monster 3 Hyper in their size Prize 2: Cloudrunner 3 Max in their size Performers DJ Eric Della Bosca Eric Della Bosca is a DJ, creative programmer, and artist based in Naarm. You’ll find EDB behind some iconic events across the city, from the State Library to the queer underground. Certified BARBA babe, and founder of Composta, EDB is gonna show you the joy in unexpected combinations of sound, entering into a kaleidoscope of butterflies and leaving you feeling ℑ𝔫𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔩𝔶 𝔊𝔩𝔞𝔪𝔬𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔰 🦋 Host Lady Susan Lazy Susan is the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under Season 4, and a filmmaker as well as a drag performer. This year, her series The Witchy Girls screens at MQFF. This queen is pure comedy, known for her zany sense of humour and kooky drag aesthetic.

A raw and poignant coming-of-age feature by director Paloma Schneideman. Set in New Zealand in 2006, the film follows Sid Bookman, a 14-year-old girl who would seemingly rather be anyone else. The film explores Sid’s relationship with her friends, family, and self-esteem as she begins to imitate those who receive the validation and praise that she craves as she shakily navigates a summer of transformation. As the final credits roll, we’re not ready to say goodbye just yet. Join us for the closing night party to celebrate everything we’ve shared over these past days: the stories, the laughter, the community. Come together one last time, with grazing table food to enjoy as we raise a glass to the festival and to each other. Massive thank you to our hospitality partners Stomping Ground Brewing Co Squealing Pig The Melbourne Gin Company Matéo Soda DJs and performers information coming soon.

The definitive cult musical, in which two innocent sweethearts stumble upon a creepy old house full of alien revellers from the planet Transylvania. A bizarre melting pot of horror, sci-fi and rock music adapted from the stage play. As part of our tribute to Tim Curry, make sure to catch Time Warp documentary.

50 years after “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” electrified audiences, a drag theater company in Rock Springs, Wyoming stages a shadow cast. Led by 25-year-old Kenny Starling, they fight for queer visibility in their community. As part of our Tim Curry tribute, make sure to also catch the Rocky Horror screening.

Industry Day is back for MQFF36 and open to the public! This year we have three industry panels, where experts will offer invaluable insight to LGBTQI+ creatives on a number of topics, including partnering with Women in Film & Television and Heretica for two sessions, and a special panel event focused on applying for fi lm grants for early-career LGBTQI+ filmmakers and fi lm students. The day will conclude with networking drinks at ACMI open to all LGBTQIA+ creatives and professionals and their allies. We’re excited to provide a space for queer creatives to mix, mingle and maybe even form collaborations for the future. Session One 10 AM – 11:00 AM Queer Independent Filmmaking masterclass Guest Speaker: Dean Francis Discussing story development, financing, production, marketing and exhibition, career development featuring sample works from Body Blow, Road Train.   Session Two 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Navigating film grants for LBGTQI+ filmmakers Guests: Alyce Adams (ex-Screen Australia), Jessica Smith (Writer/Director of Videoland)   Session Three 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Focusing on Female and Non-Binary Creatives Guest Speaker: Madison Dell’Aquila (Heretica) Discussion/talk about getting into the industry, challenges for female and non-binary filmmakers and creatives   Session Four 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM Beyond the Margins – Elevating Queer WOC Voices and Narratives in Film Guest Speaker: Ria Patel (WIFT Vic) The panel discussion will be about the importance and representation of diverse women of colour’s stories through an LGBTQIA+ lens.    

Two guys are having their first date, but end up in a hostage situation. A terrible predicament for a first meeting, but a perfect way to get to know each other.

Shining a light on the bold, brilliant and beautifully diverse voices of Australian queer cinema, the MQFF36 Australian Short Film Package celebrates the stories that bring us together, challenge expectations and illuminate new perspectives. From intimate moments of connection to big feelings, unexpected discoveries and unapologetic queer joy, these homegrown stories capture the richness of LGBTQIA+ life across Australia. Featuring a vibrant mix of emerging and established filmmakers, this collection invites you to laugh, feel, reflect and see the world a little differently. Come celebrate the next generation of queer storytelling, right here at home.   City of Melbourne Award for Best Australian Short Film ($5,000) Shaun Miller Award for Best Australian Documentary Short ($1,000 dollars) MQFF Iris Prize Nomination MQFF Best International Short Award ($1,000 dollars) MQFF Best First Feature Documentary ($2,500 dollars) MQFF Award for Best First Feature Narrative ($2,500 dollars) MQFF Audience Choice Award for Best Short Film ($1,000 dollars)

An archive-driven exploration of the life, work, and legacy of iconic, pioneering lesbian avant-garde filmmaker Barbara Hammer, told through her own voice and films.

A lakeside bachelor party weekend devolves into chaos when the groom and his best man’s past romantic feelings reignite, entangling the wedding party in pre-wedding drama.

Black Burns Fast is a coming-of-age film about Luthando, a quirky 17-year-old at a South African boarding school. Her world is turned upside down by the arrival of Ayanda, prompting her to confront her identity and sexuality while balancing acceptance from her mother and peers.

Disgraced cop Aiden is thrust into Sydney’s neon-soaked gay district, where a chance encounter with Cody—a seductive bartender and sex worker—sparks a dangerous spiral. Blackmailed into working for Fat Frankie, a murderous drag queen mob boss, Aiden is drawn into a deadly heist and a twisted game of survival. As he battles desire, betrayal, and his own demons, Aiden must decide if redemption is worth the price of betrayal.

When Nate moves in with his grandparents after a bad breakup, the two generations’ life experiences, values, and philosophies collide in exasperating, funny, and heartbreaking ways.

What we got now, is Brokeback Mountain. The legendary love story returns to the big screen. Two shepherds fall for each other, but their relationship becomes complicated when they both get married to their respective girlfriends.

Pierre, a young Belgian soldier wants to prove himself on the battlefield during the First World War. Behind the frontlines, he meets Francis, who is asked to find a way to boost morale. Coward is a historical war drama following a clandestine romance between two young men—a disillusioned Belgian soldier named Pierre (Emmanuel Macchia) and a creative, flamboyant tailor named Francis (Valentin Campagne)—amid the trench warfare of World War I.

A police officer goes undercover in the underground S&M gay subculture of New York City to catch a serial killer who is preying on gay men. A special screening, to accompany Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders documentary.

Kali is a creative barista juggling the weight of providing for a needy boyfriend and a boss who ignores her ideas. When Kali’s long-time coworker suggests she enter a coffee competition, Kali shrugs it off until the artistic Mel becomes her co-worker. Working closely together in the café, Kali and Mel find their passions re-awakened. Their attraction sparks an unexpected romance, stirring up disruptions in their homes, and testing their understanding of love and relationships. Mounting pressures push them to the margins of the borough, where they give in to their true desires to be together.

Over two summers, between city streets and forest paths, young art student Adnan has a series of unexpected intimate encounters.

From the director of “Good Will Hunting” and “To Die For” comes a star-studded comedy based on the best-selling cult novel by Tom Robbins. Uma Thurman stars as Sissy Hankshaw, a woman who leaves New York behind as she hitchhikes her way to the lush pastures of a midwestern ranch to model for feminine hygiene advertisements. When she arrives at the beauty-ranch, Sissy is introduced to a band of free-living, free-loving cowgirls rebelling against their drag queen employer and ranch owner, The Countess. Joining the cowgirls in their collective struggle against exploitation, Sissy not only finds liberating comradeship, she also finds romantic companionship.

Queerness has a million shades, and this collection of international short films is a celebration of this. From tender romances and messy situationships to bold acts of self-discovery, unexpected connections and moments of pure queer joy, these stories span continents, cultures and experiences. Exploring the beautiful complexities of identity, desire, belonging and everything in between, Every Shade of Queer brings together a vibrant spectrum of LGBTQIA+ voices from around the world. Sometimes heartfelt, sometimes hilarious, sometimes wonderfully unexpected, these films remind us that there’s no single way to be queer. Find your people, discover new perspectives and celebrate the full spectrum of queer life.

Centred on First Nations voices, culture and storytelling, this special collection brings together powerful films from Australia and Timor-Leste, curated by Erub and Larrakia woman Aaliyah Bradbury. Through stories of identity, community, Country, connection and self-determination, these films offer unique perspectives on the richness and diversity of First Nations experiences. Spanning generations, cultures and lived realities, this collection invites audiences to listen deeply, challenge assumptions and connect with stories that deserve to be seen and celebrated. A powerful celebration of Indigenous creativity and the enduring importance of storytelling, this package shines a light on voices, histories and futures.

A lonely French trucker’s routine life on the road takes an unexpected turn when he encounters a Polish driver. As feelings develop, he struggles to balance his demanding job with a chance at love, determined to make their connection work. Original title: Du fioul dans les artères

In 1960s Tokyo, Gonda owns a bar in which the gay, cross-dresser, and trans scenes meet. Gonda is in a relationship with the madam of the bar, Leda. As the younger Eddie starts a passionate affair with Gonda, she ignites the jealousy of Leda, unaware of another kind of history between them. Part of the Japanese new wave film movement, considered a monumental work of queer cinema.

Garance is a gifted young actress whose raw magnetism and vibrant spirit have yet to earn her the recognition she craves. Living paycheck to paycheck in a small Paris apartment, she feels increasingly suffocated by fleeting relationships, rising anxiety and the grip of an alcohol addiction quietly tightening around her life. But amid the chaos, her devotion to her sick younger sister and a tender, blossoming romance with Pauline, offer Garance a fragile lifeline. As these bonds deepen, she finds the strength to confront the darkness she has long avoided – setting her on a difficult but transformative journey to self-renewal.

Three love stories, three stages of life. One woman’s journey through heartbreak, growth, and the enduring courage to love again told across three chapters, told in reverse chronology.

A heartfelt coming-of-age story set over the course of one sun-drenched summer, where new-girl-in-town Coley falls in love for the first time while learning to accept herself along the way.

Amanda and Caio are a transgender couple who have been dating since high school. When both begin to face new challenges, their relationship start to change. Featuring an all-trans cast, directed by Daniel Ribeiro whose debut film was The Way He Looks. Original title: Eu Vou Ter Saudades de Você

I Rarely Wake up Dreaming is a 2026 drama film directed by Isabelle Stever and written by Anna Melikova. It follows Olya and Oleh, a young queer Ukrainian couple, whose relationship faces ultimate strain when Oleh’s gender transition coincides with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Their relationship is tested not only by the chaos of war, but by the struggle to maintain their authentic selives in a rapidly deteriorating environment. Original title: Eu Vou Ter Saudades de Você

Kasimir uses a hollow couch to infiltrate houses. Once inside, he secretly films the owners’ lives. A few days later the couch is picked up again, with Kasimir inside: “Delivery Error“. He delivers the tapes to the brain surgeon Dr. Liebermann, who is trying to learn how to feel human emotions. While Kasimir provides him with more footage of further break-ins to prove his love, the doctor, unimpressed, prepares an awake surgery in his cellar for a young musician. Broken by unre­quited love, Kasimir begins to deviate from Liebermann‘s dogma: never intervene in what happens in front of the camera. An unforgivable breach of trust for Liebermann and so he de­cides to determine Kasimir’s fate.

Feature hybrid documentary that journeys to Michoacán Mexico’s hypermasculine rodeos. What starts as a celebration of tradition, descends into the subconscious of memory, queer desire, and longing. A reckoning with the wounds and beauty of a home left behind.

A gay influencer’s life crumbles when a virus turns Paris’s gay men straight. He teams up with a twink to find a rumored cure in the Marais district.

As a cargo ship sails through a storm off the coast of Basse-Côte-Nord, a cook is found murdered on board. From the perspective of Alupa Tulugak, an Inuk mechanic and friend of the victim, this story reconstructs the events as a thriller.

A young gay student has a relationship with an older successful businessman. The handsome playboy-businessman must choose between his comfortable, yet straight, life or an honest, yet subversive, life with the student.

A married lesbian couple expecting their first child navigates personal and political battles in this warm-hearted ode to queer resilience. Set in 2014, just after same sex marriage became legal in France.

Clémence, a lawyer, leaves her marriage to embrace her true self. Her ex-husband fights for custody of their son Paul, manipulating him. As their relationship deteriorates, Clémence struggles to maintain her maternal bond.

“Manhood” follows Dallas entrepreneur Bill Moore as he attempts to make penis enlargement as commonplace as Botox. Along the way, an OnlyFans star and a father of five put their bodies — and their insecurities — on the line. Blending dark humor with unexpected empathy, “Manhood” examines shame, addiction, and the fragile myths of American masculinity.

The story of the controversy surrounding the making of the thriller film Cruising (1980), the fierce protests around its production, and the real life murders that inspired the film. Emmy®-winning director Jeffrey Schwarz (Vito, I Am Divine, Tab Hunter Confidential) brings his signature storytelling flair to this gripping chapter of queer history where true crime, moviemaking, and LGBTQ+ resistance collide.

A Chinese immigrant mother in Montreal breaks from duty and tradition when she falls for a young Québécoise woman, leading her to confront questions of identity and freedom.

A young African-American man grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and burgeoning adulthood.

On an isolated island in Brittany at the end of the eighteenth century, a female painter is obliged to paint a wedding portrait of a young woman.

In the early 17th century, a soldier arrives at an isolated Protestant village in Germany claiming to be the heir to an abandoned farmstead. Sandra Hüller’s knockout, Silver Bear–winning performance anchors this tragic folktale about a woman who poses as a male soldier.

Something You Should Know About Me is a 2026 hybrid live-action and animation comedy-romance film directed by Andy Fidoten. The film follows Al, an insecure trans cartoonist at a queer artists’ retreat, who gets caught in a love triangle involving his best friend and a charismatic creative rival. With trans folk in front and behind the camera including Executive producer Lilly Wachowski, this live-action / animation hybrid reminds us that authenticity is the key to living our best lives.

A gay love story that centres on the relationship between Noah, a bartender, and Cody, a football player who wants to be open about his identity before being drafted to the AFL.

A small-town Ohio bodybuilder clashes with his devout mother as he pursues his dreams under a renowned coach.

Amid rising anti-trans legislation and hostility in the US, dads forming a movement to support their trans and gender expansive children face an impossible choice.

Kaori, an alloromantic/asexual, meets Takeru and begins to feel differently than anyone she has ever known. Note for suicide themes.

Set in Edinburgh in 1810, two female teachers open a progressive school. Their lives unravel after a student makes a scandalous accusation about a forbidden relationship.

Álvaro, an accomplished photographer struggling with debt and his father’s terminal illness, reluctantly accepts an erotic photography assignment designed to recruit VIP clients. But the project takes an unexpected turn when he discovers that its star is Felipe, a famous model with whom he shares a turbulent past. Their reunion reignites a toxic relationship fueled by desire, jealousy, and obsession. As tensions escalate and increasingly dangerous situations surround the project, Álvaro must navigate the blurred lines between passion and madness while fighting to maintain his sanity—and survive.

Young filmmaker Juan invites Mateo, a former actor who abandoned his artistic ambitions, to star in a short film about two men confronting a forbidden attraction. As rehearsals deepen, the story begins to feel less and less like fiction. Directed by and starring Argentine director Marco Berger (Taekwondo, The Blonde One).

The Winner Takes It All is a campy, comedic indie feature film directed by fashion photographer James Demitri. Following its initial release, a new 2026 Director’s Cut of the cult classic premiered with special celebratory screenings.

‘The Witchy Girls’ is a supernatural drag-comedy that reimagines 90s teen-witch stories through a chaotic and incredibly “internet” lens. What if the witches at the heart of your favourite supernatural teen show were not heroines but instead bad self involved people. Best friends Lazy Susan and Zelda Moon stumble through high-school armed with spells…and very big hair. It’s ‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch’ meets ‘It’s Always Sunny’…but QUEER AS HELL! *SCREAM*

A director and his mother document their Puerto Rican family over 20 years, facing loss. Through vivid animation, they celebrate memories while realizing each creation involves a painful goodbye. An award winner at Sundance, this visionary and tender documentary follows a queer filmmaker and his loving mother as they work together to heal their family history through the magic of art and animation.

A 35-year-old gay masseuse finds himself pushed to the edge as his escalating clash with his sister over property ownership blurs the line between right and wrong.

Directed by Céline Sciamma, this highly celebrated French drama follows a 10-year-old child named Laure who moves to a new neighborhood and explores gender identity by presenting as a boy named Mikael. It is a landmark piece of queer cinema that won the Best Queer Film (Teddy Jury Award) at the Berlin International Film Festival and was heavily featured and was part of the MQFF 2012 lineup. Join us for the 2026 Director’s Cut.

A love triangle forms among three adolescent girls who meet at a local pool over summer break and each desires the love of another. Original title: Naissance des pieuvres