The GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival, founded in 1992, is Ireland’s biggest LGBTQ+ film event and continues to provide a platform for underrepresented identities and stories that deserve to be seen and heard. GAZE operates as a non-profit organization, using profits to further support Irish artists and filmmakers in making films with LGBTQ+ themes, safeguarding a strong future for queer cinema.
The festival will return this August for a five-day film whirlwind. From August 1st through the 5th, 110 LGBTQIA-themed films from all over the world will be screened at the Irish Film Institute, the Lighthouse Cinema, and GAZE online.
The GAZE film festival director, Greg Thorpe spoke about how the film programme was curated. “We have a really strong short film programme. Most of those films are submitted to us…. And for the feature films, we keep an eye on what is screened at other festivals and more importantly, which film has the biggest audience impact.”
GAZE not only focuses on the most impactful, circulated films but also those that close the gaps, the more obscure and experimental.
“More queer films screen in mainstream cinema festivals and have bigger general releases than ever before, so we try to catch those films and celebrate them at a queer film festival because we think watching with your community is a whole different experience,” Thorpe said.
With well over 100 films screening at GAZE, you may be wondering which ones to look out for. To help, GAZE has crafted a top ten list of must-see films to catch at their festival that speaks to every member of the LGBTQIA community. Let’s dive into their recommendations.
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Teaches of Peaches
Winner of the Best Documentary award at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival, this is a docu film that travels back in time and follows Peaches, a queer Canadian electronic musician throughout her musical journey while openly identifying as bisexual. Peaches is an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, a true trailblazer and will be appearing in person at the Festival.
Backspot
Opening up the festival is a lesbian queer cheerleader drama centered on female-to-female relationships within the squad mixed with its critically acclaimed dynamic camerawork showcasing spectacular cheer routines. The film’s director D.W. Waterson will be in attendance to introduce the film.
Solo
Notably won Best Canadian Feature Film in 2023, when leading actors, Théodore Pellerin and Félix Maritaud (some of the best new names in the queer film scene) joined together for a drag comedy exploring themes of jealousy, desire, and ambition.
Hidden Master
A documentary highlighting one the best photographers of his time, George Platt Lynes. His portraits of gay men in the 1930s -1950s were groundbreaking, although his work has gone unrecognized for some time. Winning a festival award for Breakthrough Documentary at the San Diego IFF, Hidden Master brings light to the fantastical heroic work of a one-of-a-kind artist.
All Of Us Strangers
A feature film that has taken queer cinema to the next level, it returns to GAZE, but this time director Andrew Haigh will be in attendance for a post-screening conversation. A multi-award winning, heart wrenching, and gut-punching film you won’t want to miss the chance to see on the big screen again.
Photo Booth
An avant-garde fresh musical documentary-style film on Toronto’s history of activism, a conversation sparked by the detrimental attack on Gaza. The docu film, seen through the eyes of Palestinian queer activists, Hamza and Walid, covers queer boycotting, divestment, and sanctions as a spreading global movement and so much more.
The Queen of My Dreams
A coming-of-age tale with a mix of Bollywood, romance, and queer and straight storylines. The Queen of My Dreams is a comedy/drama showcasing a strong generational bond between a mother and daughter.
Big Boys
A lighthearted, hilarious, introspective gay film about discovering and coming into one’s sexuality and falling in love. A winner of multiple festival awards at Outfest, including the Audience Award, this film is sure to make you feel all the feelings.
Break The Game
When Narcissa Wright, a famous Twitch gamer came out as trans her entire fanbase turned against her. This documentary sheds light on internet hate in modern times, and complicated feelings of desiring acceptance and love from your community.
Close To You
A perfect heart-touching ending to the festival, Elliot Page returns to the big screen for his first trans feature film role. A film about coming home and facing your past head-on.
GAZE has made it a point to host as many Q&As, masterclasses, and conversations with filmmakers and artists as in past years and is a unique opportunity and chance to connect with a deep-rooted community.
So why not get out there, and support an organization that exists to support you.
Words: Mia Anguiano-Perez
GAZE Film Festival runs from Aug 1st – 5th. Tickets & full listings: gaze.ie
