QUEER EXPRESSION FILM FEST ANNOUNCES
BEST OF THE FEST — STREAMING PROGRAM
March 4 – April 14, 2026
QUEER EXPRESSION Film Fest proudly presents its next Best of the Fest Streaming Program, running March 4 through April 14 as a streaming-only event. Spanning 18 films across five programs, this global showcase captures the remarkable breadth of contemporary LGBTQ+ storytelling — from tender romantic reckonings sparked by a citywide blackout, to speculative futures where queer love is regulated by the state; from joyous portraits of queer aging and reinvention, to urgent documentaries confronting anti-trans legislation, migration, and cultural erasure. Together, these films reflect a spectrum of LGBTQ+ lives rarely seen in one place, balancing humor and heartbreak, intimacy and activism, personal memory and collective resistance — and celebrating the many ways queer people imagine, survive, and claim joy.
Running the gamut from romantic comedy and animated music video to intimate documentary, dance film, and feature-length narrative, the Best of the Fest lineup highlights both emerging and established filmmakers working across genres and continents. Whether preserving the living memory of a legendary Parisian queer dance hall, following a trans woman’s journey toward self-realization, or reimagining who gets a happy ending in a romantic comedy, these films insist on complexity, empathy, and visibility — reminding audiences that queer stories are not one thing, but many.
A GLOBAL FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE
This year’s Best of the Fest includes films from 10 countries, reflecting the festival’s commitment to international LGBTQ+ voices.
Countries represented:
Argentina, France, Greece, Mexico, Netherlands, Singapore, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela
The festival is presented entirely online, with no in-person screenings. Each program streams for a two-week window only, after which it disappears from the festival’s platforms — preserving the urgency and excitement of a traditional festival experience.
- Tickets: $12 per program
- Access: Not geofenced — programs can be streamed from anywhere worldwide
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
- Program A – Short Films: March 4 – March 17
Program B – Mid-Length Films (Part 1): March 11 – March 24
Program C – Mid-Length Films (Part 2): March 18 – March 31
Program D – Feature Film: March 25 – April 7
Program E – Feature Film: April 1 – April 14
COMPLETE FILM LINEUP
PROGRAM A — SHORT FILMS
12 Short Films | Streaming March 4 – March 17
Against Your Nature
United Kingdom | 14:01 | Directed by Alessandro Magnabosco
In a post-pandemic future where same-sex couples are mandated to reproduce, a lesbian couple confronts love, insecurity, and bisexual erasure under impossible circumstances.
Black Tie
United States | 10:07 | Directed by Cas Saxe
A lighthearted coming-of-age dramedy following a closeted trans teen who finds confidence and community at prom.
Gloria
Greece | 5:50 | Directed by Nikos Mpouyioukas
A striking dance-performance film following a trans woman navigating vulnerability, resilience, and identity on the streets of Athens.
I Know Him So Well
United States | 4:29 | Directed by Chance Calloway
A jewel-toned animated music video chronicling queer teenage love through myth, melody, and mermen.
Meet the Friends
United States | 14:30 | Directed by C. Denise
A commitment-phobic womanizer faces her ultimate test when the woman she can’t resist asks her to meet the friends.
Middle
Argentina | 12:00 | Directed by Juan Paladino
A quiet, emotionally charged return to childhood memory, unspoken desire, and unresolved love.
Reappropriation
United States | 6:00 | Directed by Eddie James
A dying former Nazi guard seeks out a pink-triangle camp survivor to confess — and reveal a truth that could change everything.
Thanks, Babs!
United States | 14:00 | Directed by Rivkah Beth Medow & Jen Rainin
A vibrant documentary portrait of an irrepressible octogenarian embracing aging, adventure, and reinvention.
Transtate
United States | 10:22 | Directed by Sage Hammer
A timely documentary capturing transgender Americans relocating for safety amid escalating anti-trans legislation.
What We Said in the Blackout
United States / Singapore | 12:29 | Directed by Sean Au
Two former lovers awaken naked during an urban blackout, forcing everything left unsaid into the open.
Why We Pride
United Kingdom | 8:35 | Directed by Natalie Scarsbrook
A concise history of LGBTQ+ rights in the UK — and a reminder of why Pride still matters.
Wingman
United States | 11:22 | Directed by Lucas Haviland
A night out tests the bond between a gay man and his straight best friend, revealing the power of chosen family.
PROGRAM B — MID-LENGTH FILMS (Part 1)
Streaming March 11 – March 24
HIM+
United States | 32 minutes | Directed by Chazriq “Chazam” Clarke A film following Chris, a young Black man navigating fear, stigma, and uncertainty after receiving life-altering news, as faith, friendship, and mentorship help him rediscover resilience.
Shahika Means Peak
Turkey | 16:51 | Directed by Umay S. Güzel
A portrait of transformation as a corporate worker rediscovers himself through drag and performance in Turkey.
PROGRAM C — MID-LENGTH FILMS (Part 2)
Streaming March 18 – March 31
Little Bottom
France | 27:00 | Directed by Yann Baron
A hook-up becomes an uncomfortable reckoning with body image, masculinity, and sexual roles in gay culture.
Shanaya’s Path
Netherlands | 54:17 | Directed by Frank Röhrig
An intimate documentary following a young trans woman’s journey toward self-realization in the face of family and societal resistance.
PROGRAM D — FEATURE FILM
Streaming March 25 – April 7
Sunday Boyfriends (Un novio para el domingo)
Mexico / Argentina / Venezuela | 78:00 | Directed by Gabriel Ordoñez
A bittersweet romantic comedy about immigration, heartbreak, and reclaiming joy — centered on a queer body rarely given a happy ending.
PROGRAM E — FEATURE FILM
Streaming April 1 – April 14
La Boîte à Frissons
France | 69:00 | Directed by Antoine Vergez
A richly archival documentary celebrating the legendary Paris LGBTQ+ dance hall Le Tango and the community that fought to save it.
About QUEER EXPRESSION Film Fest
QUEER EXPRESSION Film Fest amplifies LGBTQ+ voices from around the world through bold, artist-driven cinema. The festival champions stories that challenge, celebrate, and connect queer communities across borders, generations, and lived experience.
Festival Sponsor
QUEER EXPRESSION Film Fest is sponsored by Open Space Arts, a Chicago-based storefront theatre and arts organization dedicated to producing bold new works, international plays, and artist-driven projects that amplify underrepresented voices.
Located in Uptown Chicago, Open Space Arts presents an adventurous season of intimate theatrical productions alongside year-round film programming, community events, and artist development initiatives. The organization is committed to creating space for stories that challenge convention, foster dialogue, and reflect the complexity of contemporary life.
Open Space Arts is currently presenting the extended run of My Life as a Cowboy — the American premiere of Hugo Timbrell’s tender and sharply observed play — now running through March 1. Additional programming, including new theatrical productions and film events, continues throughout the year.
