Loosely inspired by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch’s (after whom ‘masochism’ is named) book Venus in Furs, filmmakers Monika Treut and Elfi Mikesch’s take features a dominatrix called Wanda, who runs a Hamburg art gallery where audiences pay to watch sadomasochistic performances. The boundaries between Wanda’s personal and professional lives blur as three people vie for her […]
SOLD OUT- MORE TICKETS MAY BE AVAILABLE ON THE NIGHT A female cyborg cop and her partner hunt a mysterious and powerful hacker called the Puppet Master in a future where humanity shifts between flesh and machine. While sometimes read as subverting fixed ideas about gender and sexuality, Mamoru Oshii’s anime classic also appears to […]
Is it possible to make ‘feminist porn’? By creating and watching pornography that challenges the ingrained sexual stereotypes of the mainstream adult film industry, can we use this sexually radical filmmaking as a kind of weapon? Reversing gender clichés, pushing boundaries, and empowering. And can we get off on that?! Join us for an evening […]
Edinburgh’s finest purveyors of weirdo cabaret and decadent performance parties – DIVE - lock lips with sisters from a different mister POLYESTER for the first time eva! A specially curated mix of high-octane performance, immersive live art, and eclectic music with Polyester DJs, your host Miss Annabel Sings, and a kaleidoscope of acts from all […]
We invite a selection of the guests and filmmakers attending the Festival to share their experiences and thoughts on approaching queer film. Several panel discussions will look at different approaches to queer filmmaking and the role of film festivals and programming in LGBTI culture. This aims to be an open and accessible event, providing an […]
A selection of short films by and about people who are trans, non-binary, and/or intersex. Trans and intersex bodies float under water, clash with western history, and get inked; a trans woman in Turkey builds her own identity whilst reacting to and rejecting that of mainstream media; and a trans guy in Australia buys a […]
An online relationship between Montreal-based Sandra and Amina, a Syrian-American living in Damascus, takes a strange turn when Amina’s blog, claiming to represent a lesbian voice, goes silent and it is feared she has been kidnapped. All, however, is not as it seems... Director Sophie Deraspe works closely with Sandra to tell her story and, […]
Five men who are HIV positive take a week-long course preparing them for a solo parachute jump. As they embark on the challenge, they bond and share stories about sex and relationships, and fears and anxieties about their illness. An intense but warm atmosphere develops and the men’s training builds to a climax as they […]
Shy Sebastian is in the process of working out their gender identity when they meet and fall for rebellious Andreas. Trans-identifying director Ester Martin Bergsmark’s (She Male Snails) first fictional feature is a visually stunning and emotionally intense look at romance and eroticism through the eyes of a young queer person. Screening with short film […]
SQIFF presents an investigation into all things femme. Documentary FtF: Female to Femme combines humour and personal history in celebrating queer femme identities, reimagining them as radical gender journeys. Screening alongside a selection of shorts examining a variety of perspectives, including trans, genderqueer, and working class femme experiences. Featuring an introduction and discussion by SQIFF's […]
