Images Courtesy of Cinema Diverse

Prolific filmmaker Lee Daniels, who brought depth to such works as Precious, The Paperboy, The Butler, and The United States vs. Billie Holiday, once said: “I want to see movies I can walk away from and say, 'Wait, what happened there? Hold up, what did I just see? What?' … and then it connects to something that you personally, unequivocally know to be truth.”

In looking over this year’s lineup of LGBTQ+ films for Cinema Diverse, Daniels’ words seem to hold more significance. In its 18th outing, the annual Palm Springs celebration of LGBTQ+ films and filmmakers appears to feature more thought-provoking and diverse offerings than ever. The festival opens at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 18 and runs through Sunday, September 21, then returns for another four-day rollout September 25-28 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center.

As in previous years, the festival will screen films in all three of the theaters inside the Palm Springs Cultural Center. More than 50 feature films and more than 100 short films are on the roster throughout the festival. Expect several world premieres, and a fine array of moving documentaries, compelling shorts, and impactful comedies and dramas. Festival Director Michael green says that this year’s festival reflects great storytelling. "People need to tell stories,” Green explained. “That’s one of the reasons we are tagging this year's festival as 'The Storytellers Era.' There were many submissions—lots of filmmakers responding to what they are seeing in politics. Interesting times and interesting films.”

Tickets and passes are on sale at CinemaDiverse.org. The full list of films can be accessed on the Cinema Diverse website. In the meantime, take note of our film highlights below and check the website for a full list of showtimes.

Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day

Thursday, September 18 | 7 p.m.

Croatia’s stellar entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards hits Greater Palm Springs in a screening that will surely leave an indelible imprint on the psyche. The lowdown: Set in Yugoslavia in the 1950s, four close friends who are revered filmmakers, are suddenly impacted by the changing times. Their sexual orientation draws suspicion. When a communist party loyalist is sent to sabotage their lives, their pursuit of freedom suddenly turns into an unexpected battle for survival. 

Fallen Fruit

Friday, September 19 | 7 p.m. 

The saying “No matter where you go, there you are” comes to mind in Fallen Fruit. Our protagonist, Alex (Ramiro Batista), flees New York, and finds himself returning to his Miami childhood home. Why not film your “rock bottom?” And with an old camcorder to boot?  A good thought. Enter: Chris (Austin Cassel), whose presence quickly alters Alex’s plans. Adulthood can be so challenging.

Family, Friends and Frenemies

Saturday, September 20 | 12 p.m.

The Shorts Program, “Family, Friends and Frenemies,” is bound to garner some attention. The thought-provoking program dives into a diverse array of topics—from holiday bonds (Friendsgiving) and sibling reconnection (David's Violets) to student/teacher dynamics (Gabriel) and “Hollyweird” bonds after a breakup (I'm Good!).

Exit Interviews

Saturday, September 20 | 7 p.m.

This deep and intimate LGBTQ+ drama tackles love, loss, and personal growth. Here, middle-aged Robert (Tuc Watkins) creates a different kind of documentary by interviewing six ex-boyfriends. Each of his exes illuminates a chapter of his love life. With his sister’s support, he surfs through—or tries to at least—humor, heartbreak, and—fingers crossed— self-discovery. Can he discover why his relationships really ended the way they did?

Latter-Day Glory: The Aftermath of Growing Up Queer in the LDS Church

Sunday, September 21 | 4:45 p.m.

In a documentary that is as intimate as it is emotional, the story tracks Jonathon Levi Powell and Terry Blas, two queer ex-Mormon missionaries, on a mind-bending journey across the country. Their goal: to confront the lasting wounds of growing up LGBTQ+ in the Mormon Church.

The Healing Animal

Thursday, September 25 | 2:30 p.m.

With animal-assisted psychotherapy solidifying a place in mainstream awareness, this doc feels as timely as it is necessary. This story documents the emotional and legal processes of gender transition through Charlee, a 25-year-old transgender college student who moved to Colorado to escape gender persecution in Kentucky. To find balance in their lives, they attend psychotherapy to secure legal rights to name change, gender marker change, and surgery. Keen insights and deeply moving scenes filter into this creative mix.

Love Me Bait Me: The Power of Queer Representation

Thursday, September 25 | 4:45 p.m.

If you’ve ever been curious about how the entertainment world represents the LGBTQ+ community, this doc is for you. You’ll learn about the historical relationship between Hollywood, television, and the authentic portrayal of diverse LGBTQ+ experiences as the outing moves through more than a century of history. Expect interviews and archival footage to provide a unique critique of the U.S. film industry.

I Love You, AllWays

Friday, September 26 | 2:15 p.m. 

It’s the West Coast Premiere of this sassy film, so expect the energy to be high. The film takes audiences inside The AllWays Lounge, New Orleans’ lively haven for drag and cabaret. Here, outrageous entertainment acts and truly unforgettable characters shine bright. But there’s some tender and often heartfelt strength that shines through between some of the wild performances. A colorful cast also makes the outing even more memorable as it tracks friendships, hardships and disasters. Best star of the show: creativity, which always shines through.

Surviving Voices

Friday, September 26 | 7 p.m.

This is a must-see program with one powerful and uniting message spanning three unforgettable films. Surviving Voices: HIV Lifetime & Long-Term Survivors spotlights HIV lifetime and long-term survivors who acquired HIV at birth or as young children and those who acquired the virus before the availability of effective treatment in the mid-1990s. Meanwhile Surviving Voices: AIDS Memorial Quilt Panel Makers looks at the untold stories of the AIDS Memorial Quilt—the people who commemorate lost loved ones by sewing quilt panels. And Gert’s Boys reveals the story of Cindy “Gert” McMullin, an original volunteer and co-founder of The AIDS Memorial Quilt. Take note: There’s a special panel discussion after the screening.

Spermicide

Saturday, September 27 | 11:45 a.m.

As part of the Feminist Culture shorts, this doc has some spirit. Bailey and Amanda are eager to have a baby, and they have the perfect list of sperm donors lined up. The problem? Their potential baby daddies won’t stop dying. Ouch.

Screams from the Tower

Saturday, September 27 | 5 p.m.

It’s the gay, coming-of-age comedy we never knew we needed. The engaging outing tracks Julien, his best friend Cary, and their outcast friends through high school—in the early 90s. Fun. Julien and Cary dream of having their own show on the high school radio station. When it becomes a reality, suddenly popularity and infamy are in a tug-of-war.

Until the Silence

Saturday, September 27 | 7 p.m.

This World Premiere from HERE Films is written and directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Billy Clift. In a nuke story that takes place in post-blast Los Angeles, three couples gather for a final candlelit dinner. As time creeps to a halt—literally—they share stories, some regrets, a bunch of humor, and, fittingly, love.