LGBTQ History

SIFF is committed to presenting all facets of the LGBTQ experience. This year’s line-up includes films like 1985 and Every Act of Life, which remind us of the historic struggles faced by the LGBTQ rights movement, but also celebrates the future – like A Moment in the Reeds, Finland’s first gay cinematic romance EVER!

See Our LGBTQ Lineup

1985

Director Yen Tan Scheduled to Attend.

During the first wave of the AIDS crisis, a closeted gay New Yorker returns to his Texas hometown for the holidays and struggles to disclose his terminal illness to his conservative Christian parents (Virginia Madsen and Michael Chiklis) in this delicate indie drama from Yen Tan (Pit Stop).

Wednesday, May 30 · 7:00 PM · Pacific Place
Thursday, May 31 · 4:30 PM · Pacific Place

Every Act of Life

Writer/Director Jeff Kaufman Scheduled to Attend.

The groundbreaking life and work of one of America’s most important playwrights, multiple Tony-winner Terrence McNally, is revealed in a personal journey showcasing five decades of iconic theatre productions as well as the artist’s struggles fighting for gay rights and against his own addictions.

Thursday, May 31 · 6:30 PM · SIFF Cinema Uptown
Saturday, June 2 · 11:00 AM · Pacific Place

“While Every Act of Life is a testament to how vital McNally’s work as a playwright is and continues to be, it does true justice to its subject by showing how his influence goes well beyond words, finding his tribe on Broadway and making it feel like home for others.” Stephen Saito – Movable Fest

A Moment In the Reeds

Director Mikko Makela Scheduled to Attend.

When literature student Leevi arrives at his father’s summer home, he meets Syrian refugee Tareq who is working on the house. Their weekend affair exposes generational and cultural chasms in an outwardly peaceful setting in Finland’s first gay romantic feature.

Thursday, May 31 · 9:00 PM · SIFF Cinema Uptown
Friday, June 1 · 3:30 PM · SIFF CInema Uptown

More LGBTQ Cinema
You Don’t Want to Miss

My Big Gay Italian Wedding

In this merry movie of matrimony, happily engaged Antonio brings his fiancé Paulo to the exquisite old Italian village of his birth to meet his headstrong parents and reveal his sexuality, setting out on a quest to make a city founded on religious tradition understand that love is love.

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The Heiresses

The bond of a longtime couple is tested when one is sent to prison for debt and the other rediscovers her passions while chauffeuring wealthier older ladies in this Berlinale Silver Bear-winning drama.

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Retablo

Set in an isolated Peruvian village, a 14-year-old boy’s world is jarringly turned upside-down when he accidentally discovers his troubled artist father’s secret in this absorbing drama about familial strife and disillusionment.

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Anchor and Hope

A lesbian couple (Natalia Tena and Oona Chaplin) living in bohemian style on a riverboat along London’s picturesque Regent’s Canal find themselves on a bittersweet journey of love and its vagaries when they decide to start a family by asking an old college friend to donate his sperm.

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About the Author: Michael Strangeways

As the Editorial Director/Co-Owner, Michael Strangeways writes, edits and does about a million other jobs for Seattle Gay Scene, Puget Sound's most visited LGBTQ news, arts and entertainment website now celebrating its 14th year as a media outlet. A semi-proud Midwesterner by birth, he's lived in Seattle since 2000. He's also a film producer who would like you to check out the Jinkx Monsoon documentary, "Drag Becomes Him" now available on Amazon.com. In his spare time, he gets slightly obsessive about his love for old movies, challenging theater, "otters", vodka, chocolate, "I,Claudius", Lizzie Borden, real books made out of paper, disaster films, show tunes, Weimar era Germany, flea markets, pop surrealistic art, the sex lives of Hollywood actors both living and dead, kitties, chicken fried steak, haute couture and David Bowie. But, not necessarily in that order.