#FIRSTLOOK: INSIDE OUT 2SLGBTQ+ FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS MAY 22-MAY 31, 2026

The Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival returns May 22 to May 31, 2026, with an expansive and vibrant program celebrating queer storytelling from around the world. Tickets are now on sale at Insideout.ca.

The 2026 lineup was revealed today during a media conference at Red Head Gallery in Toronto, where media, film lovers and industry insiders gathered for a first look at the upcoming program.

This year’s festival features 29 feature films and 72 shorts from more than 20 countries. Screenings will take place at TIFF Lightbox, with a selection of titles available to stream Ontario-wide.

Opening the festival is the Canadian premiere of the outrageous comedy Stop! That! Train! from Adam Shankman (Hairspray, The Wedding Planner), starring Emmy Award-winner and cultural icon RuPaul, alongside Jujubee and Ginger Minj, two of RuPaul’s Drag Race’s standout Queens. The star-studded cast ensemble also includes Sarah Michelle Gellar, Monét X Change, Matt Rogers, Nicole Richie, Chris Parnell, and Lisa Rinna.

Closing the festival is Heals, an intimate documentary from Pailin Wedel (The Trapped 13: How We Survived the Thai Cave), that received funding through Inside Out’s RE:Focus Fund. The film traces the life of international drag star Pangina Heals, from a traumatic childhood to becoming Asia’s first drag queen with a Las Vegas residency. Adam Shankman, Jujubee and Pangina Heals will be making appearances at the festival.

“Stepping into this role, my goal was to further elevate the diverse voices that the Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival champions, from established filmmakers to emerging talent. I’m incredibly proud of the lineup we’ve curated this year. It’s exciting, heartfelt and deeply entertaining and I can’t wait for audiences to experience it,” said Carly Beath, Executive Director of Inside Out. “The festival would not be possible without the continued support of our community and partners, whose contributions have been integral in bringing it to life”.

“This year’s lineup showcases not only a diversity of voices, but an incredible spectrum of storytelling styles. From absurd comedies to emotionally resonant documentaries to poignant horror, Inside Out highlights films from 2SLGBTQ+ communities across a wide range of forms and perspectives.,” said Jenna Dufton, Festival Director of Inside Out. “This program is a celebration of Queer viewpoints and the many ways we choose to express them.”

Among the festival’s marquee presentations is the RE:Focus Gala selection Give Me the Ball!, a documentary exploring the life and legacy of former World No. 1 tennis player and social justice pioneer Billie Jean King, revealing her personal sacrifices beyond her global impact on sport and equality.

The Centrepiece Gala, I Come Home, marks the world premiere of the emotionally complex debut feature from Canadian director Glen Wood. The film follows a throuple as they navigate an unexpected pregnancy, shifting dynamics and family tensions, set against the backdrop of a wedding that brings everything to surface.

The festival also presents a dynamic slate of premiere features, including the Canadian debuts of the heartfelt Gugu’s World and the romantic drama Iván & Hadoum, both of which premiered at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival and received awards. Also making its Canadian premiere is the Special Presentation Leviticus, directed by Adrian Chiarella, a gripping entry into queer horror. Blending elements of psychological thriller and coming-of-age drama, the film confronts conversion therapy, religious fanaticism, and identity.

Screening for the first time in North America is the documentary Hunky Jesus, exploring the legacy of San Francisco’s Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s iconic Easter celebration. Making its International premiere is Perfect, an official selection of SXSW Film & TV 2026 and the feature film debut of music video director Millicent Hailes. The post-apocalyptic drama stars Ashley Moore (I Know What You Did Last Summer) and Julia Fox (Uncut Gems). Rounding out the program is the world premiere of Out of the Woods starring Frances Fisher, Mimi Kennedy, and Academy Award Nominee Bruce Davison, a reflective story about memory, friendship and change in a woman’s life.

The Spotlight on Canada program highlights bold and distinctive homegrown storytelling. Titles include Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions, a bold portrait of the queer rock icon as she reclaims her place in music history; the World premiere of In The Closet, a humorous and heartfelt docuseries following comedian Ajahnis Charley as they raid their non-binary besties closets looking to affirm both their identity and their hotness; Lunar Sway, a dark, quirky comedy, set in a small desert town; and Tracy & Martina: Goin’ Out West an offbeat mockumentary about two best friends from Cape Breton as they head to Alberta on tour only to find themselves at risk of getting stuck there for good.

Festival Director Jenna Dufton heads the programming team with programming staff Lu Linares and Claire Jarvis, and programmers Ferdosa Abdi, Syriah Bailey, Cailin Ball, Ashley Bodika, Ferrin Evans, Allia McLeod, Gabriel Souza Nunes, and Nik Redman.

Running from May 22 to May 31, 2026, the Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival is one of the world’s leading platforms for queer cinema, championing bold voices and stories that resonate across borders. Please see the Inside Out’s programming highlights below. For the full Festival program, schedule and to purchase tickets, please visit insideout.ca.

OPENING GALA
*attending the festival

STOP! THAT! TRAIN!
Dir. Adam Shankman* | United States | 2026 | 90 mins | English | Comedy | Canadian Premiere
The wildly hilarious new film from Adam Shankman (Hairspray, The Wedding Planner), Stop! That! Train! combines absurd comedy, outrageous drag, and high-speed disaster-movie chaos to deliver a nonstop thrill ride of action, glamour, and laugh-out-loud camp. DeeDee (Jujubee) and Tess (Ginger Minj) are grateful for their jobs as train stewardesses for Stank Rail, but they dream of the big time aboard the luxurious Glamazonian Express. When the chance comes to upgrade to those iconic red uniforms, they jump at it—only for their journey to be derailed by a massive “stormaganza” threatening everyone on board. As panic spreads among a train full of celebrities and elite passengers, DeeDee and Tess must step up to save the day. With help from President Gagwell (RuPaul) and a woman with glasses (Rachel Bloom), they just might pull it off.

Featuring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Monét X Change, Matt Rogers, Nicole Richie, Chris Parnell, and Lisa Rinna—among many, many others—Stop! That! Train! is a star-studded affair and guaranteed instant Queer classic.
FRI, MAY 22 • 6:45 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 1

CLOSING NIGHT GALA

HEALS
Dir. Pailin Wedel* | Thailand | 2026 | 102 mins | Thai and English with English subtitles | Documentary | World Premiere
Heals traces the life of international drag star Pangina Heals from a traumatic childhood to becoming Asia’s first drag queen with a Las Vegas residency.

Behind the lashes and laughter is Pan Pan Narkprasert, a Queer Thai artist who transformed pain into power. Once a lonely, bullied child, Pan Pan found refuge in drag—and through it, rose to become one of Asia’s most celebrated performers. This intimate documentary follows his journey from family turmoil to a groundbreaking Las Vegas residency, set against the vibrant backdrop of Thailand’s Queer culture. Raw and emotionally charged, Heals explores how drag becomes more than performance: it is a means of healing intergenerational trauma, reclaiming identity within a traditional Thai-Chinese family, and building a chosen family of one’s own.
SAT, MAY 30 • 7:00 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 1

RE:FOCUS GALA

GIVE ME THE BALL!
Dir. Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff | United States | 2026 | 102 mins | English | Documentary | Toronto Premiere
Billie Jean King is a global icon whose impact on tennis and equality resonates around the world. But the personal turmoil behind this transformational figure has, in many ways, remained hidden from view. Give Me the Ball! shines an overdue spotlight on the sacrifices King was forced to make behind the scenes.

From struggling to escape an unhappy marriage and hiding her sexual orientation, to facing an eating disorder and staring down misogyny at every turn, her march to triumph was a long and often lonely one. The film reveals King as the relentless fighter she was compelled to become, taking on high-profile battles to professionalise her sport and demand equal treatment for women. Through a trove of rarely-seen archival material and powerfully honest interviews with King herself, this film explores the depths of agony she endured so that others might follow on a less painful path. It is the story of selflessness, struggle, and triumph that celebrates a figure who is widely admired but never properly understood —until now.
SAT, MAY 23 • 7:00 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2

CENTREPIECE GALA

I COME HOME
Dir. Glen Wood* | Canada | 2026 | 97 mins | English and French | Drama | World Premiere
It’s stressful enough attending the wedding of your normie sister to the guy next door, especially when the event is presided over by your controlling and dysfunctional parents. Now try doing it with your two polyamorous partners in tow.

In Glen Wood’s honest and emotionally complex feature debut, we meet Christine (Hannah Cheesman) and longtime partner Alex (Carlos Gonzalez-Vio) as they’re finding their rhythm with a new, younger partner, Stephane (Ryan Ali). When Christine discovers she’s unexpectedly pregnant, all three have very different reactions, causing tensions to arise. To make matters worse, much of this plays out at the wedding of Christine’s sister, Kat (Jordan Hayes), where the throuple must navigate judgmental relatives as well as their own, very complicated feelings.
TUE, MAY 26 • 9:15 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2

SPECIAL PRESENTATION

LEVITICUS
Dir. Adrian Chiarella | Australian | 2026 | 88 mins | English | Horror | Canadian Premiere
It Follows meets Heated Rivalry: Adrian Chiarella’s Leviticus confronts conversion therapy, religious fanaticism, and the turbulence of coming of age, emerging as a thrilling, deeply poignant addition to the Queer horror genre.

In a small, isolated Australian town, little ever seems to happen— until it does. Naim (Joe Bird) and Ryan (Stacy Clausen), seated with their families in church, communicate through stolen glances, guarding a secret that could cost them everything. When it’s exposed, their families intervene, determined to “save” them from a life they refuse to accept. But the ritual meant to cure them unleashes something far more dangerous. Now, hunted by a violent entity that takes the form of the person they desire most—in their case, each other—the boys must work together to break the curse or risk being torn apart forever.
FRI, MAY 29 • 9:15 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2

PREMIERES

GUGU’S WORLD (FEITO PIPA)
Dir. Allan Deberton | Brazil | 2026 | 93 mins | Portuguese with English subtitles | Drama | Canadian Premiere
With a football at his feet and a heart that refuses to fit within the lines drawn for him, Gugu is a young boy with a larger-than life spirit. But as his grandmother’s health begins to decline, the dazzling inner world and support system that sustain him are at risk of slipping away.

Gugu (Yuri Gomes) is an almost 12-year-old who dreams of becoming a soccer player, living under the loving, open-minded care of his grandmother, Dilma (Teca Pereira), whose warmth allows him to simply be himself. In their small community by the Araújo Lima reservoir—now slowly drying up and revealing the ghostly remains of a submerged town—the two share a quiet yet powerful bond that shields them from the disapproval of Gugu’s father and those around them. As long-buried memories resurface, subtle shifts begin to unsettle their routine: Dilma grows increasingly fragile, and Gugu, determined to preserve their fragile world, is forced to confront the possibility of losing the only safe haven he has ever known
SUN, MAY 24 • 9:15 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2

HUNKY JESUS
Dir. Jennifer M. Kroot | United States | 2026 | 85 mins | English | Drama | North American Premiere
Join the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence as San Franciscans gather to present their most creative interpretations of an iconic figure (twink Jesus, anyone?) where only one lucky contestant will be crowned the official Hunky Jesus.

For more than 45 years, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have served San Francisco’s 2SLGBTQ+ communities with compassion, activism, and bucket loads of joy. From producing one of the first community pamphlets about HIV/AIDS during the early days of the epidemic to championing education, outreach, and Queer visibility, the Sisters have long combined information with positivity for those who needed it most. Filmmaker Jennifer M. Kroot (To Be Takei, The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin) returns to shine a spotlight on one of the organisation’s most beloved traditions: its annual Easter celebration.
SUN, MAY 24 • 1:30 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
Digital screening available

IVÁN & HADOUM
Dir. Ian de la Rosa | Spain, Germany, Belgium | 2026 | 100 mins | Spanish and Arabic with English subtitles | Drama | Canadian Premiere
In a greenhouse in southern Spain, Iván falls in love with newly hired coworker, Hadoum. However, his long-awaited promotion interferes with their relationship, forcing Iván to decide what kind of person he wants to be.

Iván’s (Silver Chicón) days always seem the same but newly-hired packer Hadoum (Herminia Loh), who has returned to Almería after years away, changes everything when a love without judgment blooms between them. But these star-crossed lovers are put under immediate strain as external forces—culture, identity, class, and economic aspirations—threaten to turn their dream into a nightmare. Ian de la Rosa’s feature directorial debut beautifully explores how romantic connection can triumph, even when faced with the mundane socioeconomic pressures and traditional mindsets that seek to pull us apart.
THU, MAY 28 • 9:15PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 1

PERFECT
Dir. Millicent Hailes* | United States | 2026 | 94 mins | English | Drama | International Premiere
In a world devastated by a contaminated water supply, Kai, a lost and guarded soul, finds herself living out of her car after a bad breakup. When a chance stop in a small town offers her a rare sense of shelter and connection, she’s faced with a choice: remain closed off, or risk opening herself to something new.

With both clean water and human connection in short supply, each day is a struggle for Kai (Ashley Moore) until her journey leads her to a hidden utopian lake, where the water is pure and life flourishes. At this secret haven, Kai encounters a band of eccentric misfits, each with their own stories of loss and hope. Among them is Mallory (Julia Fox), an enigmatic and wealthy pregnant woman living out an escapist fantasy. Despite their starkly different backgrounds, Kai and Mallory are drawn to each other, and a sudden, passionate romance ignites. As their bond deepens, it is also threatened as Kai begins to uncover the layers of Mallory’s life and the secrets she harbours.
SAT, MAY 23 • 9:15 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 3

OUT OF THE WOODS
Dir. Sal Bardo* | United States | 2026 | 92 mins | English | Documentary | World Premiere
Featuring stellar performances by Frances Fisher, Mimi Kennedy, and Bruce Davison, Out of the Woods follows Max at a pivotal turning point in her life. Just as her memory begins to fail, an old friend reenters her world, complicating an already uncertain time.

Max (Frances Fisher) is gradually losing her memory. As she struggles to confront and accept this new reality alongside her husband and daughter, the unexpected return of Diana (Mimi Kennedy) brings unresolved feelings back to the surface. Through fragments of memory and rediscovered letters, a hidden part of Max’s past begins to reemerge. As her condition progresses, Max is forced to make a difficult choice: spend the precious time she has left with the woman she has always loved, or remain loyal to the husband who has stood by her.
SUN MAY 24 • 6:45 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
Digital screening available

SPOTLIGHT ON CANADA

ANTIDIVA: THE CAROLE POPE CONFESSIONS
Dir. Michelle Mama* | Canada | 2026 | 89 mins | English | Documentary
Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions is a raw, rollicking portrait of Carole Pope—music icon, provocateur, and queer trailblazer whose fearless voice and unapologetic sexuality reshaped rock ‘n’ roll. From the underground grit of 1970s Toronto to opening for David Bowie, Pope’s incendiary lyrics and magnetic presence shattered expectations of what a woman, let alone a lesbian, could be onstage.

More than a music doc, Antidiva is a time capsule of queer resistance and chosen family, charting Pope’s creative symbiosis with Kevan Staples, her complicated relationships, and the bittersweet realities of aging in an industry that sidelines outsiders. Through archival treasure, electrifying performances, and present-day vérité, director Michelle Mama captures Pope’s contradictions: tough yet tender, jaded yet vibrantly alive. Featuring k.d. lang, Peaches, Jann Arden, and Rufus Wainwright, Antidiva stands as a battle cry for self-expression, queer joy, and the artists who refuse to be tamed.
SAT, MAY 23 • 4:15 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 3

IN THE CLOSET
Dir. Ajahnis Charley* | Canada | 2026 | 72 mins | English | Drama | World Premiere
Figuring out who you are is messy—especially when the world is telling you that you’re “not non-binary enough”. In this equally hilarious and heartwarming docuseries, comedian and host Ajahnis Charley raids their enby besties’ closets looking to affirm both their identity and their hotness.

Ajahnis is joined by iconic comedian Bren D’Souza, and enables their use of psychedelics—psychedelic prints, that is. Actor Amanda Cordner challenges Ajahnis to a dance-off, and improviser to the stars D.J. Mausner breaks down their upscale-playful-masculine-sleazy style. Creator Meg MacKay brings dress-up back, and drag queen extraordinaire Chelazon Leroux explores the deeper meaning behind their iconic red dress. Clothing will be swapped, laughs will be had, and tears will be shed. That’s tears, not tears— no clothing was harmed in the making of this show!
SUN, MAY 24 • 7:00 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 3

LUNAR SWAY
Dir. Nick Butler* | Canada | 2026 | 98 mins | English | Drama | Canadian Premiere
In this dark, quirky comedy, we follow the handsome Cliff (Noah Parker) through a series of misadventures—sexual, romantic, familial, criminal, and otherwise—in the small desert town of Mooncrest.

Cliff spends his days making neon signs, thinking about his ex-boyfriend, quietly borrowing money from his parents, and sparring with his therapist. His routine is upended when a woman (Liza Weil) arrives in town claiming to be his birth mother. Close behind her comes another woman (Grace Glowicki), who claims to be a bounty hunter and warns Cliff that nothing is as it seems. What follows is a coming-of-age story with a surreal, dreamlike edge, drifting through a world of seedy motels, unexpected sexual encounters, low-level scams, and some truly stellar fringed cowboy shirts.
SAT, MAY 23 • 6:45 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 3
Digital screening available

TRACY & MARTINA: GOIN’ OUT WEST
Dir. Brendan Lyle* | Canada | 2025 | 77 mins | English | Comedy | Toronto Premiere
If Barb and Star were headed to the West Edmonton Mall instead of Vista Del Mar, this offbeat and wildly entertaining mockumentary would be the result.

If you’ve ever prepared for a trip by cashing in your empties or packing your clothes into a Sobeys bag, you may have found your people in Tracy (Justine Williamson) and Martina (Greg Vardy), two best friends from Cape Breton who got famous online by documenting their distinctly East Coast lifestyles. Tracy & Martina: Goin’ Out West follows the duo as they head to Alberta on tour to open for a local band. But when plans fall through and resentments rise to the surface, they must band together to find a way home or risk being stuck in Alberta forever (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
WED, MAY 27 • 6:45 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
Digital screening available

ICONS

A DEEPER LOVE: THE STORY OF MISS PEPPERMINT
Dir. Oriel Pe’er | United States | 2025 | 86 mins | English | Documentary | Toronto Premiere
A Deeper Love: The Story of Miss Peppermint follows trailblazing performer and activist Peppermint across nearly a decade of her life and career, capturing her journey from the underground stages of nightlife to global visibility through RuPaul’s Drag Race and her groundbreaking appearances on Broadway.

Moving between intimate private moments and major public milestones, this highly entertaining and insightful documentary reveals the realities behind the spotlight: the struggle to survive as a working artist, the pressure of becoming a symbol, and the friendships that sustain her along the way. Executive produced by Elliot Page and Bob the Drag Queen, and featuring appearances from icons including Laverne Cox, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, and Sasha Velour, the film expands beyond a single biography to explore the vibrant Queer community that surrounds and inspires Peppermint. At its heart, A Deeper Love is a story about persistence, chosen family, and the power of Queer artists to shape culture while fighting to live authentically
SAT, MAY 23 • 11:45 AM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 3

THE BRITTNEY GRINER STORY
Dir. Alexandria Stapleton | United States | 2026 | 105 mins | English | Documentary | Canadian Premiere
This personal and profound odyssey follows basketball star Brittney Griner from her playing career, harrowing imprisonment in Russia, and through the extraordinary geopolitical battle to bring her home.

Like so many talents of women’s basketball before her, U.S. star Brittney Griner pursues a better financial opportunity by playing in Russia. In 2022, she was detained by Russian authorities, and her high-profile imprisonment set off a far-ranging geopolitical struggle, one that would reach the highest levels of power in Washington, D.C. and Moscow. This extraordinary odyssey tells the tumultuous story of a towering presence on and off the court, including the circumstances that led her to Russia, the unwavering determination to return home, and her renewed perspective upon securing her freedom.
SUN, MAY 24 • 11:45 AM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 3

OUT LAWS
Dir. James Lewis, Lexi Powner | United Kingdom, Namibia | 2026 | 79 mins | English | Documentary | International Premiere
One part striking Queer history lesson and one part introduction to some of the most courageous activists of our time, Out Laws follows three litigants putting their own lives at risk to make their countries safer places for 2SLGBTQ+ people.

Friedel Dausab is at the heart of a battle centuries in the making. Challenging Namibia’s criminalization of same-sex love, Friedel becomes a beacon of hope for countless Queer Namibians who long for freedom and safety. Amid death threats, relentless public scrutiny, and the chilling spectre of a serial killer, Friedel takes his country to court. The film traces the roots of this injustice: an ancient and enduring legacy born in Tudor England, spread through colonialism, and amplified by contemporary Christian evangelism. Prominent Queer historians illuminate this history as Friedel joins fellow activists Rosanna (Sri Lanka) and Raven (Barbados) in London, where they prepare to deliver a rousing speech at Pride, and await Friedel’s judgment
SAT, MAY 30 • 2:00 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
Digital screening available

THE ROAD TO SYDNEY
Dir. Benito Bautista* | United States, Canada, Philippines | 2026 | 100 mins | English and Tagalog | Documentary | International Premiere
Filmmaker Benito Bautista introduces us to Sydney, a renowned choreographer who left the Philippines to follow her dreams as a dancer. After years of putting her own needs on the back burner, she has finally transitioned into the woman she always knew she was—though this journey comes with its own set of challenges.

The Road to Sydney follows Filipina choreographer Sydney Loyola, who found refuge and happiness in dance while navigating a difficult childhood in Palawan. Now living in San Francisco, Sydney has finally decided to put herself first, beginning her medical transition with the support of her chosen family. However, her path is soon complicated by the harsh realities of job loss and eviction. Seeking a way forward, Sydney travels back to her hometown in Palawan, returning as her true self for the first time. Her journey proves that no matter the obstacles, following your heart will always lead you to the right destination.
SAT, MAY 23 • 4:00 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
Digital screening available

WE ARE PAT
Dir. Rowan Haber | United States | 2025 | 92 mins | English | Documentary | Toronto Premiere
Many iconic Saturday Night Live characters made the leap to the big screen in the 1990s: Mary Katherine Gallagher, the Roxbury Guys, Wayne and Garth, and, of course, Pat. These films are unmistakably products of their time, but We Are Pat confronts the aging of comedy head-on.

We Are Pat explores the evolution of gender identity and comedy from the ’90s to the present day through the lens of the iconic Saturday Night Live sketch, It’s Pat. The film examines Pat’s origins as a joke rooted in the cultural anxiety of the ’90s while drawing striking parallels to today’s culture wars. To work through its findings, trans and non-binary comedians and culture-makers reimagine the original Pat sketches, using camp and humour in an attempt to reclaim the iconic character. Through these reinterpretations, alongside interviews with Julia Sweeney herself, the film ultimately asks: is Pat worth saving?
SUN, MAY 24 • 4:30 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 3

INTERNATIONAL

A SECOND LIFE
Dir. Laurent Slama | France | 2025 | 77 mins | English and French with English subtitles | Drama | Toronto Premiere
On the opening day of the Olympic Games, we meet Elisabeth as she performs the thankless job of taking rich tourists to their apartment rentals across Paris. In one such tourist, she meets her foil, a free spirit who threatens to find fault in her jaded worldview.

Elisabeth (Agathe Rousselle) is barely holding it together under the weight of a deep depression. She finds solace losing herself in Monet’s Waterlilies at the Musée de l’Orangerie, but as tourists flock to Paris, her oasis turns foul. Her last respite from the chaos and overwhelming noise of the city is removing her hearing aids and retreating into silence and herself, but when a rental gets double-booked, and she has to babysit the anything but quiet Elijah (Alex Lawther) until his room is ready, that, too, is now out of reach. While at first glance this appears to be just another obstacle, the brief encounter turns into an unexpected, but vital, connection. Shot almost exclusively on location during the 2024 Olympics, A Second Life captures the vibrancy of Paris in full bloom.
FRI, MAY 29 • 9:00 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 3
Digital screening available

BLACK BURNS FAST
Dir. Sandulela Asanda | South Africa | 2026 | 96 mins | English and Xhosa with English subtitles | Romantic Comedy | Canadian Premiere
A film about the joy that comes from owning one’s own story and identity, Black Burns Fast follows a bookish scholarship student at a prestigious boarding school whose rigid life is upended by the arrival of a magnetic new student.

Behind the doors of a prestigious all-girls boarding school in South Africa, another year of academic politics, cliques, and head-scratching teenage shenanigans is afoot, and 17-year-old Luthando (Esihle Ndleleni) is unfortunately getting wrapped up in it. As the poster child and designated gifted scholarship girl of the school, Luthando is determined to not make a splash; meet her overzealous religious mother’s expectation; and succeed with little notice from the sharks. However, that hope is thrown out the window when new student Ayanda (Muadi Ilung) steps onto campus. A budding romance sparks an internal change that is expressed boldly in Sandulela Asanda’s vibrant, funny, and wholesome coming-of-age teen romcom.
SUN, MAY 24 • 4:00PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
Digital screening available

DRUNKEN NOODLES
Dir. Lucio Castro | United States, Argentina | 2025 | 81 mins | English and Spanish with English subtitles | Drama | Toronto Premiere
Drunken Noodles follows an art student through space and time in this collection of intimate encounters ranging from the mundane to the magical.

Adnan (Laith Khalifeh) finds himself alone in Brooklyn, but a clandestine meeting on a warm summer night with a delivery driver-cum-poet brings the echo of past lovers to the forefront of his mind. Set across two summers, we join Adnan on an odyssey through memory as he meets the alluring men of his past, whose influence still lingers in his present. In Drunken Noodles, director Lucio Castro expertly captures the dreamlike sensuality of midsummer’s twilight. Alive with a sense of freedom and possibility, this film is as savoury and sweet as its namesake.
FRI, MAY 29 • 7:00 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2

MADDIE’S SECRET
Dir. John Early | United States | 2025 | 98 mins | English | Drama
Maddie’s Secret, comedian John Early’s debut feature, masterfully blends the campy tone and aesthetic of a 1980s movie-of-the- week with a deeply affecting portrait of a young woman struggling with an eating disorder.

From the outside, Maddie Ralph (John Early) seems to have it all: a solid partner (Eric Rahill); a career she loves creating food-related content; and a supportive, loving best friend (Kate Berlant). But beneath this carefully curated life lies a dark history of self-harm and disordered eating that now threatens to resurface. As her struggle inches closer to the surface, Maddie enters a treatment program where she is forced to confront the person at the root of many of her issues: her mother (Kristen Johnston). Expertly balancing sharp comedy with emotional depth, and elevated by nuanced, pitch-perfect performances from some of today’s most compelling comedic actors, the film is an experience you truly have to see to believe.
THU, MAY 28 • 7:00PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2

MY BROTHERS KILLER
Dir. Rachel Mason | United States | 2026 | 95 mins | English | Documentary | Canadian Premiere
Just before Halloween of 1990, the decapitated head of Billy London, a gay adult film actor, was found in a West Hollywood dumpster. For over 30 years, Billy’s unsolved murder has haunted his family, friends, and police investigators. Could new clues finally solve the mystery?

This gripping true crime documentary chronicles the quest to find out who killed 25-year-old William Arnold Newton. Under the name Billy London, he worked both in front of and behind the camera in Los Angeles’s gay adult video industry. Several people connected to the industry were once suspects, including Billy’s ex-boyfriend, Marc Rabins, and Jeffrey Dahmer. But the lack of concrete evidence continued to stump the LA Police Department—until relentless amateur investigation uncovered some promising new leads. Director Rachel Mason (Circus of Books) mixes archival footage and new interviews to show how those who cared about Billy never stopped trying to bring him justice.
SAT, MAY 23 • 1:30 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2

ON THE SEA
Dir. Helen Walsh | United Kingdom | 2025 | 111 mins | English | Drama | Canadian Premiere
Middle-aged Jack (Barry Ward) is faced with a dilemma: should he continue his life with his wife and son, or start a new one with Daniel, a charming younger man he recently met?

Set in a remote fishing village in North Wales, this atmospheric and moving film follows Jack as he faces a difficult choice. Jack is married to Maggie (Liz White) and a father to teenage Tom (Henry Lawfull), who Jack hopes will follow him into the family mussel business. When Daniel (Lorne MacFadyen), a deckhand, arrives in town, Jack’s long buried desire to be with a man surfaces, and the two begin a steamy and tender affair. As the affair grows, Daniel wants more but Jack is reluctant to give it. He still values his married life but also wants to explore living openly with a man. Which will he choose and what will he have to give up in the process?
SAT, MAY 23 • 9:30 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2

SHE’S THE HE
Dir. Siobhan McCarthy | United States | 2025 | 81 mins | English | Comedy | Canadian Premiere
Siobhan McCarthy’s feature debut brings us the high school coming-of-age comedy you knew you needed. With authenticity and joy both behind and in front of the lens, She’s The He delivers a refreshing, warm, and hilarious story about acceptance, friendship, and trans joy.

One week before their high school graduation, best friends Alex (Nico Carney) and Ethan (Misha Osherovich) concoct a plan to finally dispel the rumours that they’re gay… By coming out as trans women. With newfound access to the girls’ locker room, Alex’s goal to lose his virginity before college seems to be on track, while Ethan slowly realises that her new identity is starting to feel more real than the one she left behind. The two must reckon with their changing friendship, coming out, and coming of age.
TUE, MAY 26 • 6:45PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2

SKIFF
Dir. Cecilia Verheyden | Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden | 2025 | 106 mins | French and Flemish with English subtitles | Drama | Toronto Premiere
SKIFF captures the volatile intensity of coming-of-age, unfolding over a summer that feels both liberating and tense. With sensitivity and restraint, the film traces 15-year-old Malou’s journey through self-discovery, where innocence gives way to experience, and every decision carries a deeper consequence.

Malou (Femke Vanhove) lives in a small town where she struggles to make friends but excels in the local rowing club. Growing up with a mother who is often absent, and bullied by her teammates, Malou sees her brother Max (Wout Vleugels) as the only person with whom she can truly be herself. When Max brings home his new girlfriend, Nouria (Lina Miftah), Malou finds herself drawn to her and, as the two spend more time together, it begins to appear that the feeling is mutual. Plunged into a complex and turbulent love triangle over the course of the summer, Malou will have to accept herself as she truly is, but can she do so without hurting her beloved brother?
SAT, MAY 30 • 6:45PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
Digital screening available

WHAT WILL I BECOME?
Dir. Lexie Bean, Logan Rozos | United States | 2026 | 86 mins | English | Documentary | Canadian Premiere
In a world where trans rights remain fragile, directors Lexie Bean and Logan Rozos use a lens of love and honesty to delve into the harsh reality of the high suicide rate within the transmasculine community.

What Will I Become? intertwines the personal experiences of directors Lexie and Logan with the stories of two young trans men who died by suicide. Homecoming king Blake Brockington and animal lover Kyler Prescott were poets, musicians, and community advocates. The film traces their joys and challenges, their deaths, and the aftermath within their communities. What Will I Become? asks why transmasculine people are particularly vulnerable to living briefly and dying quietly, while providing hope that community, prevention practices, and genuine care can change the future for those who remain.
SAT, MAY 30 • 4:15PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
Digital screening available

WHISPERINGS OF THE MOON
Dir. Yuqing Lai | Cambodia,China, Hong Kong, India | 2025 | 87 mins | Khmer and English with English subtitles | Drama | Canadian Premiere
Whisperings of the Moon, the debut feature from late filmmaker Yuqing Lai, is a tender, time-shifting portrait of love, memory, and loss from a singular artistic voice whose vision knew no bounds.

Following her father’s death, theatre actor Nisay (Sopheanith Thong) returns from New York to Phnom Penh, where she is unexpectedly reunited with Thida (Deka Nine), her former lover. As past and present intertwine, the film traces the quiet intensity of their secret relationship and the forces that drove them apart. Now, under the weight of family and societal expectations, can their passion endure beyond memory and performance—or is it destined to fade once more?
SUN, MAY 24 • 9:30 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 3
Digital screening available

SHORTS
Information on this year’s shorts lineup can be found here.

Inside Out 2026 Digital Program Guide here.
Inside Out 2026 Downloadable Digital Program Guide here.

Inside Out is made possible by the generous and steadfast support of funders, donors, and sponsors including Lead Sponsor RBC, Presenting Sponsor Netflix, and Premier Sponsor Crave. We are grateful for the support of numerous Major Sponsors, Supporting Sponsors and in-kind partners who help bring the Festival to life, as well as public funders the Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, the City of Toronto, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Creates, and Telefilm Canada.

For more information, visit insideout.ca.

Inside Out Film Festival
Inside Out is Canada’s largest 2SLGBTQ+ film festival and the single largest promoter and distributor of 2SLGBTQ+ content in Canada. Founded in 1991, Inside Out is committed to representing the interests of 2SLGBTQ+ voices within the Canadian film industry. We are dedicated to developing, presenting, and promoting 2SLGBTQ+ content that showcases and supports the broad diversity of voices and identities within our communities, and ensuring that authentic and positive representation of 2SLGBTQ+ people is central in that content.

Annually, Inside Out presents the 10-day Toronto 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival (Toronto’s third largest festival after TIFF and Hot Docs), a year-round screening and event series, and innovative professional development initiatives including the world’s only 2SLGBTQ+ Feature Film Financing Forum and the RE:Focus Fund. Inside Out is a Canadian Academy qualifying festival.