To our incredible Reel Q community,
As we close out our 40th anniversary year, we want to express our gratitude to every filmmaker, audience member, sponsor, partner, volunteer, and supporter who has made four decades of Reel Q possible. Since 1985, this festival has grown into one of the world’s longest-running LGBTQ+ film festivals because of you. Your presence and your belief in the power of queer storytelling make this possible.
Every year, we showcase powerful new films from around the world, welcome artists to Pittsburgh, and bring together audiences of all backgrounds to celebrate LGBTQ+ voices on screen. 9 out of 10 times, Reel Q screenings are the only way to see these films in Pittsburgh. From sold-out shows to community events and conversations, Reel Q 2025 is a reminder of how essential queer cinema is to our city and how strong our community remains.
We want to be transparent with you. As many arts organizations are experiencing, we have faced significant changes in funding. The loss of two longtime major funders has created a financial gap that is major for us. Reel Q is entirely volunteer-run, and while our passion remains, our resources do not.
In 2026, we are excited to:
- Continue our free quarterly Reel Stories series at City of Asylum
- Bring back our Reel Youth film series, introducing teens to queer cinema, both classic and contemporary
- Participate in community-focused film programming with our partners
- And, of course, return with Reel Q: Year 41
We need your support to keep this work alive. Whether it’s through a donation, sponsoring a screening, partnering with us, or helping spread the word, every contribution helps sustain Pittsburgh’s home for queer film.
Thank you for standing with us for 40 years. With your support, we can continue uplifting LGBTQ+ stories for decades to come.
With gratitude,
The Reel Q Board of Directors
Photos courtesy of Reel Q.
