It was an incredible year for LGBTQ+ movies at Sundance, one of America’s most prestigious film festivals. Held yearly in the not-always-so-queer-friendly state of Utah, the festival boasted a powerful lineup of heavy hitting queer and trans movies coming soon to streamers and theaters near you. With so many to choose from, QBurgh has you covered with five must see movies to keep on your radar.
Heightened Scrutiny
Disclosure director Sam Feder returns with a documentary as timely as it is impressive. Heightened Scrutiny follows ACLU lawyer Chase Strangio as he prepares for U.S. v. Skrmetti, a case that would have dramatic implications for trans youth healthcare access – and made Strangio the first openly trans lawyer to argue in front of the nation’s highest court. The film doesn’t just focus on the problematic and dangerous precedent the case would have. It goes further to paint a broader portrait of how problematic, inaccurate, and misleading media coverage has fueled these cases and this moment of increased hostility against trans people.
While the film has yet to get distribution, we hope its superstar protagonist and important subject matter will propel the film to theaters and television soon.
Hold Me Close
Black queer movies were admittedly not the easiest to come by at Sundance, but Hold Me Close was a true standout. Don’t be fooled by its length, as the only short on this list it certainly holds its own as a film you need to watch. Directing and life partners Aurora Brachman and LaTajh Weaver’s new documentary follows two Black, queer lovers in Los Angeles, painting an intricate and moving love story that feels like a poem.
The film was produced and will be distributed by American Documentary’s POV series, which means it will be available to stream for free on PBS sometime this year.
Sally
Did you know Sally Ride was a lesbian? This new documentary dives deep into the story of the trailblazing teacher and astronaut, including her relationship with her partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, whom she had to keep secret. The carefully crafted film by director Cristina Costantini feels like a love story as much as a profile on the first woman in space, balancing her personal and professional life in a way never before seen in a film. Sally took home the special Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize at the festival, which recognizes a film with an outstanding narrative or characters central to science and technology.
With such an important history, we hope to see this film soon as it has yet to be picked up for distribution.
Twinless
Another award winner, this Sundance standout is well deserving of its praises. The film stars Dylan O’Brien, who some may remember from his role as Stiles Stilinski in Teen Wolf, as a man struggling to cope after the loss of his twin. He soon meets Denis, played by the film’s director James Sweeney, who also lost a twin. What follows is a chaotic, codependent friendship that goes off the rails. The film took home the Audience Award for US Dramatic Films.
If a gay, sexy Dylan O’Brien sounds familiar, you may have accidentally stumbled on the sex scene from the film on X – which was illegally ripped from Sundance’s streaming platform causing the festival to remove it. Rest assured, you hopefully won’t have to wait long to see that scene and more. With an award under its belt, the film will likely find its distributor sooner rather than later.
The Wedding Banquet
Whether you remember Ang Lee’s classic gay movie The Wedding Banquet or are new to the story, this modern retelling is sure to be a highlight of the year. Director Andrew Ahn assembles an all-star cast, including Lilly Gladstone, Bowen Yan, and legendary South Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung, for a hilarious and moving story of two queer couples intertwined in an elaborate fake marriage to satisfy the groom’s conservative grandparents. You will laugh, you will cry, and it’s exactly the kind of feel good movie we all need right now.
And you don’t have to wait long to see it! The film will be heading to theaters across the country starting April 18, 2025.
