Out On Film, Atlanta's LGBTQ Film Festival, Celebrates Queer Existence and Creativity with Third Annual Spring Mini-Fest

Since its establishment 38 years ago, Out on Film has been dedicated to putting stories of queer existence on screen, with a sense of authenticity only the LGBTQ community itself can bring to the table. The film festival’s third annual Queer All Year Spring Mini-Fest furthers this mission, showcasing five new star-studded movies and documentaries premiering at the Landmark Midtown Art Cinema over three consecutive evenings. Starting March 17 and running through March 19, enthralling tales of humor, resilience, drama, and real-life narratives will offer a glimpse of both past and present queer life.   

“This year’s Spring Mini-Fest line-up is exceptionally strong and star-packed, with two films that had splashy premieres at Sundance, another that launched successfully at the Toronto Film Festival last fall, and two more excellent documentaries making their Southeastern debuts here,” said Out on Film Festival Director Jim Farmer. Farmer has been with Out on Film for 15 years and recently served as a judge for Oglethorpe University’s 2025 Last Looks Film Festival.   

Farmer also recognized the need for visible queer stories, especially now in light of mounting institutional action and threats against the LGBTQ community. He mentioned outdated and damaging portrayals of queer folk in past media, such as the infamous 1980’s crime thriller, “Cruising.”

“But of course, back then, things were different,” he said. “It's very important to have positive portrayals of the LGBTQ experience. And it's about not just showing positive portrayals, but coming together as a community, watching these films together, celebrating being together, celebrating the filmmakers who were there, the discussions that we all have.” 

Overall, the mini-fest serves to give a platform to productions outside of the main, eleven-day fall event which includes a sprawling 150 films.

First on the festival’s docket is “The Wedding Banquet,” from Director Andrew Ahn, starring Bowen Yang (“SNL,” “Wicked”), Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”), Kelly Marie Tran ("Star Wars"), Han Gi-chan ("Where Your Eyes Linger"), Joan Chen ("Xiao hua"), and Youn Yuh-jung ("Pachinko"). The film is described as a “joyful comedy of errors about a chosen family navigating cultural identity, queerness, and family expectations,” reminding that “being part of a family means learning to both accept and forgive.”

Tuesday offers two more gripping films. At 6:30 p.m., filmmaker Cristina Costantini’s documentary “SALLY" about the first female astronaut in American history screens, bringing a “fullness to [Sally Ride’s] life that goes beyond the headlines of her trailblazing voyage past Earth’s atmosphere.” Including rare archival footage and interviews, “SALLY” delves into the 27-year hidden romance between Rider and her life partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy during a period of overt sexism and homophobia.

Then, at 8:30 p.m., “Speaking Out,” directed by John Solis, documents the emotional road to recovery of three gay men, Jose, Charlie, and Rig, as they overcome past trauma of sexual abuse. A Q&A session will also be held afterward by “Closer Look” host Rose Scott with Solis and subject Rig. 

The last day of the Queer All Year Spring Mini-Fest features the final two stories. First, at 6:30 p.m., “An Unexpected Community” conveys a more recent story of Andrea Meyerson, founder of Women On A Roll, as she launched an online platform for lesbians and queer women during the early days of the pandemic: Women On The Net. Directed by Kathryn L. Beranich with Meyerson as the Executive Producer, “An Unexpected Community” visualizes how the women in this group replaced “feelings of isolation and loneliness” with “joy, laughter, and new friends – all via Zoom,” featuring Lily Tomlin, Kate Clinton, Meredith Baxter, Vickie Shaw, Suzanne Westenhoefer, and more. Similar to “Speaking Out,” a Q&A with Beranich and Meyerson will follow the screening.

Finally, wrapping up the celebration of impactful LGBTQ stories comes “On Swift Horses” at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, directed by Daniel Minhan. As a striking romantic drama chock-full of secret pasts, dangerous love triangles, and yearning for a different life, this feature starring recognizable names like Daisy Edgar-Jones (“Normal People,” “Where The Crawdads Sing”), Jacob Elordi (“Saltburn,” “Euphoria”), Will Poulter (“We’re The Millers,” “The Maze Runner”), Diego Calva (“Babylon”), and Sasha Calle (“The Flash”), promises to captivate viewers. 

Over the years, Out on Film has gained global recognition. In 2020, they became an Oscar qualifying film festival, one of the only six LGBTQ film festivals to qualify worldwide. The upcoming 2025 main festival is also a BAFTA qualifier for the British Short Film programme. 

Yet, Farmer noted that, despite their renown, the Atlanta-based organization holds a special place in their heart for local talent. He tied this fondness back to his experience judging Oglethorpe’s student film festival, where the short-film of sapphic longing, “Juliette,” directed by Emma Jean-Scott and Devlynn Miller, won Best Overall. 

“It's really important for us to find the new voices of tomorrow, the people who are just new in their career, and highlight their films,” Farmer said. “There used to be a time where if you wanted to be a filmmaker, and you're growing up in Atlanta, you had to move, and you don't have to anymore. You can stay here. I know plenty of people who have lived in LA for 20 years now [and] they moved to Atlanta to be more in the industry. It's a very exciting time seeing all these people come together and see such a great pool of Atlanta filmmakers.”

Of course, Out on Film is not merely a film festival. The spring event’s name aptly includes the phrase “Queer All Year,” showcasing the same feelings of community and survival that the very tales they screen portray. “I feel like what we do is more important now than ever—just to get out there and show these films and be defiant, saying we are here,” Farmer added. “We're not going anywhere.”

Tickets for the screenings, additional information about Out on Film and their other initiatives, like their Filmmaker Fund and the upcoming festival in September, are all available on the organization’s website: outonfilm.org.