Queer Screen has announced the program and details for the 33rd Mardi Gras Film Festival, which returns to Event Cinemas George Street and Dendy Newtown from Thursday, February 12 to Thursday, February 26 as a part of citywide festivities for the 2026 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
This year’s program is packed with 139 feature films, documentaries and short films sourced from 38 countries — including six world premieres, five international premieres and 64 Australian premieres. Read on for the highlights.
First up is an opening night screening of Jimpa, directed by Australian filmmaker Sophie Hyde and starring Olivia Colman (“The Roses”), John Lithgow (“The Old Man”) and Aud Mason-Hyde (“Fucking Adelaide”). There’s also “Pillion,” which stars Alexander Skarsgård (“Murderbot”) opposite Harry Melling (“The Queen’s Gambit”) in a tense and steamy queer love story and closing night film “She’s the He” starring Misha Osherovich (“Freaky”), Malia Pyles (“Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin”) and Nico Carney.
Also featuring in the program is “The Chronology of Water,” the directorial debut of Kristen Stewart, starring Imogen Poots (“28 Weeks Later”) as a young woman who escapes a toxic childhood through competitive swimming and sexual experimentation; “Love Me Tender,” starring Vicky Krieps (“Phantom Thread”) and Antoine Reinartz (“Anatomy of a Fall”) in a story about a woman maintaining a maternal bond in the midst of a divorce and “A Deeper Love: The Story of Miss Peppermint,” a look behind the scenes of the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star’s rise to fame.
In terms of returning classics, attendees can look forward to a 4k restoration of Lisa Cholodenko’s “High Art,” a 30th anniversary screening of the Australian classic “Love and Other Catastrophes,” the 50th anniversary of the John Hurt-starring “The Naked Civil Servant” and a showcase of “Castration Movie Anthology II: The Best of Both Worlds,” presented in partnership with Pink Flamingo and with director Louise Weard in attendance.
“This festival would not be possible without our generous partners, donors, members, community supporters, as well as the festival team and volunteers who have put in countless hours to make it happen. It’s an honour to be able to lead the team and carry forward Queer Screen’s legacy after 32 years. I warmly welcome you back to the cinema to experience the magic with us,” said Queer Screen CEO Benson Wu.
View this post on Instagram
Queer Screen Programming and Industry Manager Andrew Wilkie added, “At a time when our community is facing increased persecution both here and abroad – particularly our trans siblings – seeing authentic LGBTIQ+ stories on our screens is more important than ever. Our continued visibility in the face of bigotry sends a clear message: we refuse to hide or be silenced. And that’s the theme that permeates this entire program, films all about being unapologetically queer and finding community.”
Mardi Gras Film Festival will run at Event Cinemas George Street and Dendy Newtown from Thursday, February 12 to Thursday, February 26. For the full program or for more information, visit the website.
This article first appeared on Concrete Playground.