OUTshine Film Festival
Through Apr 24, 2025
The 27th edition of the OUTshine LGBTQ Film Festival will showcase a range of cinematic talent, featuring both emerging and established filmmakers presenting feature-length and short films, many of them premieres, plus after-parties. Screenings will take place at Regal South Beach and O Cinema South Beach in Miami Beach. Tickets are available online or in person. Select films will be accessible through a streaming platform, OUTshine At Home, beginning April 28 for $15 per film.
Opening Night Film And After-Party
“On Swift Horses,” a powerful story of love, risk and self-discovery, will open the festival at 7 p.m. on April 17 at Regal South Beach. Set in 1950s San Diego, the film follows newlyweds Muriel and Lee as they build a quiet life, while Lee’s brother, Julius, heads to Las Vegas, drawn to poker and a romantic connection with Henry. As Muriel and Julius each push the boundaries of convention, their parallel journeys examine what it means to desire and define identity. Following the screening, the Opening Night After-Party will take place at 9:30 p.m. at Rum Room, featuring a performance by CC Glitzer and music by DJ Erik Lords.
Films That Reflect The Path To Authenticity
Throughout the festival, themes of identity and self-awareness will come to light across a mosaic of narratives that transcend generational divides, cultural expectations and personal transformation.
“Cherri,” screening April 18, documents a 55-year-old gay man in Cuba undergoing weight-loss therapy when he meets a security guard and forms a deepening relationship. On April 19, “The Big Johnson” chronicles the life of legendary drag queen Dean Johnson, celebrating his legacy and lasting influence on New York’s East Village during the height of the AIDS crisis.
That same day, “Went Up The Hill” is a psychological thriller in which a young man confronts buried family secrets. As grief and obsession intertwine, supernatural elements blur the line between memory and reality.
Narratives Of Love In All Its Forms
Three standout films will highlight the emotional depth of human connection. “Fine Young Men (Hombres Íntegros)," on April 18, is about a young man torn between cultural expectations and his emerging sexual identity. Tackling toxic masculinity and internalized homophobia, the film (in Spanish with English subtitles) offers a raw and powerful coming-of-age story shaped by loss and longing.
“All for One (Toutes Pour Une)," also screening April 18 in French with English subtitles, reimagines the classic Three Musketeers tale from a queer, feminist lens. A runaway joins a fearless band of women challenging rigid gender norms in 17th-century France.
By contrast, “Who Wants to Marry an Astronaut?” directed by David Matamoros and screening April 19, offers charm and levity. After a failed proposal, a man embarks on a road trip in search of love. It’s an uplifting spin on romantic comedies that celebrates self-worth and second chances.
Stories Of Gender, Sexuality And Societal Expectations
This year’s lineup features films examining personal identity, longing and societal pressure through evocative narratives. In “Sisters,” April 19, a bond between two best friends is tested when a newly discovered half-sister upends family dynamics.
Also on April 19, “Streets of Gloria (Ruas de Gloria)” (in Portuguese with English subtitles) centers on a young teacher in Rio de Janeiro whose entanglement with the world of male escorting forces a confrontation with social expectations.
“Drone,” April 20, tells the story of Émilie, a cam girl whose secret life is threatened by the sudden presence of a drone. What occurs is a chilling depiction of intimacy disrupted by surveillance.
Portraits Of Becoming Through Love And Self-Realization
Themes of reinvention and emotional resilience will emerge through stories of personal change and intimate connection. Directed by Jun Li and screening April 18, “Queerpanorama” unfolds around a man who adopts the identities of former lovers. As his sense of self begins to erode, an unexpected relationship offers him a glimpse of authenticity.
Screening April 20, “Sandbag Dam,” in Croatian with English subtitles, is the story of a Croatian teenager who grapples with his first forbidden love while trying to fulfill family responsibilities. As floodwaters rise in his village, he constructs both emotional and physical barriers only to find that his true feelings are impossible to contain.
A different kind of transformation is explored in “Thom Browne: The Man Who Tailored Dreams,” also showing April 20. This intimate documentary depicts the work of iconic American designer Thom Browne, whose groundbreaking approach to masculinity and style redefined modern fashion.
Portrayals Of LGBTQ Pain And Perseverance
Several films will confront the emotional toll of institutional and societal oppression on LGBTQ individuals, capturing stories of trauma and endurance.
“Latter-Day Glory: The Aftermath of Growing Up in the LDS Church,” on April 21, features two former Mormon missionaries on a cross-country journey to process the pain caused by religious doctrine. Through candid interviews, the film reveals the emotional scars carried by LGBTQ church members and the healing power of storytelling.
Screening on April 19, "To Live, To Die, To Live Again (Vivre Mourir Renaitre)", in French with English subtitles, traces the lives of a nurse, her partner and a photographer as they navigate a love triangle during the AIDS crisis. The film honors the quiet strength and resilience that carried a generation through unimaginable loss.
Finding Connection In Unexpected Places
Female filmmakers will explore the transformative power of relationships and connections. In “Becoming Ana (La Mitad De Ana),” in Spanish with English subtitles on April 19, director Marta Nieto presents an intimate portrait of identity and motherhood. Set at an art center, a separated mother, Ana, juggles her responsibilities while supporting her eight-year-old daughter, Son, who begins to question her gender identity. As Son's journey evolves, Ana embarks on her own path of introspection.
“Outerlands,” April 20, directed by Elena Oxman, tells the story of Cass (Asia Kate Dillon), a nonbinary person juggling multiple jobs in San Francisco. When Cass agrees to care for a friend’s daughter, the bond they form stirs long-buried emotions. As trust builds, Cass is forced to confront past grief and the complicated nature of the chosen family.
By: Christina Sorondo | April 17, 2025