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OPENING GALA
OUTERLANDS
Dir Elena Oxman | United States 2025 | 100 mins | English | Drama/Family | Canadian Premiere
This emotionally resonant film follows Cass juggling multiple jobs, both legal and illegal, to keep their head above water in San Francisco. Soon after Cass hooks up with their crush, Kalli, they are asked to watch Kalli’s daughter, Ari, for a couple days. A smitten Cass agrees. But when days pass with no sign of Kalli, Cass worries that Ari has been abandoned, bringing up Cass’s unresolved feelings about their own childhood abandonment. Featuring an outstanding cast, including Asia Kate Dillon and Lea Delaria in a small but pivotal role, Outerlands empowers its characters to have the complex, and at times contradictory, emotions we all experience.
FRI, MAY 23 • 7:00 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 1
CLOSING NIGHT GALA
THE BEST FRIEND
Dir Allan Deberton | Brazil 2024 | 96 mins | Portuguese | Musical | Canadian Premiere
Spooked by his long-term boyfriend’s very public proposal, Lucas flees to the resort town of Canoa Quebrada. It’s here, walking the white sand beaches, that he’s reunited with his unrequited college crush, Felipe. The tall and tan and young and lovely Felipe, a self-proclaimed professional lover, helps the shy and timid Lucas out of his shell and reignites his feelings in the process. Lucas is forced to decide: will he continue to live life ruled by insecurities or will he succumb to his burning passions? Just like From Justin to Kelly and Mamma Mia, this campy resort musical will have you dancing in the aisles and bouncing in your seats.
SAT, MAY 31 • 7:30 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 1
CENTREPIECE GALA
CACTUS PEARS
Dir Rohan Kanawade | India 2025 | 112 mins | Marathi | Drama| Canadian Premiere
Anand leaves his rural hometown in western India to seek a free and uncomplicated life in Mumbai. However, when his father falls ill and passes away, he reluctantly returns home to fulfill his obligations during the mourning period. He finds comfort in the presence of his mother but is quickly confronted by relatives eager to question his life choices, especially his unmarried status. When he reconnects with Balya, an old childhood friend, who, like Anand, has resisted the pressure to marry, the two bond over their shared experiences and mutual understanding. Yet, as they rekindle their relationship, they must confront a deeper question: can they set aside their families' expectations and create the lives they've always dreamed of? Rohan Kanawade’s debut feature, which won the World Cinema Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance, is a profoundly tender exploration of love and personal freedom under the weight of familial and societal pressures.
TUE, MAY 27 • 9:15 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
RE:FOCUS GALA
ENIGMA
Dir Zackary Drucker | United States 2024 | 94 mins | English | Documentary | Canadian Premiere
April Ashley and Amanda Lear began their journeys on strikingly similar paths in the 1950s, dazzling Paris’s cabaret scene and mingling with celebrity elites. Both were rising stars—radiant, magnetic, and seemingly unstoppable—until their trajectories suddenly diverged. April Ashley faced a wave of transphobic backlash during a highly publicized divorce, while Amanda Lear sidestepped scrutiny, reinventing herself as a disco icon known as much for her enigmatic allure as for her refusal to clarify the mysteries surrounding her past and identity. Enigma, true to its title, is a layered exploration of two icons, examining the delicate balance of living in the spotlight while staying true to oneself and the complexities of legacy. With sensitivity and insight, Zackary Drucker weaves a story rich with remarkable moments, guiding this journey with the care and brilliance it deserves.
SAT, MAY 24 • 6:45 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
PREMIERES
THE CROWD
Dir Sahand Kabiri | Iran 2024 | 70 mins | Persian | Drama | Canadian Premiere
Throwing a party for a partner or friend may seem to many an easy task, but not in Tehran, and especially not for Hamed and his friends. As they attempt to throw good friend Raman a going away party, they do so at the risk of their freedom. Nonetheless, they get to work cleaning out an abandoned garage owned by Hamed’s family, booking DJs, and working on a guest list, but when Hamed’s religious brother appears, they must band together and fight for their right to party. Based on the filmmaker’s own experience with his community and their fight for individual freedoms, the film was self-funded and shot independently over just 12 days. The very existence of the film is miraculous, and as a tale of the importance of the chosen family, is essential viewing.
FRI, MAY 30 • 7:00 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 3
DREAMS IN NIGHTMARES
Dir Shatara Michelle Ford | United States 2024 | 120 mins | English | Drama | Canadian Premiere
After losing their jobs, Z and Tasha pull in their friend Lauren to embark on a road trip searching for their missing friend, Kel. The trio begin their journey with a clear goal in mind, to find a dearest friend, a member of their chosen family. However, the road through the Midwestern landscape offers them a chance to confront what it means to be Black Queer femmes in contemporary America. Shatara Michelle Ford’s sophomore film confronts the constricting ideals of society with an overtly aspirational take that asserts that Black women have agency over their identity.
SAT, MAY 24 • 9:00 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 3
THE NATURE OF INVISIBLE THINGS
Dir Rafaela Camelo | Brazil, Chile 2025 | 90 mins | Drama | Canadian Premiere
During the summer holidays, 10-year-old Gloria accompanies her mother, Antônia, a dedicated nurse, to work. As Gloria wanders the sterile hallways, she meets Sofia, a spirited girl convinced that her great-grandmother, Bisa, is growing weaker because of her time in the hospital. United by a longing to escape, the two girls form a deep connection, one that soon extends to their single mothers, Antônia and Simone. As the shadow of Bisa’s passing draws near, the families retreat to the countryside, where Antônia assumes responsibility for her final care. Surrounded by nature and tradition, they find a community ready to honor Bisa’s life and guide her spirit onward. In this sacred place, where endings and beginnings intertwine, the cycle of death and rebirth gains profound meaning for Gloria, Sofia, and the women who raise them.
SUN, MAY 25 • 9:15 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
SALLY
Dir Cristina Costantini | United States 2025 | 103 mins | English | Documentary| Canadian Premiere
In 1983 Sally Ride became the first American woman to blast off into space, catapulting her into the spotlight as a household name and feminist icon. Beneath her unflappable composure, however, she carried a secret. Through present day interviews and incredible archival footage, Sally’s life partner Tam O’Shaugnessy, reveals the romance and sacrifices of their 27 years together, telling for the first time the full story behind Ride’s public journey. In addition to interviews with Tam O’ Shaughnessy, SALLY features acclaimed tennis star and groundbreaking advocate for women and LGBTQ+ rights, Billie Jean King, as well as celebrated astronauts from Sally Ride’s NASA class of 1978: Kathy Sullivan, Anna Fisher, John Fabian, and Steve Hawley.
SAT, MAY 31 • 2:15 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 1
STARWALKER
Dir Corey Payette |Canada 2025 | 116 mins | English | Musical | World Premiere
Star, an IndigiQueer Two-Spirit callboy, finds themselves newly entranced by the world of drag after being introduced to The House of Borealis, a vibrant drag house led by the charismatic Mother Borealis. As Star immerses themselves in this newfound passion, they are confronted with a cultural past they once neglected. But when painful memories resurface, their love for drag and their chosen family is put to the test. Director Corey Payette infuses Starwalker with deep authenticity and personal connection, making every frame resonate with heart and purpose. This charming musical is a testament to the life-changing moments that come when we embrace who we are without looking back.
FRI, MAY 23 • 6:45 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
SAT, MAY 24 • 12:00 PM • VIRTUAL
SPOTLIGHT ON CANADA
LAKEVIEW
Dir Tara Thorne | Canada 2024 | 100 mins | English | Comedy
Set against Nova Scotia’s scenic eastern shore, Lakeview brings together a group of Queer friends, opening the doors to both fun and chaos. During a girls' weekend celebrating a divorce, old feelings, new relationships, and shifting dynamics collide in the fading glow of summer. Tara Thorne’s sophomore feature captures both the thrill of newfound freedom and the bittersweet nostalgia of letting go. Lakeview is a refreshing take on modern relationships, lesbian drama, and the havoc a few too many drinks can wreak on a friend group. A warm, laugh-inducing, and authentic story about friendship—the queer kind, at least.
SUN, MAY 25 • 4:00 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
MON, MAY 26 • 12:00 PM • VIRTUAL
REALLY HAPPY SOMEDAY
Dir J Stevens | Canada 2024 | 90 mins | English | Drama
Before he transitioned, Z was a rising star in Toronto’s theatre scene. But now, with testosterone affecting his voice, he must learn to navigate his evolving body in order to return to his passion—without sacrificing his present. Along the way, Z finds support in Shelly, a vocal coach helping him reconnect with his voice, and Santi, a bar owner who offers both a barback job and a listening ear, sharing in Z’s experiences. Really Happy Someday is a labour of love and community. Director J Stevens and lead actor Breton Lalama, who stars as Z, collaborated at every stage of the film’s production, drawing from their own experiences. The result is a deeply authentic and tender work, rich with understanding in both its performances and visuals.
TUE, MAY 27 • 6:45 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
SWEET ANGEL BABY
Dir Melanie Oates | Canada 2024 | 96 mins | English | Drama
Life in Eliza’s small Newfoundland fishing community is simple and tranquil. She participates in church activities, organizes fundraisers, and appears to be fully integrated into her tight-knit town. Yet, beneath this peaceful exterior, Eliza harbors a secret: a social media alter ego who wears a ski mask and poses provocatively amidst the rugged landscape. In addition to this, she is involved in a clandestine relationship with Toni, the town’s only openly lesbian resident. Eliza’s life teeters on a delicate balance, as she strives to keep her two worlds from colliding. When her secrets are inevitably exposed, Eliza is forced to confront how she is now seen by her community, and decide what she is willing to sacrifice in order to live the life she truly desires.
SAT, MAY 31 • 4:30 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
SUN, JUN 01 • 12:00 PM • VIRTUAL
TWO WOMEN
Dir Chloé Robichaud | Canada 2024 | 100 mins | French | Comedy
When Violette invites her neighbour Florence over for tea, they realise they have a lot in common. They’re both mothers, they both feel trapped in their apartments, and they’re both not having sex. Their shared dissatisfaction unites them, creating a duo that sits somewhere between Thelma & Louise and Dumb and Dumber. After Florence has an eye-opening affair with the cable guy, Violette decides to follow suit, booking an exterminator, a painter, and a cleaning service. With each fling their to-do lists get shorter, but their relationships are still in disrepair. Chloé Robichaud’s playful remake of Claude Fournier’s comedy classic, Two Women in Gold, explores how to exist in a world when your realities don’t align with your expectations.
SUN, MAY 25 • 6:45 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
ICONS
M??OVE YA BODY: THE BIRTH OF HOUSE
Dir Elegance Bratton | United States 2025 | 92 mins | English | Documentary
In the 1970s, disco democratized the dancefloor, putting Black, brown and queer music at the top of the charts. When the industry and some of the white public turned against the genre (“Disco sucks”), that talent, energy and feeling of community had to go somewhere. House music, born in a Chicago gay club, answered the call. Director Elegance Bratton tells the story of house—the parties, the feuds, the exploitation and the legacy—through the story of Vince Lawrence. As a teenager, Lawrence was at the infamous 1979 Disco Demolition Night and went on to be one of the forces behind influential house label Trax Records. With commentary from Kevin Aviance, Lena Waithe and other queer cultural figures, the doc argues that “house history is queer history”.
THU, MAY 29 • 6:45 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
PARADE: QUEER ACTS OF LOVE & RESISTANCE
Dir Noam Gonick | Canada 2025 | 96 mins | English | Documentary
If there was ever a necessary time for an authoritative no-more-shit documentary about the history of Canadian 2SLGBTQI+ activism, it’s right now. Parade is that documentary. Featuring interviews with the who’s who of six decades of Canadian queer activism, along with astonishing archival footage—including crowds at the 1970s drag balls on Yonge Street—it’s a far-reaching and thoughtful film that should be taught in schools (sorry, not sorry, Anita Bryant). But its heft doesn’t make Parade any less inspiring for casual viewers. If history is repeating, this documentary will give audiences the hope (and ideas and anger and empathy) to carry them through whatever comes next.
SAT, MAY 31 • 11:45 AM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 1
ROW OF LIFE
Dir Soraya Simi | United States 2025 | 82 mins | English | Documentary
Row of Life tells the story of one woman’s irrepressible ambition to defy all odds, a journey that led her from the Marine Corps to three Paralympic Games and 14 Guinness World Records. In 2020, at the age of 60, Angela Madsen embarked on her most ambitious challenge yet: rowing 2,400 miles across the Pacific Ocean from Los Angeles to Hawaii. As if this feat weren’t already remarkable, Madsen became the first paraplegic and the oldest woman to attempt this solo, unassisted ocean row. As we follow her journey, we discover a poetic tale of bravery, resilience, and—perhaps most importantly—love. Throughout her quest, Madsen and her wife, Deb, support each other’s dreams, despite being separated by the vast expanse of the ocean and risking what would ultimately become the greatest cost.
SUN, MAY 25 • 1:00 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
MON, MAY 26 • 12:00 PM • VIRTUAL
SPEAK.
Dir Jennifer Tiexiera, Guy Mossman | United States 2024 | 103 mins | English | Documentary
SPEAK. follows five of the nation’s top teenage speech competitors, capturing the euphoria of victory and the devastation of defeat as they craft and perform original oratories over the course of a 9-month season. Their dream is simple: To win the Super Bowl of public speaking, the NSDA Nationals. We witness these five competitors, their coaches and their parents as they fight to keep school speech programs alive amid budget cuts, book bans, and censorship efforts that reach a fevered pitch during the 2024 election year. SPEAK. captures the passion, joy, and courage of unforgettable teens using their voices to change hearts and minds.
SAT, MAY 24 • 1:00 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
SUN, MAY 25 • 12:00 PM • VIRTUAL
UNLABELLED
Dir Colette Johnson-Vosberg | Canada 2025 | 83 mins | English | Documentary | World Premiere
Unlabelled follows the lives of three members of the trans community in Toronto—Lucah, Emery, and Lucy—who graciously take us on a journey through their experiences, both joyful and painful, as they navigate their own paths in the world. This documentary thoughtfully explores the diversity of trans experiences, the importance of community, and the power of being patient with yourself in a society that often rejects your identity. With care and honesty, Johnson-Vosberg presents Unlabelled as a moving portrait of extraordinary individuals who too often go unnoticed in everyday life. The film invites us to reflect on the role of identity and poses a bold question: what if we imagined a future without labels?
SUN, MAY 25 • 3:45 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
MON, MAY 26 • 12:00 PM • VIRTUAL
INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE
BABY
Dir Marcelo Caetano | Brazil 2024 | 107 mins | Portuguese | Drama
São Paulo's streets can offer both danger and opportunity and, for Wellington, they deliver both. After being released from a juvenile detention center, he finds himself alone and adrift, with no contact from his parents. While wandering the city, he encounters Ronaldo, an experienced and charming older man who takes him under his wing, teaching him new ways to survive. Their romance is fiery, vibrant, dizzying, and tumultuous—turning from a fairytale to a nightmare in the blink of an eye. Nominated for the Queer Palm at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Baby is an exhilarating exploration of self-discovery, desire, and the precarious nature of love and survival in an unforgiving city
FRI, MAY 23 • 9:30 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
FLAMINGO CAMP
Dir Chris Coats | United States 2025 | 80 mins | English | Documentary | International Premiere
In the near-lawless squatter town of Slab City, a group of young queer and trans anarchists create a thriving safe space for themselves known as Flamingo Camp. Out in the harsh Sonoran Desert, the camp flourishes through the mild winter months under the leadership of its founder, Nova. But when Nova departs for the summer and the brutal heat sets in, the unthinkable happens–fracturing this once close-knit chosen family.
SAT, MAY 24 • 3:45 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
SUN, MAY 25 • 12:00 PM • VIRTUAL
SEASON FINALE WATCH PARTY: HACKS
Dir Lucia Aniello | United States 2025 | 25 mins | English | Comedy
In Season 4 of the multiple Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winning Max Original comedy series Hacks, tensions rise as Deborah (Jean Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) endeavor to get their late night show off the ground and make history doing it. Stream Season 4 of Hacks Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on Crave, then join Inside Out for an unforgettable Season Finale Watch Party on May 29th.
THU, MAY 29 • 9:15 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
I’M YOUR VENUS
Dir Kimberly Reed | United States 2024 | 85 mins | English | Documentary
One of the most memorable real-life characters in Paris Is Burning, the monumental 1990 documentary about New York’s drag ball scene, was aspiring model and complete spitfire, Venus Xtravaganza. In 1988, before the film was finished, Venus was found dead in a hotel room. Now, almost 35 years later, three of her biological brothers are working with members of her ballroom family to honour Venus’s legacy, in part by trying to have her murder case reopened. Mixing new and archival footage, award-winning director Kimberly Reed touchingly captures what made Venus so magical and the emotional journey of two families.
SAT, MAY 31 • 4:45 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 1
IN ASHES
Dir Ludvig Christian Næsted Poulsen | Denmark 2025 | 82 mins | Danish | Drama| Canadian Premiere
After getting dumped by his first love, Christian is spiralling. The breakup was brutal, one-sided, and he’s still stuck—mentally replaying every moment of their romance. Desperate for connection, he dives headfirst into hookup apps, but finds himself caught in a cycle of fleeting, awkward encounters that only leave him feeling emptier. In the chaos of heartbreak, sex, and self-sabotage, he’s forced to ask: can he finally let go of the past, or is he too far gone to find something real? Director Ludvig C. Poulsen’s striking debut feature is raw, unapologetically intimate, and an emotionally resonant portrait of what it takes to crawl out from under heartbreak, and start again.
FRI, MAY 30 • 9:30 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
LUCKY, APARTMENT
Dir Garam Kangyu | South Korea 2024 | 95 mins | Korean | Drama | North American Premiere
Seonwoo and Heeseo’s dream of safe and secure housing becomes a reality when they put everything they have into purchasing a small apartment. The shine quickly comes off of their newly renovated apartment when Seonwoo loses her job and breaks her leg, leaving Heeseo solely responsible for paying their mortgage. Unable to find work and confined to their apartment, Seonwoo becomes obsessed with finding the source of a foul odour coming from downstairs. When it’s discovered that their elderly neighbour has passed, Seonwoo takes it upon herself to find their estranged family. Seonwoo’s investigation into the life of their solitary neighbour brings light to the cracks forming in her own relationship with Heeseo. Will they be able to weather this storm together, or will outside forces push them apart?
FRI, MAY 30 • 9:00 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 3
PONYBOI
Dir Esteban Arango | United States 2024 | 100 mins | English | Coming of Age/Drama | Canadian Premiere
Based on River Gallo’s award-winning short film, Ponyboi takes audiences on a wild, neon-lit ride through the underbelly of New Jersey. Unfolding over the course of Valentine’s Day, Ponyboi is just trying to get through the day when a drug deal goes horribly wrong. As chaos and violence erupt, Ponyboi is forced to confront both personal and existential trials. Laundromats, handsome cowboys, 24-hour diners, and neon lights all come together in this exhilarating tale that asks: how far can one go when their life is at stake? Director Esteban Arango brings this extraordinary story to life with an outstanding ensemble cast, including Dylan O’Brien, Indya Moore, Victoria Pedretti, and Murray Bartlett. Thrilling and unrelenting, Ponyboi mesmerizes with its fearless storytelling, blending suspense, sensuality, high-stakes conflict, and nonstop action.
SAT, MAY 24 • 9:15 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
RAINS OVER BABEL
Dir Gala del Sol | Colombia/United States/Spain 2025 | 110 mins | Spanish | Drama | Canadian Premiere
Step into a world where the living and the dead share the stage for one unforgettable night at Babel, a mythical bar pulsing with secrets, spirits, and second chances. This darkly imaginative riff on Dante’s Inferno blends the surreal with the spiritual, the sacred with the profane, and the tragic with the transcendent. As drag queens, fallen angels, and restless souls collide with Death herself, stories of love, identity, and transformation emerge from the shadows. Gala del Sol brings a genre-bending journey into the afterlife that’s infused with dark humor, unspoken truths, and flashes of defiant, Queer joy. Through grief, desire, and glitter-stained resistance, Babel becomes more than a bar—a portal to what we’re willing to risk for the people, passions, and parts of ourselves we refuse to let die.
SAT, MAY 31 • 7:15 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 2
SANDBAG DAM
Dir ?ejen ?erni? ?anak | Croatia 2024 | 90 mins | Croatian | Drama | Canadian Premiere
A story about a forbidden love, set in a village threatened by the swollen rivers. Upon his return home for his father’s funeral, Slaven revives relationship with his childhood friend, a young sportsman Marko, his teenage love and the reason his father kicked him out of the house. Now tempted to reunite, they need to make peace with their own decisions and struggle against the family restraints.
SAT, MAY 24 • 7:00 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 3
SAUNA
Dir Mathias Broe | Denmark 2025 | 105 mins | Danish | Drama| Canadian Premiere
Johan has been living a carefree life. Bars, parties, Grindr hookups, and steamy bathhouse encounters. But when William, a transgender man, enters his world, everything shifts. Sauna explores the transformative power of love, revealing both its tenderness and its madness. Based on the novel of the same name by Mads Ananda Lodahl, the film delves deep into the complexities of desire, identity, and community. Through Johan and William’s relationship, director Mathias Broe crafts an intimate and raw portrayal of contemporary Queer romance. With striking visuals and an unflinching gaze, Sauna immerses us in a world where passion and vulnerability collide.
SUN, MAY 25 • 9:30 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 3
SOME NIGHTS I FEEL LIKE WALKING
Dir Petersen Vargas | Philippines 2024 | 103 mins | Tagalog | Drama | Canadian Premiere
Manila at night is teeming with possibility—of danger but also of tenderness. Uno meets distressed teenager Zion in a bus terminal and they bond in their brief encounter. Two years later, they meet again as hustlers booked by the same client. The night turns sour when Uno’s friend, Miguelito, is found overdosing after being with a client. Zion reveals to Uno and his buddies, Bayani and Rush, Miguelito’s dying wish: to take him home. Together, they lug Miguelito’s body around the city and into the countryside, via buses and highways. With each step, the conclusion becomes clearer: there is no place in the world for these kids, except with each other. Despite their differences, they have been forged into a singular pack of brothers.
SUN, MAY 25 • 7:00 PM • TIFF LIGHTBOX 3
MON, MAY 26 • 12:00 PM • VIRTUAL
SHORTS
Information on this year’s shorts lineup can be found here.
Inside Out 2025 Digital Programme Book here.
In a year of economic uncertainty and declining support for 2SLGBTQ+ communities and arts organizations, Inside Out is grateful for the returning sponsors for its 35th anniversary festival. RBC returns for the 17th year as Lead Sponsor, with Netflix and Crave back as Premier Sponsors. New this year—and making a strong impact—are Hinge, LCBO, and DoorDash. Inside Out is especially thankful to our returning public funders for their steadfast support, including: the Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Creates, and Telefilm Canada.
For more information, visit insideout.ca
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