Queer Screen has revealed the full program for the 33rd Mardi Gras Film Festival, returning to Sydney from 12th – 26th February, 2026 with two vibrant weeks of LGBTIQ+ cinema as part of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras celebrations. Screenings will take place across key city venues including Event Cinemas George Street and Dendy Newtown.
The 2026 edition is one of the festival’s most ambitious yet, presenting 139 films from 38 countries, including six World Premieres, five International Premieres and 64 Australian Premieres. Spanning features, documentaries and shorts, the program brings together bold new voices, celebrated international titles and standout queer storytelling from around the globe.
The festival opens with Jimpa, directed by acclaimed Australian filmmaker Sophie Hyde, and starring Olivia Colman, John Lithgow and Aud Mason-Hyde. Inspired by Hyde’s own family experiences, the film is a tender, multi-generational reflection on queer identity, chosen family and legacy. The festival closes with She’s the He, a sharp, heartfelt reinvention of the high school comedy directed by Siobhan McCarthy, centred on trans self-discovery and friendship, and led by standout performances from Misha Osherovich, Nico Carney and Malia Pyles.
Among the program’s major highlights is Pillion, starring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling, as well as Kristen Stewart’s striking directorial debut The Chronology of Water, adapted from Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir and starring Imogen Poots. Also featured are Love Me Tender, with Vicky Krieps, and the revealing documentary A Deeper Love: The Story of Miss Peppermint, offering rare behind-the-scenes access to the life of the trans icon and RuPaul’s Drag Race finalist, Peppermint.
The festival also celebrates queer cinema history with landmark anniversary screenings, including the 30th anniversary of Love and Other Catastrophes, a 50th anniversary presentation of The Naked Civil Servant starring John Hurt, and a newly restored 4K screening of Lisa Cholodenko’s High Art. For the first time, Queer Screen partners with Pink Flamingo Cinemas to present the cult underground epic Castration Movie Anthology II: The Best of Both Worlds, with director Louise Weard attending.
Beyond gala presentations, the festival is shaped by a rich array of curated strands. Queer Asia highlights stories from across the continent, from the tender coming-of-age Summer’s Camera to the politically charged thriller Between Dreams and Hope. Panorama showcases crowd-pleasing romances, daring erotic dramas and genre-blending works, while Out in Europe explores identity, intimacy and resistance across the continent. QueerDOC brings powerful real-life stories to the screen, including I Was Born This Way, celebrating activist and musician Archbishop Carl Bean, and Second Nature, narrated by Elliot Page.
Other standout sections include African Diaspora, spotlighting innovative and urgent voices; QueerScream, delivering horror and genre cinema through a defiantly queer lens; and Special Presentations, featuring buzzy international titles and high-profile auteurs. A packed slate of Special Events rounds out the program, from anniversary screenings and filmmaker conversations to family-friendly sessions and intergenerational gatherings.
Queer Screen CEO Benson Wu said the festival’s return is a testament to the dedication of its community and supporters. “It’s an honour to carry forward Queer Screen’s legacy after 32 years. We warmly welcome audiences back to the cinema to experience the magic with us.”
Programming and Industry Manager Andrew Wilkie emphasised the importance of queer visibility in the current climate. “At a time when our community – especially our trans siblings – is facing increased persecution, seeing authentic LGBTIQ+ stories on our screens is more important than ever. This program is about being unapologetically queer and finding strength in community.”
The 33rd Mardi Gras Film Festival is presented by Queer Screen, supported by Major Partner Allianz and Government Partners Screen NSW, City of Sydney and Multicultural NSW.
Public ticket sales are now available, with full session details available via Queer Screen’s official website.
