Queer Joy Fills the Screen at SQFF

"Queer Joy" is the theme of this year's edition of the Seattle Queer Film Festival, which is set to run for 10 days of in-person screenings Oct. 12-22, followed by a virtual version of the festival Oct. 22-29.

The festival beings together voices from across the globe in a program that includes 119 films. The Opening Night selection, "All of Us Strangers," is the latest gay romance from "Weekend" director Andrew Haigh (who also brought "Looking" to the small screen for two seasons and a movie on HBO). Openly gay "Fleabag" actor Andrew Scott stars as a screenwriter whose new romance (with "Aftersun" star Paul Mescal) coincides with a supernatural experience in which he finds his long-dead parents alive, well, and young again.

Out actors Billy Porter and Luke Evans star in the U.S. Spotlight feature, "Our Son," a family drama that looks at the flip side of marriage equality as a married couple prepared to divorce and confront a custody battle in which they will have to put the needs of their young son first.

Short films focusing on comedy will round out "Closing Night: Queer Joy is... Comedy," a shorts program that will also include live performances by Seattle comedians, with the festival's Closing Night party and Awards Reception to follow.

"For our theme of Queer Joy is...cinematic, we wanted to reflect the duality of queerness at this moment in time, the hardship and the joy we all feel," the festival's director, Kathleen Mullen (who is also the artistic director of Three Dollar Bill Cinema), said in a news release.

"The idea is Queer Joy in action – as resistance, as happiness, as love, as cinema – with all the spectrum of queer voices and experiences," Mullen added. "We have films that dive deep and many that are also funny and joyful, and we hope you will find something that speaks to you and brings you joy."

During its 10 days, the festival will offer a host of Centerpiece screenings. Trans Centerpiece film "Runs in the Family" comes from South Africa, and follows a father and his trans son as they enter a drag show contest in hopes of winning a cash prize to pay for gender affirming care. The Sapphic Centerpiece is the thriller "Healed," about a married female couple who take a couples retreat where everything is not necessarily sweetness and light. The Documentary Centerpiece showcases the explosive film "1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture," which reveals how changing a single word in the Bible from its original meaning to a completely different term enabled generations of faith-based LGBTQ+ persecution. Lightening the mood is Comedy Centerpiece "Cora Bora," in which "Hacks" star Megan Stalter plays a woman in a long-distance relationship that she fears is going off the rails... and so is she, in this comic romp.

The festival's news release notes: "In-person screenings take place at SIFF Cinema Egyptian, Northwest Film Forum, Broadway Performance Hall, Ark Lodge Cinema, and Queer/Bar, and virtual screenings are available in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. Tickets went on sale September 15. Passes are on sale now."

Here's a grab-bag of a dozen films you won't want to miss at this year's SQFF:

1. "In the Meat Rack"

Yes, this documentary is all about that meat rack – the cruising spot that made pre-AIDS gay sexuality something to write home about (or not) and Fire Island a summertime destination. The content warnings read like a list of reasons to be sure to see it: Nudity and Explicit Situations. Don't say you weren't warned!

Showing: Sunday, Oct 15, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

2. "Jess Plus None"

Bisexual Jess attends a wedding as a maid of honor, but the bride isn't the center of the drama; Jess is, along with among some of the other guests, like Sam, Jess' ex; Wendy and her husband; and Hugh, who's carrying a torch for Wendy. Director Mandy Fabian conjures comedy where there might only have been cringes.

Showing: Friday, Oct 13, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

3. "All of Us Strangers" – Opening Night Selection

Andrew Haigh ("Weekend," "Greek Pete," "Looking") adapts Taichi Yamada's novel and turns it into a personal meditation. A screenwriter, Adam (Andrew Scott, "Fleabag") begins a romance with Harry (Paul Mescal, "Aftersun"); shortly afterwards, he finds himself revisiting is childhood home, where his long-dead parents (Claire Foy, Jamie Bell) are somehow still alive and well... and young. The Opening Night Party, None of Us Strangers, follows the screening.

Showing: Thursday, Oct 12, 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

4. "Jewelle: A Just Vision"

The life, times, and work of writer and activist Jewelle Gomez are the focus of Madeleine Lim's documentary. The film's web page notes: "An Ioway and Wampanoag, African American and Cape Verdean, femme lesbian, Jewelle co-founded decades-old social justice organizations that are more relevant than ever... she is an unrelenting torchbearer for the transformative power of the artist as activist."

Showing: Saturday, Oct 14, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

5. "The Lost Boys (El Paradise)"

Joe (Khalil Ben Gharbia) is about to be released from a youth correctional facility when William (Julien De Saint Jean) arrives. Will it truly be liberation for Joe to have to part from him? This gay coming of age drama directed by Director Zeno Graton features a pair of stunning leads in an unforgettable story.

Showing: Friday, Oct 20, 8:15 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

6. "Glitter & Doom"

Director Tom Gustafson and screenwriter Corey Krueckeberg join forces once more to tell the story of Glitter, a young man looking to forge a career in the circus, and his new heartthrob, Doom, a budding singer-songwriter. In a musical milieu where unexpected faces pop up for wild cameos, can the two find their way toward their dreams without passing each other up?

Showing: Sunday, Oct 15, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

7. "Fancy Dance"

Lily Gladstone stars in Erica Tremblay's drama about a Seneca-Cayuga teenager, Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) searching for her missing mother – one out of thousands of Native American women who disappear every year. Gladstone plays Jax, Roki's lesbian aunt, who may leave a little to be desired as a role model, but whom you don't wanna mess with.

Showing: Sunday, Oct 22, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

8. "Summer Qamp"

Jennifer Markowitz's documentary shows the joy, and relief, of Camp fYrefly, an oasis for LGBTQ+ youth – perhaps the most legislatively persecuted segment of American society at the moment. Here, kids can just be kids... the very thing the people targeting our youth with hostile laws, book bans, restrictive school curricula, and social opprobrium say they want.

Screens together with short film "Transgenders."

Showings: Saturday Oct 14, 6:30 p.m. - Sun 15th 8:00 p.m.

9. "Lie with Me"

Director Olivier Peyon adapts Philippe Besson's 2017 novel for the screen, delving into memory and the enduring force of love with a dramatic feature that finds middle-aged novelist Stéphane Belcourt making a return to Cognac, France after more than three decades. In his past: the resonances of a first love between himself as a young man (Jérémy Gillet) and another young man, Thomas (Julien De Saint Jean). In the present: a growing attracting to Lucas (Victor Belmondo) – Thomas' son.

Showing: Wednesday, Oct 18, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

10. "Three Nights a Week"

In Florent Gouëlou's film, photographer Baptiste (Pablo Pauly) – who is already together with Samia (Hafsia Herzi) – finds himself captivated by drag queen Cookie Kunty, at first as a new subject of Baptiste's art... but then, as Baptiste gets to know Quentin (Romain Eck), the man beneath Cookie's makeup, as a surprising new love interest.

Showing: Saturday, Oct 21, 7:45 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

11. "Our Son" – U.S. Spotlight

Out actors Billy Porter and Luke Evans star as a married couple going through a divorce – and dealing with what that will mean to their seven-year-old son – in Bill Oliver's gay family drama – a powerful movie that's drawn comparisons to the classic film "Kramer vs. Kramer."

Showing: Friday, Oct 13, 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

12. "Housekeeping for Beginners"

Director Goran Stolevski ("Of an Age") returns with a film about family and friendship. Two women raising their children together have made things work for their family, but when tragedy throws things into upheaval Dita, the surviving partner, must learn how to parent on her own.

Showing: Thursday, Oct 19, 5:45 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

See the festival's complete film guide here.