Debut Screening: Jan. 25/2020 (Sundance Film Festival) U.S.

Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Crime

Length: 1 hr. 44 min.

Country: U.S.

Tagline: Know your worth.

Starring: Evan Rachel Wood (Old Dolio), Debra Winger (Theresa), Richard Jenkins (Robert), & Gina Rodriguez (Melanie)

Written by: Miranda July

Directed by: Miranda July

Synopsis: The film’s main character, Old Dolio Dyne, is a twentysomething deeply socially awkward woman who has been raised by her con artist parents to see the world as nothing more than a series of hustles & scams. Operating out of a leaky office building, the criminal trio lives hand to mouth until Melanie, a vibrant, warm hearted outsider gets drawn into their orbit. As Melanie’s presence exposes the sheer emotional neglect of Old Dolio’s upbringing, the film evolves into a surreal, tender, & offbeat coming of age story about breaking free from toxic family dynamics, discovering touch & tenderness for the first time, & finding the courage to begin living an authentic life.

Sites: focusfeatures.com/kajillionaire

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kajillionaire

imdb.com/title/tt8143990/?ref_=ttrel_ov_bk

FYI: Evan Rachel Wood (Old Dolio) came out as bisexual in 2011.

In an interview with ScreenRant Evan Rachel Wood spoke about her character saying, “One of the references in my mind for her was Edward Scissorhands…because again he’s been completely removed. He feels completely alien & foreign. He desperately wants to be seen & desperately wants connection but he’s terrified of it & I just thought that’s Old Dolio & she’s somebody that like Edward Scissorhands barely says anything throughout the film but is communicating so much & is breaking your heart at every turn.” *

It’s a Small Sapphic World: Evan Rachel Wood previously starred in the 2017 film Allure.

Keywords: crime, dark comedy

* youtube.com/watch?v=_EFKbnzlau8

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Debut Screening: May 2/2015 @ Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (U.S.)

Genre: Comedy/ Drama

Length: 1 hr. 37 min.

Country: United States

Tagline: A drama-comedy about two women wanting a child and getting a grown man!

Starring: Kacey Clarke (Charlie), Anya Monzikova (Cerina), Michael Worth (Josh), Paula Alder (Mom/Leslie), & Alex Ballar (Leo)

Written by: Michael Worth

Directed by: Michael Worth

Synopsis: This indie comedy drama revolves around Charlie & Cerina, a lesbian couple who decide to have a baby & start a family. The pair opt to ask Josh, Cerina’s ex-boyfriend, to serve as their sperm donor. The situation grows complex & downright messy, however, once Josh agrees to step up & move in with the women in order to assist with the process. What results is unresolved history, jealousy, & buried feelings resurfacing among the trio. While blending light humor with relationship drama, Seeking Dolly Parton explores the complexities of modern queer family building, the importance of establishing boundaries, & lessons related to how hard it can be to navigate the past while trying to build a future together.

Sites: twitter.com/SeekingDolly

Seeking Dolly Parton (2015) - IMDb

Quotes:

Leo: “Now Sis you’re going to have a gay guy impregnate a somewhat lesbian to have a child with her most definitely utterly completely lesbian girlfriend. This is how the world is gonna rid itself of straight people.”

Keywords: California, pregnancy

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Available to stream for free on Tubi @ Watch Seeking Dolly Parton (2017) - Free Movies | Tubi

Debut Screening: March 15/2024 (BFI Flare London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival) U.K.

Genre: Comedy

Length: 1 hr. 50 min.

Country: Austria

Language: German/ Persian/ English

Starring: Caroline Peters (Dr. Marie Theres Wallner), Proschat Madani (Fa Safir), & Barbara Spitz (Bigi)

Written by: Kat Rohrer, Malina Nwabuonwor, & Wolfgang Widerhofer

Directed by: Kat Rohrer

Synopsis: Dr. Marie Theres Wallner is an accomplished doctor whose husband of 20 years suddenly proclaims that he wants out of the marriage. Feeling shocked & heartbroken Caroline proceeds to get extremely drunk & ultimately stumbles into a lesbian bar. There she encounters Fa who earlier in the day had almost hit her in her work van while Caroline was crossing the street. Fa is a middle-aged carpenter who spends a great deal of her time sexually fulfilling her married female clients all the while avoiding any type of complicated emotional attachment. The 2 seemingly mismatched women soon realize that the growing attraction between them is much more than mere flirtation.

Sites: praherfilm.at/what-a-feeling/

imdb.com/title/tt31116111/?ref_=ttrel_ov_bk

Keywords: Austrian, older women, comedy

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Debut Screening: April 23/2026 (The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival) Canada

Genre: Documentary

Length: 90 min.

Country: Canada

Starring: Carole Pope

Written by: Sarah Bachinski, Allen Booth, & Michelle Mama

Directed by: Michelle Mama

Synopsis: This much anticipated documentary chronicles the life & career of Carole Pope, frontwoman of the band Rough Trade & one of Canada’s first openly lesbian rock stars. Based on her 2000 autobiography, the doc follows Pope’s personal journey from the gritty Toronto art scene of the ‘60s all the way to her rise to international stardom with hits like “High School Confidential.” It’s a raw, intimate look at her legacy, her complicated partnership with the late Kevan Staples, & her status as a queer pioneer who paved the way for generations of lgbtq artists to come. The film features appearances by fellow Canuck musicians k.d. lang, Peaches, Jann Arden, & Rufus Wainwright.

Sites: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antidiva:_The_Carole_Pope_Confessions

imdb.com/title/tt33549474/

FYI: Although she was born in England Carole Pope is a Canadian lesbian music icon. Her music has been featured in a variety of queer films & TV shows such as Queer as Folk, Transparent, & the Kristen Stewart feature Love Lies Bleeding (2024).

In an essay for CBC Arts Carole Pope spoke about the process of making the film. “I was so tired of being underappreciated as an artist. I wanted to show the reality of being a woman in this business—the highs of Massey Hall & the lows of just trying to pay rent in a crappy apartment in L.A. This film is my way of saying: I’m still here, I’m still vital, & I’m still an artist.” *

Director Michelle Mama, who spent 6 years making this documentary, is a queer filmmaker.

It’s a Small Sapphic World: Michelle Mama served as executive producer on the queer documentary Summer Qamp.

Quotes:

Carole Pope: “As long as I feel creative…it gives me a reason to live.”

Carole Pope: “No, I love me. I’m very amusing.”

Keywords: documentary, music, Canada

* Carole Pope, “Carole Pope on the new doc Antidiva: ‘I was so tired of being underappreciated as an artist’”, CBC Arts, published April 21/2026.

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Antidiva The Carole Pope Confessions is available on CBC Gem https://gem.cbc.ca/antidiva-the-carole-pope-confessions

Debut Screening: Jan. 26/2016 @ Sundance Film Festival (U.S.)

Genre: Comedy/ Drama

Length: 1 hr. 30 min.

Country: United States

Tagline: What are friends for?

Starring: Melanie Lynskey (Annie), Jason Ritter (Matt), Natasha Lyonne (Sarah), Clea DuVall (Jessie), Ben Schwartz (Jack), Alia Shawkat (Lola), Vincent Piazza (Peter), & Cobie Smulders (Ruby)

Written by: Clea DuVall

Directed by: Clea DuVall

Synopsis: This thoroughly enjoyable & funny movie focuses on 4 young couples who get together for a weekend trip to Savanna, Georgia. Each person finds themselves not only examining the dynamics of their closely knit group of friends but also pondering the state & future of their respective romantic relationships.

Sites: facebook.com/theintervention

instagram.com/theintervention/

wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intervention_(film)

imdb.com/title/tt4872078/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_The%20Intervention

FYI: Clea DuVall (Jessie) is a lesbian filmmaker/actor. In an interview about The Intervention (her directorial feature film debut) DuVall spoke about the inspiration behind the movie. “I am fascinated by relationships & human behavior. I was in a place in my life where I thought I knew what was best for everybody around me, & would spend a lot of time & energy sort of picking everybody apart… Then I had this moment of self-awareness where it occurred to me that the more that I was looking at other people, the less I was looking at myself. And there were a lot of things in my own life that I needed to work on & work through. So, I turned my focus inward & did a lot of the work that I had been avoiding. And because humor is such a huge part of my life, & something that I appreciate so much, I thought about it in terms of a story. Like, how funny would it be if there were a person that was so convinced that they knew what was best for everybody else that they actually tried to put into action one of their insane plans.” *

Quotes:

Annie: “Here’s the thing. I am the person who over packs her things in an unmarked generic black suitcase OK? It’s who I always have been. It’s who I always will be.”

Ruby: “…she has like a glass of wine & then before you know it she’s like 5 martinis in & she’s getting tackled by the Secret Service for trying to kiss Bill Clinton at a restaurant.”

Annie: “Do you think I can’t not drink?”

Jessie: “I don’t really know. Can you not drink?”

Annie: “The wording is so confusing.”

Jessie: (after Sarah kisses Jack): “You swallowed his whole face.”

It’s a Small Sapphic World: Clea DuVall, Natasha Lyonne (Sarah), & Melanie Lynskey (Annie) all co-starred in But I’m a Cheerleader (1999).

Clea DuVall co-wrote & directed Happiest Season (2020).

Melanie Lynskey co-starred in Heavenly Creatures (1994).

Alia Shawkat (Lola) co-starred & co-wrote Duck Butter (2018).

Although Cobie Smulders (Ruby) doesn’t portray a queer character in The Intervention the actress played the role of bisexual private investigator Dex Parios on the short lived ABC TV series “Stumptown” (2019).

Keywords: friendship, ensemble, trip, relationships

*themarysue.com/interview-clea-duvall-the-intervention

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Original Title: Sangailes vasara

Debut Screening: Jan. 22/ 2015 (Sundance Film Festival) U.S.

Genre: Drama/ Romance

Length: 1 hr. 30 min.

Country: France/ Lithuania / Netherlands

Language: Lithuanian

Starring: Julija Steponaityte (Sangaile), Aiste Dirziute (Auste), & Jurate Sodyte (Sangaile’s Mother)

Written by: Alante Kavaite

Directed by: Alante Kavaite

Synopsis: Set in the lush, sun-drenched Lithuanian countryside, this film follows 17 yr. old Sangaile, a brooding teen captivated by aerobatic stunt planes yet paralyzed from flying by severe vertigo & self doubt. Her solitary summer at her family's lake house changes when she meets Auste, an effervescent, fearlessly creative local girl who works as a seamstress & cafeteria server. As a passionate romance blossoms between them, Auste’s vibrant warmth & unconditional acceptance encourages Sangaile to confront her private emotional struggles. This Sapphic story captures a transformative first love which serves to empower a young woman to overcome her deepest fears & finally take flight.

Sites: facebook.com/SANGAILE/?fref=ts

wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Summer_of_Sangail%C4%97

The Summer of Sangaile (2015) - IMDb

Keywords: summer, teens, romance

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Original Title: Habitación en Roma

Debut Screening: April 24/2010 @ Málaga Film Festival (Spain)

Genre: Drama/ Romance

Length: 1 hr. 47 min.

Country: Spain

Language: Arabic/ Basque/ English/ Italian/ Russian/ Spanish

Tagline: One night of passion that will change their lives.

Starring: Elena Anaya (Alba) & Natasha Yarovenko (Natacha)

Written by: (Based on a movie written by) Julio Rojas (written by) Julio Medem

(dialogue advisor) Katherine Fugate

Directed by: Julio Medem

Synopsis: Set during one intoxicating night, this erotic drama follows Alba, a Spanish woman, & Natasha, a Russian, who cross paths on their final evening on vacation in Italy. What starts off as a spontaneous invitation back to Alba’s hotel room quickly deepens into a cocoon of raw vulnerability, dynamic physical intimacy, & shared confessions. As the hours slip away, the confines of the room transform into a timeless sanctuary where both women navigate fear, desire, & confront hidden truths about their identities, all the while knowing that the coming dawn will force them back to the realities of their lives.

Sites: facebook.com/RoominRome

twitter.com/RoominRome2

wikipedia.org/wiki/Room_in_Rome

Room in Rome (2010) - IMDb

FYI: Elena Anaya (Alba) is a lesbian.

Room in Rome is loosely based on the 2005 Chilean movie En la cama (In Bed).

Keywords: sexuality, Rome, romance, lesbian cinema classic

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Debut Screening: May 24/2025 (Cannes Film Festival) France

Genre: Dark Comedy/ Thriller/Mystery/ Crime

Length: 1 hr. 29 min.

Country: U.K./ U.S.

Tagline: She only has two desires, and one of them is justice.

Starring: Margaret Qualley (Honey O’Donahue), Aubrey Plaza (MG Falcone), Chris Pine (Reverend Drew Devlin), & Charlie Day (Marty Metakawitch)

Written by: Ethan Coen & Tricia Cooke

Directed by: Ethan Coen

Synopsis: Following up on the vibe of Drive-Away Dolls, this is the second entry in Ethan Coen & Tricia Cooke’s “Lesbian B-Movie Trilogy.” Set in Bakersfield, California, the film follows Honey O’Donahue, a high-strung private investigator who gets caught up in a bizarre mystery involving a shady cult leader & a mysterious cop played by Aubrey Plaza. This is a wild, neo-noir black comedy that leans heavily on the campy side of queer cinema; complete with colorful characters & stylized violence.

Sites: Honey Don't!

imdb.com/title/tt30645201/?ref_=ttrel_ov_bk

Honey Don't! - Wikipedia

FYI: Filmmaker Tricia Cooke identifies as a lesbian.

It’s a Small Sapphic World: Margaret Qualley (Honey O’Donahue) starred in Drive Away Dolls (2024).

Aubrey Plaza (MG Falcone) played a lesbian in 2020’s Sapphic Christmas film Happiest Season.

Keywords: black comedy, thriller, private eye, crime, violence

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Debut Screening: July 13/2020 (Brazil)

Genre: Drama/ War

Length: 1 hr. 39 min.

Country: United Kingdom

Tagline: Love. Magic. Hope.

Starring: Gemma Arterton (Alice), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Vera), & Penelope Wilton (Older Alice)

Written by: Jessica Swale

Directed by: Jessica Swale

Synopsis: Set against the windswept Kent coast during World War II, this film follows Alice, a reclusive, prickly folklore scholar whose solitary life is upended when she is forced to shelter a young London evacuee named Frank. As the boy’s gentle curiosity gradually chips away at her guarded exterior, Alice is drawn back into painful memories of her past; specifically a passionate 1920s love affair with a woman named Vera that ended in heartbreak. This wartime drama coupled with lush folklore is a tender story about grief, memory, & the unexpected ways love reframes our past to make room for a second chance.

Sites: summerlandmovie.com (official)

twitter.com/2020_summerland

wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerland_(2020_film)

Summerland (2020) - IMDb

It’s a Small Sapphic World: Gemma Arterton (Alice) starred as Vita Sackville-West in Vita & Virginia (2018).Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Vera) plays Kelly Booth in the Sapphic Black Mirror episode titled “San Junipero”.

Keywords: isolated setting, England, WWII, writer

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Debut Screening: Sept. 10/2016 @ Toronto International Film Festival (Canada)

Genre: Drama/ Romance

Length: 1 hr. 34 min.

Country: Canada

Tagline: Where Desire Lives.

Starring: Erika Linder (Dallas) & Natalie Krill (Jasmine)

Written by: Stephanie Fabrizi

Directed by: April Mullen

Synopsis: Dallas, an androgynous roofer, attracts the attention of Jasmine, a fashion designer about to get married. Although the 2 women share little in common when they meet sparks fly. Their attraction blossoms during one fateful weekend when they begin a passionate affair destined to change both of their lives forever.

Sites: wikipedia.org/wiki/Below_Her_Mouth

imdb.com/title/tt5073620/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_0_in_0_q_Below%20Her%20Mouth

FYI: The film is loosely based on the real life relationship between writer Stephanie Fabrizi & the film’s producer Melissa Coghlan.

Erika Linder (Dallas) is a Swedish model known for her androgynous looks. In an interview with afterellen.com Linder commented about her sexuality & career. “When I first started modeling, I wasn’t even out yet…And modeling actually, this industry, helped me come out because, I mean, everyone’s gay.” *

At TIFF Natalie Krill (Jasmine) discussed the film’s steamy sex scenes, “…in all the really intimate scenes it was Erica, myself, & then April & Mya, the cinematographer, always. It was always the 4 of us very intimately in these small rooms & spaces so…they’re women & we all just became so close & such great friends & everyone was really invested emotionally in the project so I think that united us all on such a deep level.” **

Keywords: sexuality, butch/femme, designer, Canada, romance, Toronto, infidelity

* afterellen.com/entertainment/428061-real-erika-linder-woman-behind-supermodel-suit-part-one/2

** youtube.com/watch?v=cvp0BcSfAsk

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Game. Set. Match.

There have been many famous rivalries in professional sports history but if you’re a tennis fan the one which stands head & shoulders above them all is the years long competition between Chris Evert & Martina Navratilova. To say that their matches were legendary would be a massive understatement. These 2 players dominated pro tennis during the 70s & 80s & their rivalry not only helped pave the way for legions of young female players yet to come but it also helped put women’s tennis in the international spotlight & increased public interest in both the sport of tennis as well as women’s sports as a whole.

Directed by Rebecca Gitlitz, Chris & Martina: The Final Set utilizes a mix of personal photos, home movies, news footage, & old interviews, including clips from The Dinah Shore Show & Evert’s 1989 appearance on Saturday Night Live, in order to illustrate the complex, at times strained, but always engaging history between these 2 professional athletes. As Gitlitz weaves in & out of the past, she provides a multilayered portrait of 2 fiercely competitive women determined to rise to the top of the tennis world. The documentary not only serves to shed light on the complexities of their careers, but it also pulls back each athlete’s public persona in order to reveal them as multidimensional individuals whose unique friendship has withstood the test of victories, defeats, heartbreak, & sickness.

All too often fans & the media put pro athletes on a pedestal as if money, fame, & talent make them immune to the slings & arrows suffered by ordinary people. This documentary illustrates that regardless of professional success or how many Grand Slams you’ve won no one is immune from pain, loss, loneliness, disappointment, & the challenges of getting older. An obvious example of this is during the course of the film both women speak about their past romantic relationships. In a particularly candid moment Evert discusses her divorce from British tennis player John Lloyd noting that “Everything comes with a price & I wanted to win.” In turn Navratilova discusses the controversies she faced when she publicly came out & her relationship with basketball player Nancy Lieberman as well as other women (admitting with a sly smile that she had lots of girlfriends).

Chris & Martina: The Final Set features candid one on one interviews with an array of family members as well as former pro tennis players including Pam Shriver, John McEnroe, & Billie Jean King. Without a doubt, however, the most heartfelt, telling, & touching scenes in this emotional documentary take place during a visit Martina makes to Chris’s home when the 2 cancer survivors discuss their on court battles complete with personal insights & nostalgic recollections of past matches. Seeing these retired superstars casually sitting together on the couch watching some of their most famous tennis matches is a testament not only to true sportsmanship but also to the strength & resilience of the tried-&-true authentic friendship they have forged over the years. These scenes, like those documenting each woman’s grueling cancer treatments, pull at the heart strings as these once mighty tennis warriors transcend their status as legendary athletes, brush aside their public masks, & reveal the raw, vulnerable women behind the icons.

The documentary portrays the women at particularly pivotal points in their lives; where their battles on the court have been replaced by their individual fights against the devastating disease of cancer. As Navratilova notes, “It’s a strange feeling for an athlete to not be in control.” Some of the most poignant moments in the film involve Evert bravely facing her second cancer diagnosis & treatment all the while discussing a family history which tragically includes losing her sister to the disease. The grit & determination each woman displays during their battles against cancer are indicative of the same grit & determination each showed repeatedly throughout their legendary careers.

Chris & Martina: The Final Set is an intimate documentary exploring the parallel careers, on & off the court friendship, retirement, & medical challenges faced by 2 tennis icons. The rivalry between Chris Evert & Martina Navratilova not only inspired & encouraged more women to pick up a racket & start playing the beautiful game of tennis but their popularity & prowess on the court also served as an inspiration for women everywhere to pursue athletics on a professional basis. The documentary Chris & Martina: The Final Set gives fans a candid & deeply revealing behind the scenes look at the personal challenges faced by each woman all the while illustrating how much pro athletes have to sacrifice for their sport & the steep price they pay in order to earn a place in sports history.

- C.L. Illsley

Chris & Martina: The Final Set is on Netflix now.

Review originally published on Film Review: Chris & Martina: The Final Set

Debut Screening: Feb. 5/1982 (U.S.)

Genre: Drama/ Sport

Length: 2 hr. 8 min.

Country: United States

Tagline: They tested the limits - and broke all the rules.

Starring: Mariel Hemingway (Chris Cahill), Scott Glenn (Terry Tingloff), & Patrice Donnelly (Tory Skinner)

Written by: Robert Towne

Directed by: Robert Towne

Synopsis: Set against the backdrop of the 1976 Olympic trials, 2 female track & field stars form an unexpected bond: Chris, a wildly talented athlete 🏃‍♀️ crippled by lack of confidence, & Tory, a hyper focused competitor whose drive makes up for what she lacks in raw ability. After Chris falters at the Olympic trials while Tory succeeds, Tory refuses to let her rival give up—persuading her coach to take Chris under his wing. But as their intense training sessions bring them closer, their professional partnership transforms into an intimate personal romance.

Sites: wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Best_(film)

Personal Best (1982) - IMDb

Keywords: sports, 1970s, bisexual, love triangle

*Personal Best can be seen for free on YouTube- Mariel Hemingway in Personal Best (1982)

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Debut Screening: Jan. 21/2018 @ Slamdance Film Festival (U.S.)

Genre: Comedy/ Drama

Length: 1 hr. 24 min.

Country: United States

Tagline: A Comedy About Family Affairs

Starring: Matthew Glave (Walter), Emily Bett Rickards (Kim), & Jana Winternitz (Nic)

Written by: Michael J. Gallagher & Steve Greene

Directed by: Michael J. Gallagher

Synopsis: Walter is a has been actor who still enjoys a degree of popularity due to his former role in a much loved cult fantasy television show. After being invited to his daughter Nic’s remote wedding Walter travels to the event while sharing the drive with Nic’s friend Kim. After stopping at a hotel for the night the 2 enjoy a few drinks & some karaoke 🎶 together. What happens next comes as a surprise even to them as the 2 strangers end up having a one night stand. Startling complications arise when Walter & Kim finally arrive at the isolated cabin where Nic’s wedding is scheduled to take place. Walter is completely taken by surprise when he discovers that Kim is actually his daughter’s fiancée. Unsure of whether or not to come clean about their tryst the father of the bride tries his best to cope with the strange situation all the while striving to get to know his estranged daughter’s unorthodox friends.

Sites: funnystorymovie.com (official)

instagram.com/funnystorymovie

twitter.com/FunnyStoryMovie

wikipedia.org/wiki/Funny_Story

imdb.com/title/tt7422552/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_4_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_Funny%2520Story

Quotes:

Walter: “You know for someone so small you wear a huge layer of bitch.”

Keywords: California, family, wedding, isolated setting, infidelity, father, bisexual

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Debut Screening: Aug. 21/2004 @ Edinburgh International Film Festival (Scotland)

Genre: Drama/ Romance/ Coming of Age

Length: 1 hr. 26 min.

Country: United Kingdom

Tagline: The most dangerous thing to want is more.

Starring: Natalie Press (Mona), Emily Blunt (Tamsin), Paddy Considine (Phil), & Dean Andrews (Ricky)

Written by: Pawel Pawlikowski & Michael Wynne

From the novel by: Helen Cross

Directed by: Pawel Pawlikowski

Synopsis: This atmospheric British drama explores the intense, intoxicating, & ultimately deceptive summer romance between 2 teenage girls from very different worlds in the Yorkshire countryside. Mona is a working class girl trapped in a dull town with an ex-con brother turned born again Christian, while Tamsin is a rich, cynical, & highly manipulative boarding school student left alone for the holidays. The teens, who are initially drawn together by their shared boredom & mutual desire to escape reality, strike up a passionate & deeply obsessive relationship. As the summer heat ☀ intensifies, however, the line between genuine emotional connection & cruel psychological games begins to blur, leading to a stunning revelation that challenges the very foundation of their relationship.

Sites: wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Summer_of_Love

My Summer of Love (2004) - IMDb

FYI: My Summer of Love was actress Emily Blunt’s feature film debut.

Keywords: summer, coming of age, romance, adapted from a novel

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Debut Screening: Jan. 23/1995 @ Sundance Film Festival (U.S.)

Genre: Rom/ Com/ Drama

Length: 1 hr. 34 min.

Country: United States

Tagline: There’s a first time for everything.

Starring: Laurel Holloman (Randy Dean), Nicole Ari Parker (Evie Roy), & Maggie Moore (Wendy)

Written by: Maria Maggenti

Directed by: Maria Maggenti

Synopsis: Randy & Evie come from 2 very different worlds. Randy is a lesbian living with her aunt (also a lesbian). Evie is rich, popular, & has a boyfriend. When Evie befriends Randy, she unexpectedly finds herself drawn to the young woman both emotionally & physically. Despite opposition from both of their families Randy & Evie begin a tender romance❤.

Sites: The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love (1995) - IMDb

wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Incredibly_True_Adventure_of_Two_Girls_in_Love

FYI: Writer/director Maria Maggenti is a bisexual filmmaker. In an interview she spoke about the lesbian experience depicted in the movie. “I always saw this as a story of first love, because for me being gay is just another authentic American experience & there’s not much you can say about it. It’s part of the world, & because it’s part of my world & I completely take it for granted as normal…So I don’t believe this is a coming out story, nor would I call this a lesbian film, which of course implies that there’s such a genre, which there isn’t. It’s a film with lesbians in it which describes the experience of 2 girls falling in love with each other.” *

The film won the Outstanding Independent Film award at the 1996 GLAAD Media Awards.

It’s a Small Sapphic World: Laurel Holloman (Randy) co-starred in the TV series “The L Word” (2004- 2009).

Maria Maggenti also wrote & directed Puccini For Beginners (2006).

Keywords: rural setting, coming of age, butch/femme, family, teens

*web.archive.org/web/20080803010751/http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/IncrediblyTrue.html

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Debut Screening: Aug. 26/2014 (U.S.)

Genre: Coming of Age/ Drama/ Romance

Length: 38 min.

Country: United States

Starring: Astrid Ovalles (Gin), Molly Way (Rose), Stacee Mandeville (Ms. Turner), & Spencer Rhys Hughes (Bobby)

Written by: Astrid Ovalles

Directed by: Astrid Ovalles & Oriana Oppice

Synopsis: Set in the repressive atmosphere of 1950s America Camp Belvidere takes place at an isolated summer camp. The story focuses on the forbidden relationship that develops between a Rose, a young camper, & Gin, the hot, sophisticated, & oh so off limits camp nurse. Medic! Medic!

Sites: facebook.com/CampBelvidere

imdb.com/title/tt3104062/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_0_in_0_q_Camp%20Belvidere

FYI: In a 2014 interview with After Ellen Astrid Ovalles (Gin) discussed the film. “Camp Belvidere was inspired by the lesbian pulp fiction novels of the 50s. I thought they were very colorful & kind of twisted…What first popped into my head was Gin’s character. I knew a few things about her & then one day I decided to put her in a cabin with a young woman & see what’d she’d do. From there the whole thing just kind of fell into place.” *

It’s a Small Sapphic World: Writer/director/actress Astrid Ovalles is an out lesbian who co-starred with her wife, Sarah Jo Ovalles, in the 2019 feature Road of Bygones.

Keywords: coming of age, teen, older/younger relationship, nurse, summer camp, sexuality, 1950s, non-feature length

* afterellen.com/movies/228820-camp-belvidere-explores-a-passionate-1950s-love-affair

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Debut Screening: Feb. 1997 @ Berlin International Film Festival (Germany)

Genre: Teen Drama/ Romance/ Coming-of-Age

Length: 1 hr. 26 min.

Country: United States

Tagline: In a world that expects you to fit in, sometimes you have to stand out.

Starring: Alison Folland (Claude), Tara Subkoff (Ellen), Cole Hauser (Mark), Ann Dowd (Anne), & Leisha Hailey (Lucy)

Written by: Sylvia Sichel

Directed by: Alex Sichel

Synopsis: Set during a long hot summer in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen, this gritty drama focuses on 2 teen BFFs, Claude & Ellen, who, as usual, are spending their school break hanging out together, playing guitar, & navigating the ups & downs of adolescence. The close bond the 2 share soon becomes frayed & starts unraveling when Ellen begins going out with Mark, a homophobic & violent boy from the neighborhood. As the best friends drift apart Claude meets Lucy, a pink coiffed musician with a killer smile & keen love of riot grrl music🎵, who helps her come to terms with her sexuality.

Sites: wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Over_Me_(film)

imdb.com/title/tt0118586/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_All%20Over%20Me

FYI: Director Alex Sichel made All Over Me after receiving a Princess Grace Foundation grant to make a movie about the riot grrl underground feminist music scene. The film’s soundtrack includes music by Babes in Toyland, Ani DiFranco, Michelle Malone, & Patti Smith.

In an interview with Frameline writer Alex Sichel spoke about making the film with her sister. “We really weren’t setting out to make a gay film in the sense that now its so gratifying that there’s a context for that but in a way we didn’t want it to be called a coming out film because that seemed almost to limit what it was about but she ended up coming out so what are we gonna do?” *

Alex Sichel died of breast cancer in 2014 @ the age of 50.

Leisha Hailey (Lucy) is an out lesbian who once dated Canadian singer k.d. lang as well as her Uh Huh Her bandmate Camila Grey.

It’s a Small Sapphic World: Alison Folland (Claude) co-starred in Boys Don’t Cry (1999).

Leisha Hailey portrayed Alice Pieszecki in the landmark Showtime TV series “The L Word” (2004- 2009) as well as its sequel “The L Word: Generation Q” (2019-). Hailey also had a small role in the film All You Need Is Love? (2016).

Sisters Alex & Sylvia Sichel co-wrote the “1972” segment of the film If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000).

Keywords: friendship, coming of age, New York City, teens, urban setting, summer vacation, crime, drugs

* youtube.com/watch?v=eZ1cBoUcYKE

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Original Title: Kyss mig

AKA: With Every Heartbeat

Debut Screening: July 29/2011 (Sweden)

Genre: Drama/ Romance

Length: 1 hr. 45 min.

Country: Denmark/ Germany/ Sweden

Language: Swedish

Starring: Ruth Vega Fernandez (Mia Sundström), Liv Mjönes (Frida), Joakim Nätterqvist (Tim Bratthall), & Josefine Tengblad (Elin)

Written by: Alexandra-Therese Keining

Based on an idea by: Josefine Tengblad & Alexandra-Therese Keining

Directed by: Alexandra-Therese Keining

Synopsis: This visually lush & emotionally resonant romantic drama breathes fresh, mature life into the classic infidelity story. The narrative centers on Mia, a straight-laced 30something architect living in Denmark, who travels back to Sweden for Lasse, her estranged father’s engagement party. There, she meets her soon to be stepsister, Frida, a free-spirited, openly gay teacher. Despite Mia’s upcoming marriage to Tim, her long-term fiancé, an undeniable, electric, & deeply romantic chemistry sparks between the 2 women during a family trip to the idyllic island of Fårö. As their passionate affair deepens, Mia is forced to confront the carefully constructed walls of her conventional life, navigating intense family tensions, & deep internalized fear to claim her authentic desires. The film features powerhouse performances & a beautifully warm, sun-dappled palette. This Swedish Sapphic romance provides a nuanced exploration of the transformative courage it takes to choose true love over societal expectations.

Sites: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/With_Every_Heartbeat_(film)

imdb.com/title/tt1859522/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_kiss%20me

FYI: The film is based on the real life experience of lesbian producer/writer/actress Josefine Tengblad (Elin). In the film’s press kit Tengblad explained how her real life experiences inspired the film’s narrative. “By the time I met Alexandra I was married to a man but I had just fallen in love with someone else; a woman. I knew I wanted to change my life somehow, but had no idea how to start. I told Alexandra about my situation & she showed me a treatment of 30 pages with a story similar to mine. That was the start of “Kyss mig”. My life changed as we did the movie.”

The press kit also includes director Alexandra-Therese Keining speaking about making the movie. “It is a realistic story with a very simple premise to it. There is really nothing new with the dramatic set-up of “Kyss mig” which is also the point. It was a very long & hard fight from start to end to make the film in Sweden. To let the characters stay the way I had written them. To let the scenes where Mia & Frida express their love not be cut from the film & not be forced to downplay the premise of the film. It’s a love story about relations & acceptance, not only between 2 persons, but also within the dynamics of a family & most importantly, the love for oneself.”

Keywords: sexuality, romance, bisexual, family, marriage, Sweden, affair, wedding planning

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Debut Screening: Oct. 24/2020 @ Adelaide Film Festival (Australia)

Genre: Drama/ Romance/ Coming of Age

Length: 1 hr. 20 min.

Country: Australia

Starring: Markella Kavenagh (Claudia), Maiah Stewardson (Grace), Katherine Tonkin (Donna), & Harvey Zielinski (Detective Jones)

Written by: Katie Found

Directed by: Katie Found

Synopsis: This lyrical coming of age drama follows Claudia, a sheltered 16 year old isolated from society living on a remote rural property after the tragic loss of her mother. Her lonely world shifts dramatically when she meets Grace, a spirited & worldly local teen who stumbles onto the estate. As the 2 girls form an immediate, fiercely protective bond, they create a secret, sun-drenched sanctuary away from the intrusions of the outside world, sweetening their days with shared summersaults, emotional intimacy, & a tenderly awakening first love. Beautifully shot with a delicate, dreamlike aesthetic, the film captures the healing power of Sapphic romance alongside the bittersweet ache of a fragile haven that cannot stay hidden forever.

Sites: facebook.com/My-First-Summer-314673352754200

instagram.com/myfirstsummerfilm/

My First Summer - Wikipedia

My First Summer (2020) - IMDb

FYI: Writer/director Katie Found identifies as a queer/bisexual filmmaker.

Harvey Zielinski (Detective Jones) is a transgender actor.

Keywords: summer, isolated setting, teens, coming of age, Australia

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Debut Screening: May 25/2024 (Inside Out Toronto 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival) Canada

Genre: Documentary

Length: 1 hr. 45 min.

Country: Canada

Starring: Trish Bendix, Noelle Carbone, & Jill Golick

Written by: Regan Latimer

Directed by: Regan Latimer

Synopsis: This humorous & deeply personal documentary investigates the history of queer female representation on TV 📺. Prompted by the frustrating & pervasive "Bury Your Gays" trope in which lesbian & queer characters are routinely killed off or denied happy endings writer & director Latimer takes a journey across North America in order to explore the real world psychological impact these storylines have on viewers. Using a blend of pop culture nostalgia, original animation sequences, & personal anecdotes as well as a collection of insights from media psychologists, TV showrunners, & LGBTQ+ advocates, the documentary balances sharp critique with humor as a means of showing how thoughtful & realistic representation has the power to validate lives & transform the media landscape.

Sites: bulletproofdoc.ca

beecharmerproductions.com/2018/06/26/a-lesbians-guide-to-surviving-the-plot/

imdb.com/title/tt12325290/

FYI: In a 2025 interview with diva-magazine.com filmmaker Regan Latimer spoke about what message she hopes younger viewers take away from her documentary. “I’d like to sound very positive, but I think there is an element of the younger generation not having the understanding of the fight that got us here to give them the queer experience that they have currently. Unfortunately, the pendulum is on the backswing & they might have to find out what it’s like to have to do that fight.” *

It’s a Small Sapphic World: Trish Bendix has also appeared in the films Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution (2024) & Chasing Chasing Amy (2023).

Noelle Carbone was featured in TV’s Wynonna Earp (2016).

Keywords: documentary, Canadian, pop culture

* https://diva-magazine.com/2025/08/04/regan-latimer-scene/

Bulletproof: A Lesbian’s Guide to Surviving the Plot can be seen for free on CBC Gem Bulletproof: A Lesbian's Guide to Surviving the Plot | Movies | CBC Gem

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