The winter chill is here, but that's the perfect excuse to curl up with some of the most anticipated independent films of the year. The legendary Sundance Film Festival, a historic launchpad for groundbreaking queer cinema, is once again offering an online program. This means you can skip the flight to snowy Utah and stream a curated selection of incredible LGBTQ+ stories right here in the Netherlands from Thursday, January 29, to Sunday, February 1.
While some major titles are exclusive to in-person attendees, the digital lineup is packed with gems. From documentaries about queer pioneers to intimate dramas and experimental shorts, there's something for every taste. Here are nine films you should add to your watchlist.
Documentaries: Our Stories, Our History
Jaripeo
Forget what you think you know about rodeo culture. This stunning documentary delves into the hyper-masculine world of the Mexican rodeo in Michoacán, uncovering a surprisingly homoerotic undercurrent. Through a blend of Super8 and verité footage, directors Efraín Mojica and Rebecca Zweig explore the queer desire and expression that thrives in the margins of performative machismo. It's a visually poetic look at a world rarely seen on screen.
Barbara Forever
Get to know a legend. This documentary celebrates the life and work of pioneering lesbian experimental filmmaker Barbara Hammer. Narrated in Hammer's own voice, the film is a vital portrait of an artist whose queer-centric work spanned five decades and changed the landscape of cinema. It's an essential piece of our community's artistic history.
Public Access
Long before we had TikTok, Grindr, or even community sites like this one, there was public access television. This fascinating film explores how New York City's Manhattan Cable Television became an uncensored platform for queer and underground subcultures, bringing them directly into people's living rooms. It's a brilliant look at the pre-internet roots of our digital communities and the battles fought for free expression.
Narrative Features: Love, Identity, and Awakenings
Big Girls Don’t Cry
Set in the summer of 2006, this New Zealand coming-of-age story follows a 14-year-old girl as she navigates her burgeoning sexuality. For fans of introspective and tender queer awakenings like Water Lilies or Princess Cyd, this debut feature from director Paloma Schneideman is a must-see. As a bonus, it was developed as part of a film intensive led by none other than The Power of the Dog director Jane Campion.
The Incomer
A charming and quirky story from the isolated Scottish isles. Two siblings, Isla and Sandy, have grown up with only each other and local myths for company. Their world is turned upside down when a government official arrives to relocate them to the mainland. The film is listed in Sundance's LGBTQ+ category, and the connection between the shy Sandy and the awkward official, Daniel, promises a sweet, budding romance.
zi
From Kogonada, the celebrated director of Columbus and After Yang, comes a low-key sci-fi tale set in Hong Kong. A young woman begins experiencing unsettling encounters with her future self. Known for his achingly beautiful and existential style, Kogonada's latest film is rumored to be a gripping exploration of identity, with many hoping for a unique take on lesbian yearning and self-discovery.
Short Films: Powerful Stories in Small Packages
Callback
Anyone who has ever dated an actor or artist will feel this one. Director Matthew Puccini, known for his lyrical shorts about seminal gay experiences, returns with a story about the chaos that ensues when a young man's partner books a major callback. It’s a sharp, relatable look at love, jealousy, and creative ambition.
Gender Studies
This short tackles the complex feeling of gender envy with style and wit. When a trans college student learns that the girl he idolizes is sleeping with their teaching assistant, he decides to emulate the TA in the most dramatic way possible. Expect a highly stylized mix of melodrama and comedy that explores the question: do I want to be them, or be with them?
TheyDream
Using a unique blend of motion capture technology and miniatures, director William D. Caballero turns his own family's home videos into a work of art. This animated film is a vulnerable and bittersweet portrait of his Puerto Rican family's intergenerational dynamics, championing stories about "LGBT geeks" and empowering them to tell their own stories.
You can find more information on the films and purchase online passes directly from the official Sundance Film Festival website. Happy viewing!
