AMSTERDAM – The Eye Filmmuseum has announced a major summer film program, "Queer Power," scheduled to run from June 26 to September 2, 2026. The extensive series is timed to coincide with World Pride, which will be hosted in Amsterdam that same year.
The program aims to celebrate freedom, diversity, and inclusivity by showcasing queer stories from around the globe. In its announcement, the museum noted the importance of such programming at a time when LGBTQ+ rights are under pressure in various parts of the world. "Queer Power is a statement of support," the museum stated, adding that "watching films together connects and allows you to see the world through different eyes."
The selection features more than 30 titles, spanning a wide range of genres, from comedy and drama to experimental and underground films. The program emphasizes what the museum calls "queer pleasure, queer love, queer humor, and the power of uncensored self-expression."
A Journey Through Queer Cinema History
The lineup offers a broad look at the history of queer film, featuring classics alongside contemporary works. The selection includes:
- Mädchen in Uniform (1931), a landmark film from Germany's Weimar Republic.
- Funeral Parade of Roses (1969), a Japanese New Wave classic.
- John Waters' notorious underground film Pink Flamingos (1972).
- Rainer Werner Fassbinder's final film, Querelle (1982).
- Donna Deitch's influential lesbian romance, Desert Hearts (1985).
- Wong Kar Wai's celebrated drama Happy Together (1997).
The program also looks to the future of queer cinema, featuring upcoming releases like Rains over Babel (2025) and Bouchra (2025).
Spotlight on "Previously Unreleased" Films
A key component of "Queer Power" is the inclusion of films from Eye's annual "Previously Unreleased" series, which brings notable festival films to the Netherlands that did not receive a general theatrical run. This year, four titles from the series are part of the queer-focused program.
Among them is a restored version of Cheryl Dunye’s The Watermelon Woman (1996). The film, a cornerstone of the New Queer Cinema movement, was the first feature film directed by a Black lesbian and explores themes of race, history, and identity within the queer community.
The full program and ticket information will be made available closer to the event date on the Eye Filmmuseum website.
