A new queer animated feature, 'Jim Queen', is set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, offering a satirical take on a uniquely modern horror: a virus that turns gay men straight.
The film, directed by animation veterans Marco Nguyen and Nicolas Athané, will be presented as a midnight screening out of competition. It follows the story of Jim, the reigning king of the 'Gym Queens,' a community of Paris's most desirable social media fitness influencers. His world is turned upside down when he contracts 'Heterosis,' a mysterious virus that is rapidly converting the city's gay men into heterosexuals.
Stripped of his status and abandoned by his followers, Jim finds an unlikely ally in Lucien, a young and inexperienced twink. Together, the mismatched pair embarks on a quest through the streets of Paris's gay district, Le Marais, in search of a cure. Their goal is to find the enigmatic Dr. Ragoult, who claims to have developed an antidote that could save not only Jim, but the future of homosexuality itself.
Described as a journey through the entire spectrum of LGBTQ+ culture, the film uses humor and self-awareness to explore themes of community, identity, and self-determination. The directors, Nguyen and Athané, bring a wealth of experience from their work on acclaimed animated films such as Ernest & Celestine, The Rabbi’s Cat, and The Red Turtle. Jim Queen marks their feature-length directorial debut.
The voice cast includes Jérémy Gillet and Philippe Katerine, along with a notable appearance by French adult film actor François Sagat, lending a layer of insider authenticity to the project.
The production of Jim Queen was a lengthy process, partially supported by a crowdfunding campaign that helped it build a cult following even before its completion. Following its showcase at Cannes, the film is scheduled for a theatrical release in France in mid-June, coinciding with Pride Month. Its festival appearance is expected to attract international distributors, raising hopes that it may eventually be screened at festivals or on streaming platforms in the Netherlands.
