The Queer Lion, the official award for the best LGBTQ+ themed film at the Venice International Film Festival, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Established by Daniel Casagrande, the award has become a significant marker of queer visibility at one of the world's most important film events, often helping nominated films secure international distribution and a wider audience.
This year, twelve films from around the globe are in the running for the coveted prize. The selection reflects a broad spectrum of queer experiences, from historical drama and coming-of-age stories to contemporary tales of love, family, and identity.
The 2026 Queer Lion Contenders
The lineup features a compelling mix of narratives from established and emerging filmmakers. The films in competition are:
- Queer Edward II. (UK, Dir: Theo Rollason)
- The Foundations of Philosophy (USA, Dir: Paul Schrader)
- The City of the Living (Italy, Dir: Edoardo Gabbriellini)
- Big Little Things (Hong Kong/USA, Dir: Michelle Zhou)
- Lovers in the Blue Night (India/USA, Dir: Anuparna Roy)
- The Color of the Sun (Canada/Italy/Japan, Dir: Xavier Tera)
- Tijuana, Still (Mexico, Dir: Gabriel Gutierrez Morales)
- I Plant My Hand in the Garden (Germany/Serbia/USA, Dir: Boris Hadžija & Hoda Taheri)
- Beauty Salon (Mexico/France, Dir: Nathalia Acevedo)
- Camouflage (Germany, Dir: Mykyta Gibalenko)
- Men's Skin (France, Dir: Léa Domenach)
- London (Brazil, Dir: Victor Di Marco & Márcio Picoli)
A Closer Look at the Diverse Stories
The variety of themes this year is particularly noteworthy. The French film Men's Skin (Männerhaut) is a musical comedy about a princess who, forced into an unwanted marriage, discovers a magical skin that allows her to assume the form of a man, challenging gender roles and exploring freedom.
From Brazil, London tells the story of a young man with a disability who works as a Master in a fetish club. The film explores his journey of self-understanding as he considers a diagnosis that could explain his body, while fearing being reduced to a label.
The German/Serbian/US co-production I Plant My Hand in the Garden delves into the concept of chosen family. It follows Hoda, a pregnant Iranian refugee, and Boris, a gay Serbian man, who decide to marry in Berlin to raise a child together, examining modern love, masculinity, and fatherhood.
Meanwhile, legendary director Paul Schrader's The Foundations of Philosophy tackles themes of guilt, desire, and obsession when a professor's repressed life is upended by the return of someone from his past.
Beyond the Main Competition
The festival's queer offerings aren't limited to the main competition. The 'Out of Competition' section includes several features and shorts. A notable entry is Luca Guadagnino's (Call Me By Your Name) extensive 435-minute documentary Joy of Life, a tribute to the cinematic legacy of Bernardo Bertolucci.
The program also features a restored version of the 1970 Czechoslovakian surrealist classic, Valerie and Her Week of Wonders, a film exploring a young girl's surreal journey of self-discovery and sexual awakening.
The 20th edition of the Queer Lion demonstrates the continued growth and diversity of LGBTQ+ storytelling in global cinema. The award remains a key platform for bringing these essential narratives to a wider audience.
