Hidden Gems at MGFF24

With 161 films and events spread across 77 unique programs, there is a lot to see at MGFF24. And we know that when there is so much of a good thing, it is hard to know where to start!

Don’t worry, we’ve got you sorted. Lisa Rose is not only the Festival Director but a queer film extraordinaire and she’s put together a list of the hidden gems at MGFF24.

Get your tickets quick! Oh and don’t forget you can see more for less with a Flexi Pass.

Along Came Love

Wed, Feb 21, 6:20pm
Event Cinemas, George St

Single mother Madeleine and writer Francois are both hiding secrets when they meet and fall in love. It’s only after they marry that Madeleine learns of Francois’ hidden desires. In homophobic post-WW2 France, their unconventional love that defies social norms becomes a beacon of hope.

Silver Haze

Mon, Feb 19, 7:00pm
Event Cinemas, George St

In Silver Haze, Franky falls in love with Florence, a patient at the hospital where she works. After being scarred in a fire as a child, Franky’s yearning for revenge begins to give way to a life seeking something more. Together, can they undo the systems that have failed them and finally heal?

Summer Qamp

Sat, Feb 24, 4:30pm
Dendy Cinemas, Newtown

At a time when LGBTIQ+ youths’ mere existence is under public debate, Summer Qamp offers an increasingly unrepresented voice a crucial spotlight, in this joyous and affirming documentary about the goings on of a queer youth summer camp.

Solo

Mon, Feb 19, 8:30pm
Event Cinemas, George St

Simon, a fierce drag performer taking Montreal by storm, starts a relationship with the electric but possibly manipulative Olivier (Felix Maritaud, Sauvage). While also attempting to reconnect with his absent mother, will he find the love and validation he has been yearning for?

Kokomo City

Sun, Feb 25, 4:00pm
Dendy Cinemas, Newtown
and
Thu, Apr 4, 6:30pm
National Film and Sound Archive Canberra

Trans director D. Smith’s Sundance-winning doco Kokomo City is frank, fearless and funny exploration of the lives and experiences of four Black trans sex workers in New York and Atlanta. An unforgettable portrait of the modern Black, trans experience in all its complexity.

I Am What I Am

Sun, Feb 25, 6:30pm
Event Cinemas, George St
and
On Demand Australia-wide

I Am What I Am poignantly explores identity and conformity in modern Japan. This captivating anti-rom-com follows Kasumi, a young asexual woman on her quest for self- discovery, a journey that sees her trying to balance society’s expectations and her desire to live authentically.

Girls Don’t Cry

Tue, Feb 20, 7:00pm
Dendy Cinemas Newtown
and
On Demand Australia-wide

Equal parts gritty and sweet, Girls Don’t Cry is a sensitive, delicate film about Mia and Ele’s whirlwind journey through the Italian countryside – one fleeing home, the other desperate to return to her’s in Romania. As they navigate the world, the pair retreat into the safety of each other’s arms.

All the Silence

Sat, Feb 17, 7:30pm
Event Cinemas, George St
and
On Demand Australia-wide

Miriam has two passions: teaching sign language and acting. As a CODA (a Child of d/Deaf Adult) who lives with her deaf girlfriend, her hearing is central to her entire outlook on life. When she starts to lose her hearing, she’s forced to confront her own identity and relationships with those she loves.

Opponent

Mon, Feb 26, 8:30pm
Event Cinemas, George St

This riveting character study is the story of Iman, a conflicted former wrestler seeking refugee status in Sweden. After joining a local wrestling club and befriending a handsome younger teammate, Iman is torn between his long-hidden desires and a constricting sense of duty to his young family.

The Lost Boys

Tue, Feb 20, 6:20pm
Event Cinemas, George St
and
Thu, Feb 22, 6:45pm
Ritz Cinemas, Randwick

A passionate romance blossoms between two teenage boys behind the walls of a juvenile detention facility, where physical contact is forbidden. Khalil Gharbia and Julien de Saint Jean (Lie with Me) are electric as two boys finding each other in this emotionally-charged tale of freedom and desire.