5 indie film festivals for LGBTQ+ filmmakers
One of the most established and passionate circuits in independent film.
BraveMaker Film Festival
Redwood City, California
Held every July in Redwood City, filmmaker and actor Tony Gapastione founded this festival in 2018. BraveMaker features documentaries, narratives, and shorts surrounding the topics of justice, diversity, and inclusion, including stories about women, people of color, LGBTQ+ communities, and people with disabilities. Every screening is followed by a sit-down panel discussion, which was built as a reaction to Sundance, where Q&As are rushed. His goal was to have audiences sit and actually process what they watched before engaging with the filmmakers responsible. Each year, the festival opens with a secret LGBTQ+ drag feature film. Submissions for this festival are closed since it just took place, but keep an eye out on The Circuit to submit for its 2027 edition.
Wyoming International Film Festival
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Now in its 12th year, the Wyoming International Film Festival actively programs LGBTQ+ programming alongside its broader lineup. The nonprofit festival has a 27% acceptance rate, making it one of the more accessible festivals on the circuit. The current 2026 edition includes Our Colors Never Fade, a documentary following LGBTQ+ Ukrainian soldiers as they battle the front lines, which was the winner of Best Film on War at the 2026 Cannes Film Awards. While this festival is currently taking place, you can submit for next year’s festival through The Circuit once the submission window opens.
Frameline Film Festival
San Francisco, California
Founded in 1977, Frameline is the oldest and largest LGBTQ+ film festival in the world. The 11-day festival is held at venues across San Francisco and Oakland, with closing night coinciding with San Francisco Pride. The festival welcomes over 60,000 attendees yearly and is BAFTA-qualifying. Films previously premiered on VOD, web, or broadcast are not eligible for programming.
NewFest - The New York LBGTQ+ Film Festival
New York City, New York
NewFest is the largest LGBTQ+ film festival in the United States. The 12-day festival is held each October across multiple NYC venues and screens about 150 films from over 30 countries annually. Recent premieres at this festival have included Academy Award-nominated films Rustin, Come See Me in the Good Light, and All the Beauty and the Bloodshed.
Seattle Queer & Trans Film Festival
Seattle, Washington
Produced by Three Dollar Bill Cinema, a nonprofit founded in 1996, the Seattle Queer & Trans Film Festival has been a staple of queer cinema in the Pacific Northwest. The festival screens 150 films from 27 countries yearly and awards prizes for Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Short Film, and Most Innovative Short Film. Three Dollar Bill Cinema also runs Reel Queer Youth, an educational program for queer youth ages 13-18.
LGBTQ+ filmmakers have been one of the most passionate and dedicated audiences on the circuit. Hiike Independent’s The Circuit is built to help you find the festivals that make the most sense for your film.
