The Florida Film Festival returns to the Enzian Theater in Maitland for its 32nd year April 14-23.
This year’s festival features more than 160 films — 24 of which are world premieres — representing 37 countries with nearly two dozen of them spotlighting the LGBTQ experience. The 10-day festival will include showings at the Enzian Theater, located at 1300 Orlando Ave. in Maitland, and at the Regal Winter Park Village, located at 510 N. Orlando Ave. in Winter Park.
The Florida Film Festival holds a distinct honor of being one of only a handful that are Academy Award-qualifying in all three Oscar shorts categories: Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film and Documentary Short Subject; meaning any short film that is in competition that falls into any of the three categories and wins a grand jury prize is automatically eligible to be nominated for an Oscar the following year.
Festival organizers also have several events happening during the week including live music, Sunday brunch, a happy hour, opening and closing night parties, a festival end awards bash and more.
We have highlighted the festival’s LGBTQ offerings with each film’s showtimes below. To see the festival’s full schedule, and for ticket and event information, visit FloridaFilmFestival.com.
“Bigger on the Inside”
Directed by Angelo Madsen Minax
U.S. | 2023 | 12 min.
Florida premiere
April 22, 9:15 p.m.
From an isolated wooded cabin, a trans man stargazes, Scruff chats with guys and watches YouTube tutorials.
“CANS: Can’t Stand”
Directed by Matt Nadel and Megan Plotka
U.S. | 2022 | 19 min.
Florida premiere
April 18, 4 p.m.; April 21, 4 p.m.
Black trans women in New Orleans fight to repeal Louisiana’s Crimes Against Nature by Solicitation (CANS) law which forces those convicted to register as sex offenders.
“Cousins”
Directed by Karina Dandashi
U.S. | 2023 | 13 min.
East Coast Premiere, 2nd U.S. Screening
April 15, 2 p.m.; April 18, 6:30 p.m.
Two cousins born in separate countries reunite in Brooklyn when a run-in with an ex turns the night into a mission of revenge.
In English and Arabic with English subtitles
“Day Jobs”
Directed by Stevie Wain and Auri Jackson
U.S. | 2022 | 30 min.
East Coast Premiere
April 15, 4:30 p.m.; April 19, 8:15 p.m.
After coming out as gay, a struggling comedian looks for a job as a nanny to pay rent to her overly understanding ex-boyfriend.
“Egghead & Twinkie”
Directed by Sarah Kambe Holland
U.S. | 2023 | 87 min.
East Coast Premiere
April 16, 7 p.m.; April 20, 9:15 p.m.
After coming out to her parents, 17-year-old Twinkie takes off on a road trip to meet her online crush with the help of her best friend, Egghead, who also happens to be in love with her.
“Evan Ever After”
Directed by: Ariel Mahler and Radha Mehta
U.S. | 2023 | 15 min.
World Premiere
April 17, 6:30 p.m.; April 22, 12:45 p.m.
This documentary short explores the journey of Florida’s first trans homecoming queen, Evan Bialosuknia.
“Greetings From Queertown: Orlando”
Directed by Jess Keller
U.S. | 2023 | 49 min.
World Premiere
April 17, 6:30 p.m.; April 22, 12:45 p.m.
This documentary traces the history of Central Florida’s LGBTQ community from the mid-1970s to today, highlighting the pioneers who fought for equality.
“How to Carry Water”
Directed by Sasha Wortzel
U.S. | 2023 | 15 min.
East Coast Premiere
April 22, 2:30 p.m.
This film looks at Shoog McDaniel, a plus size, queer and disabled photographer, who works in and around northern Florida’s vast network of freshwater springs.
“In the Flesh”
Directed by Daphne Gardner
U.S. | 2023 | 13 min.
Florida Premiere
April 15, 11:59 p.m.; April 22, 11:59 p.m.
Tracey, who is addicted to masturbating with her bathtub faucet, descends into her basement when the pipes start shooting out dirty water and she starts leaking black goo.
“It’s Only Life After All”
Directed by Alexandria Bombach
U.S. | 2022 | 94 min.
Florida Premiere
April 16, 12 p.m.
This feature documentary blends 40 years of home movies, raw film archive and an intimate present-day reflection from the iconic folk-rock duo the Indigo Girls.
“Jelly Bean”
Directed by Nessa Norich
U.S. | 2022 | 14 min.
Southeast Premiere
April 16, 1:15 p.m.; April 20, 6:30 p.m.
Rezyl is a queer woman seeking romance on dating apps. Lacking any strategy to vet a perfect match, she decides to date whomever the algorithms choose.
“Joyland”
Directed by Saim Sadiq
Pakistan | 2022 | 126 min.
April 19, 3:15 p.m.; April 21, 7 p.m.
Haider lands employment in a Bollywood-style burlesque where he secretly starts working as a backup dancer to Biba, the transgender lead dancer, who challenges Haider’s perceptions about himself and his life.
In Punjabi and Urdu with English subtitles.
“Kokomo City”
Directed by D. Smith
U.S. | 2023 | 73 min.
April 17, 9 p.m.
This film presents the stories of Black transgender sex workers in New York, Georgia and South Florida.
“Krush the Wrestler”
Directed by Alex Megaro
U.S. | 2023 | 14 min.
Florida Premiere
April 17, 6:15 p.m.
Exploring the innate intimacy of submission wrestling, a lifelong wrestler turns his talents into an on-demand fetish video service.
“Lollygag”
Directed by Tij D’oyen
U.S. | 2022 | 10 min.
Southeast Premiere
April 16, 3:45 p.m.; April 20, 9 p.m.
A young woman watches, with a complicated sort of envy, as the sexy bisexual boy next door lounges by his pool, taking lover after lover.
In Greek with English subtitles.
“Minnesota Mean”
Directed by Dawn Mikkelson
U.S. | 2023 | 81 min.
East Coast Premiere, 2nd U.S. Screening
April 17, 6:15 p.m.; April 20, 8:30 p.m.
The Minnesota Roller Girls defy gender stereotypes and advocate for body positivity.
“Our Males and Females”
Directed by Ahmad Alyaseer
Jordan | 2023 | 11 min.
East Coast Premiere
April 22, 2 p.m.; April 23, 6 p.m.
A father and mother face a painful reality when their community refuses to wash and shroud their deceased transgender daughter.
In Arabic with English subtitles.
“Unicorn Boy”
Directed by Matt Kiel
U.S. | 2023 | 91 min.
East Coast Premiere
April 16, 9:15 p.m.; April 20, 3:45 p.m.
This pastel-drenched coming-of-age animated feature explores the complexity of first heartbreak and gender identity.
“Will You Look At Me”
Directed by Shuli Huang
China/Italy | 2022 | 20 min.
Florida Premiere
April 22, 11:30 a.m.; April 23, 3 p.m.
A gay filmmaker returns to his hometown for a long overdue conversation with his unaccepting mother.
In Mandarin with English subtitles.
