2026 Vancouver Queer Film Festival (VQFF)

When & Where In-person September 10-20, 2026 and online September 21-27, 2026 | Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas and other various venues.

Reviewer Darren Cordeiro

Film image credits Vancouver Queer Film Festival/ Out On Screen | Left sidebar image Odera Ikbowe and Tolu Ayoka

Programme and tickets are available at https://outonscreen.com/vqff/programme

The Vancouver Queer Film Festival 2026 (VQFF) is just around the corner showcasing this year’s theme “A Seat at the Table” that imagines queer existence as a place of abundance, belonging, and possibility.

This year’s programme marks 87 films, inviting audiences into stories of intergenerational and intercultural connection, indigenous sovereignty, self-realization and queer becoming, queer worlds and futures, communities beyond colonialism and the possibility of building ecosystems rather than empires.

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When & Where September 12 | Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas

Director Gail Maurice | Country Canada, 2025 | Runtime 89 min

This Canadian drama unfolds within a Métis reserve in Ontario, where a young lesbian lives in the comfort of her tightly knit community, surrounded by family and friends. The story takes shape when her mother returns after abandoning her at the age of six. At the same time, she meets a city girl who has come to stay on the reserve in hopes of finding her own birth mother after being given up for adoption at birth. Their stories intertwine through the roots of their pasts as they navigate the circumstances of the present and look toward a brighter future, one that may not seem equally welcoming to everyone.

The cinematography is beautifully shot, capturing the natural beauty of Canada’s landscapes through its wildlife, blazing sun, and old-growth trees. This beauty carries throughout the film and is thoughtfully woven into the cultural and traditional events portrayed on screen within the reserve.

The performances from the entire cast are strong, with heavier dramatic scenes balanced by moments of comedic relief and the romance of a budding relationship.

The film explores themes of the power of family and community, the consequences of withholding secrets, and, ultimately, forgiveness.

This is definitely a film worth watching. Beyond exploring these universal themes, it also offers viewers a broader understanding of Métis culture, something the director identified as a core objective in the preface presented before the film began.

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When & Where September 12 | Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas

Director Sam McConnell | Country USA, 2026 | Runtime 108 min

Eddie, a young and struggling bodybuilder, is fighting tooth and nail to claw his way toward a first-place trophy on the competition stage. His struggle, however, extends far beyond the gym and is woven through every aspect of his life, particularly his relationships with his mother, coach, and ex-girlfriend.

It quickly becomes clear that many of the people who should be his rocks and provide him with support are instead using him to fulfill their own emotional needs. His mother has centred her entire life around him since his father abandoned them, while his coach views Eddie as a replacement for his own estranged son. As he is manipulated from every angle, Eddie’s despair becomes increasingly overwhelming. He continues reaching for that trophy even as everything else around him begins to fall apart.

The cinematography complements the story well, with much of the film unfolding in dimly lit settings. Close-up shots of Eddie’s physique and the drug injections he uses to bulk up reinforce the lengths he is willing to go to achieve the image of the perfect Adonis for the competition stage. The acting is equally effective, with raw and emotional performances that draw on the audience’s empathy, at times making the film genuinely difficult to watch.he film began.

When & Where September 13 | Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas

Director Sandulela Asanda | Country South Africa, 2025 | Runtime 95 min

Reviewer Darren Cordeiro

Set in a South African private school for girls, this coming-of-age story follows Luthando as she begins to discover who she truly is during the formative years of adolescence. More than simply a shy, overachieving student, she is a young woman beginning to explore her identity and confront her feelings about her own sexuality, particularly as she finds herself drawn to Ayanda, the new girl at school.

While Ayanda quickly finds her place among the school’s popular crowd, Luthando struggles to navigate this unfamiliar social world without losing sight of herself. With her mother and teachers encouraging her to keep her head down, focus on her studies, and avoid standing out, she is faced with a choice: follow the safe path that has been laid out for her or venture into the unknown and embrace her authentic self, regardless of the consequences.

After watching a few heavier and more emotionally raw films during the opening weekend of the Vancouver Queer Film Festival, this light-hearted comedy was the perfect way to end the weekend before heading back into the work week. With echoes of quirky high-school films like Mean Girls, Clueless and But I’m a Cheerleader, it is an easy and entertaining watch without sacrificing substance. Beneath its humour and high-school antics are thoughtful themes of individuality, belonging, self-discovery, and ultimately, self-acceptance.

If you enjoy coming-of-age stories that balance humour and heart while still having something meaningful to say, this one is well worth seeing. It offers a refreshing reminder that discovering who you are can be awkward, uncertain, and sometimes uncomfortable, but there is also joy in finding the confidence to step outside the expectations of others and choose your own path.

Gays Against Guns

When & Where September 20 | Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas

Director Paul Rowley | Country Ireland, United States, 2026 | Runtime 86 min

Reviewer Darren Cordeiro

This documentary chronicles the ongoing epidemic of gun violence in the United States, with a particular focus on how the LGBTQ2S+ community fits within this deeply divisive issue. Director and narrator Paul Rowley reflects on growing up in Ireland at a time when being gay was illegal, an experience that became the catalyst for his life-changing decision to move to the United States at 18 in search of what he saw as the “land of the free.”

Living in New York, Rowley bears witness to the devastating reach of gun violence across communities, while the film explores its disproportionate impact on marginalized groups. From fatal encounters involving law enforcement and Black Americans to the tenth anniversary of the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando, where 49 people were killed, the documentary examines the human toll behind the statistics. At its centre is Gays Against Guns, an activist group formed in the aftermath of Pulse that uses protest and direct action to draw attention to gun violence and challenge the influence of the gun lobby and organizations such as the NRA.

The documentary is particularly effective visually, moving between intimate close-up interviews with victims’ families, sweeping shots of large demonstrations and protests, and difficult-to-watch archival footage of gun violence and its aftermath. This variety keeps the film engaging and fast-paced despite the sombre and often emotionally challenging subject matter.

While I went into the film thinking I already knew a great deal about the struggle with gun violence in the United States, I came away with a deeper understanding of its human impact and the determination of those pushing for change. More importantly, the documentary left me reflecting on the role that activism and collective action can play when people refuse to accept the status quo.

It is not always an easy film to watch, nor should it be. But its ability to combine deeply personal stories with a broader examination of activism and gun violence makes it both thought-provoking and impactful. For anyone interested in understanding this issue through the experiences of those directly affected by it, Gays Against Guns is a documentary I would definitely recommend seeing.