The Icelandic Queer Film Festival is back after 30 years – and it’s louder, bolder, and more needed than ever.
„Why hasn’t Iceland had a big queer film festival in over 30 years?” Óli Hjörtur Ólafsson asked himself back in 2020. It was a simple but powerful question – one that has now led to the Icelandic Queer Film Festival, set to take place at Bíó Paradís, where Óli is now the manager director, in Reykjavík from September 4th to 7th, 2025.
The festival’s first edition will feature 10 feature films and a rich selection of short films from around the world, with stories that span continents, cultures, identities, and generations. It’s a vibrant celebration of LGBTQIA+ cinema – from raw coming-of-age stories to powerful documentaries, playful comedies, and deeply moving dramas.
These films aren’t just entertainment, they’re testimony. They’re resistant. They’re love on screen.
Óli, a queer cinephile and the festival’s director, began dreaming about the project while working with the Stockfish Film Festival just before the Covid pandemic. “I remember hearing there had been a queer film festival 30 years ago, but I didn’t go. I was 17 and not out yet. Back then, visibility was so limited, especially when it came to cinema. Now there are so many queer stories, but a lot of them still fly under the radar,” he explains.
When Óli started working at Bíó Paradís in 2022 things began to fall into place. “I thought, ‘Now I can actually make this happen.’ I applied for grants, talked to people, and everyone was incredibly supportive. Honestly, I was flabbergasted by how open and welcoming people were.”
From Ballroom to Brokeback
Óli personally selected each film in the lineup. “I wanted strong storytelling and quality filmmaking that really represents queer lives – not just another version of the same tired tropes,” he says. “So many queer films focus on gay hustlers falling in love with clients. I wanted something fresh.”
The result is an eclectic and moving program. Highlights include:
● Sauna (Denmark) – Johan, a young gay man in Copenhagen, falls in love with William, a trans man. Their relationship challenges expectations around gender and intimacy. (Dir. Mathias Broe)
● Fucking Åmål (Sweden) – A cult classic in Iceland. Elin is popular but bored; Agnes is lonely and secretly in love with her. A raw and tender teen love story. (Dir. Lukas Moodysson)
● Salão De Baile (Brazil) – Queer people of color in Rio reclaim ballroom culture in this visually stunning documentary. (Dirs. Juru & Vitã)
● Four Mothers (Ireland) – The opening film of Icelandic Queer Film Festival. A struggling Irish author takes on three elderly women and his own mom while his friends escape for Pride in Gran Canaria. Funny, heartfelt and wise. (Dir. Darren Thornton – Audience Award, London Film Festival 2024)
● All Shall Be Well (Hong Kong) – After her partner of 40 years dies, Angie finds herself without rights or recognition. A quiet, powerful portrait of loss and resilience. (Dir. Ray Yeung)
● Heightened Scrutiny (USA) – A gripping doc following civil rights lawyer Chase Strangio as he fights anti-trans legislation in the U.S. (Dir. Sam Feder)
● A House Is Not A Disco (USA) – Fire Island Pines, a legendary queer coastal town,located an hour from New York City, is now at a crossroads as a new generation reimagines it for a new era of inclusion. Funny, sexy and a beautiful documentary (Dir Brian J,Smith)
● Big Boys (USA) – Jamie is a shy 14-year-old boy who is looking forward to going camping with his favorite cousin. But he is taken aback when he finds out that her new boyfriend is coming along. (Dir. Corey Sherman)
● Asog (Philippines) – A powerful and unique film that blurs the lines between documentary and fiction. We follow REY on their journey to compete in a drag competition. They travel through the Philippines in the aftermath and shadow of Typhoon Yolanda. (Dir. Sean Devlin)
● If I Die, It´ll Be Out Of Joy (France) – In a world where the contributions of older people are often overlooked, Micheline, Francis and Yves lead a group of senior activists in revolutionizing the living environment for seniors. Together, they challenge stereotypes, prejudices and redefine ideas about sex, love and what it means to grow older. (Dir. Alexis Tailant)
● Lesbian Space Princess (Australia) – Queer space princess Saira embarks on a rescue mission in an attempt to save her ex-girlfriend with the help of a sexy pop star and a badass boomer spaceship. A hilarious cartoon. (Dir. Emma Hough Hobbs, Leela Varghees) – Information about screening times coming soon.
The festival will also screen the legendary Paris Is Burning, celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. “That film had such a huge impact on me,” Óli says. “I didn’t know much about the ballroom scene when I first saw it. It opened my eyes to a world I didn’t know existed. I can watch it again and again.”
Getting the rights to show the film was a personal milestone. “I contacted the production company and they gave me Jennie Livingston’s email. I wrote to her directly: ‘Hi, I’m Óli from Iceland and we’d love to screen your film.’ It was surreal, having direct contact with a legendary director of a film that shaped me.”
A Festival for Everyone
While the festival centers queer voices, Óli emphasizes that it’s open to all. “We want allies to come too – to experience, learn, and understand. Storytelling is a powerful way to build empathy.”
Óli’s team includes Sigríður Ásgeirsdóttir, Charlotta Rós, and Hróbjartur Böðvarsson. “Right now, I’m the only queer person on the team, but that will change,” he says. “This space is for us, by us.”
And where better to host it than Bíó Paradís? “I wouldn’t want it anywhere else. They’ve supported us 110%. It’s a place where no one is judged and everyone is welcome.”
More Than a Festival – A Cultural Reset
For Óli, this is more than a personal project. It’s a political and cultural act. “These films aren’t just entertainment, they’re testimony. They’re resistant. They’re love on screen.”
I wanted strong storytelling and quality filmmaking that really represents queer lives – not just another version of the same tired tropes. I wanted something fresh.
He adds, smiling: “I drew a tarot card to ask how the festival will go. I pulled the Ten of Cups. So… I’m taking that as a really good sign.”
The Icelandic Queer Film Festival runs from September 4–7, 2025, at Bíó Paradís.
Screenings cost 2.190 kr. (ISK) but on tix.is you can buy 5 tickets for 7.500 kr. or 3 tickets for 5.000 kr.
There will be a special LGBTQ teenage program which will be free of charge. Information about those screenings will be available a few days before the festival.
Ticket sales: https://tix.is/category/festival/icelandic-queer-film-festival
Email the festival: info@iqfilmfestival.is
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Follow on Instagram: @queerfilmfestival_iceland