GAZE 2025 - A summer of queer cinema: "Whether you’re here for the politics, the pleasure or the pure cinematic brilliance, GAZE 2025 invites you to dive in" in

As Ireland marks 10 years of marriage equality, and Pride celebrations light up the island throughout June and July, GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival returns to keep queer culture centre stage all summer long. With an expanded seven-day run from July 29 to August 4 at the Light House Cinema and Irish Film Institute, the 33rd edition of GAZE promises its most ambitious programme yet.

This year’s line-up offers an exciting mix of global queer cinema, groundbreaking documentaries, riotous animation and bold storytelling. Among the early highlights is the Irish premiere of Strange Journey:

The Story Of Rocky Horror, a loving tribute to the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025. Directed by Linus O’Brien, son of Rocky Horror creator Richard O’Brien, the documentary dives deep into the misfit magic of the film’s legacy and the global queer community it built.

Documentary I’m Your Venus brings powerful emotional weight, revisiting the life and unsolved murder of Venus Xtravaganza, the iconic performer immortalised in Paris Is Burning. Directed by Kimberly Reed, the film unites Venus’ biological and ballroom families in an urgent call to justice, while celebrating her impact as a trans pioneer.

On the lighter side, the animated feature Lesbian Space Princess delivers cosmic chaos and camp comedy. Set in the glittering universe of Clitopolis, it follows a shy lesbian princess teaming up with a non-binary pop star to rescue her ex-girlfriend from the clutches of the Straight White Maliens. Directed by Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese, the film anchors a new strand of queer animation at the festival.

Lesbian Space Princess

Closing the festival on August 4 is Dreams In Nightmares, a genre-bending dramedy by Shatara Michelle Ford. This internationally co-produced feature follows three Black queer women on a wild, intimate and politically charged road trip across Trump’s divided America, blending humour with deep emotional truths and vibrant resistance.

Beyond these headline screenings, GAZE 2025 will feature over 100 films from around the world, including international features, shorts, premieres and hidden gems. The festival will also spotlight archival cinema, lesbian classics, Irish language queer films, HIV activism and fresh trans narratives. A new partnership with Bród na Gaeltachta, Ireland’s first rural Gaeltacht LGBTQIA+ community arts festival and Pride, based in Donegal, further strengthens GAZE’s connection to diverse Irish queer voices.

The festival launched its programme at the Irish Film Institute on June 24th, also celebrating the 10th anniversary of Ireland’s Marriage Referendum. With support from LGBT Ireland, this special evening included the launch 2025 festival programme and a beautiful selection of international short films, including Anna Rodgers’ moving short documentary that captures the emotion of that historic vote. Making History, originally created in collaboration with GAZE during the 2015 referendum is just three and a half minutes long, but manages to capture the joy, relief and raw emotion of that pivotal day in Irish queer history.

Other films shown on the night included Blood Like Water, a moving short about a Palestinian man who has to battle homophobia from society and his family while still trying to protect those he loves; While We Still Have Time is a funny and tender documentary about a woman connecting with her father, a gay who donated sperm to her lesbian mother and is now battling cancer; Hear Me Out, a lovely story of connection set at a Halloween party, about how to not ignore the friends and deep connections that are possible – even if someone pretty is in the corner; Time Capsule, a short, hilarious and intimate self-portrait; and of course, Making History, which had most people in the IFI in tears as we remembered the incredible day that Ireland voted “Yes” to equality and a better future.

Greg Thoprpe and Tom Creed also addressed the fact that funding and sponsorship to LGBTQ+ organisations is being cut globally, as corporations and business are withdrawing support from queer groups. This is the same for GAZE, which has no major corporate sponsor for the first time. If you would like to support the festival and great queer cinema, consider becoming a Festival Friend, where your donation is rewarded with free tickets, event passes and recognition throughout the festival. See here for details: https://www.gaze.ie/friend.html

So whether you’re here for the politics, the pleasure or the pure cinematic brilliance, GAZE 2025 invites you to dive in. Tickets are already on sale for select titles, and the full programme drops June 24 at the Irish Film Institute. Join us for a summer of celebration, resistance and queer brilliance.

• GAZE runs from July 29-August 4. gaze.ie