Top 10 LGBTQ+ Film Recommendations for Pride Month
Written by Amber O’Toole and Hanna Kanbar Slidders for the Woodstock Film Festival
Witness LGBTQ+ history this June and enjoy curated features and short films from WFF that amplify what it means to be truly and unapologetically yourself.
Feature Films
BARBARA FOREVER – Directed by Brydie O’Connor
BARBARA FOREVER takes an enthralling tour through the work and legacy of iconic, pioneering Lesbian filmmaker, Barbara Hammer. When Hammer passed away in 2019, she left behind a massive cultural stamp both on filmmaking and LGBTQ+ communities. The feature documentary looks at decades of Hammer’s art, from her beginnings in 1970s San Francisco to her cancer diagnosis in the 2000s, and her lasting artistic impact.
COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT – Directed by Ryan White
COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT offers a tender and intimate portrait of poet and LGBTQ+ activist Andrea Gibson and their wife Megan Falley as they revisit the past and navigate Gibson’s terminal illness. Covering Gibson’s life from adolescence, COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT is an achingly radiant story of personal discovery and acceptance in the wake of hardship and oppression. COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT was part of the 2025 WFF lineup and is currently streaming on Apple TV.
PETER HUJAR’S DAY – Directed by Ira Sachs
PETER HUJAR’S DAY stars Ben Whishaw as groundbreaking photographer and gay liberation activist Peter Hujar over the course of one day in 1974. Based on unused interview transcripts between Hujar and nonfiction writer Linda Rosenkrantz (Rebecca Hall) wherein Hujar describes the previous day in aching detail, PETER HUJAR’S DAY offers a deeper exploration into the art and mind of its subject. Ira Sachs utilizes the transcripts to revisit a specific moment in New York City’s queer history; the resulting film is a hypnotic and surprising reminder of the power of art and the lasting power of Peter Hujar’s life and work. PETER HUJAR’S DAY was part of the 2025 WFF lineup and is currently available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
FAIRYLAND – Directed by Andrew Durham
Based on Alysia Abbott’s memoir of the same name, FAIRYLAND tells the story of Abbott and her father moving to San Francisco in 1973 after the sudden death of Abbott’s mother gives way for her gay father to live openly. A tender look at an unexpected father-daughter relationship and an examination of the AIDS epidemic, FAIRYLAND is a unique portrait of an American family. FAIRYLAND was a part of the WFF 2023 lineup and is currently available to rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
SUMMER SOLSTICE – Directed by Noah Schamus
SUMMER SOLSTICE follows the reunion of two college friends over a weekend trip Upstate. The reunion between Eleanor (Marriane Rendón) and Leo (Bobbi Salvör Menuez) is the pair's first meeting after Leo’s gender transition. As the two reconnect, they revisit their shared pasts and the future of their friendship as personal growths affect their dynamic. SUMMER SOLSTICE was a part of the WFF 2023 lineup and is currently available to rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
NUCLEAR FAMILY – Directed by Ry Russo Young
Based on the director’s own life experiences, NUCLEAR FAMILY tells the story of two children, Ry and Cade, each conceived through a different sperm donor and raised by their two mothers. One day, one of the donors sues the mothers for paternity and visitation rights. Utilizing childhood footage and extensive interviews, the film explores the long and complex history of same-sex parents in the United States and the hardships forced upon them. NUCLEAR FAMILY was a part of the WFF 2021 lineup and is currently available to stream as a 3-part miniseries on HBO Max.
Short Films
ORIGINAL SIN – Directed by Amrou Al-Kadhi
ORIGINAL SIN is an eerie depiction of a Muslim mother arguing with her drag queen son. Shot on 35mm film, ORIGINAL SIN is a haunting and formative look at being stuck in the trap of generational trauma, and the risks of trying to break it. ORIGINAL SIN was a part of the WFF 2025 lineup and is available to watch on YouTube.
F^¢K '€M R!GHT B@¢K – Directed by Harris Doran
F^¢K ‘€M R!GHT B@¢K follows Sammy, a young Black gay man who works for the Public Utility, as he tries to make a name for himself as a musician and rapper. When he accidentally takes an edible, Sammy tries everything to flush his system before work where he knows a ‘random’ drug-test is waiting for him. With irresistible charm and style, F^¢K ‘€M R!GHT B@¢K uses lightheartedness to expose the darkness of systemic oppression and life as a minority in America. F^¢K ‘€M R!GHT B@¢K was a part of the WFF 2022 lineup and is currently streaming on Vimeo and Showtime.
SEAT 31: ZOOEY ZEPHYR – Directed by Kimberly Reed
SEAT 31: ZOOEY ZEPHYR is a documentary that follows Montana state representative Zooey Zephyr as she fights for trans-rights and access for trans medical care. The documentary shows the resilience and strength of the trans community as Zephyr becomes the voice for trans activism. After being kicked out by her colleagues from the Montana House of Representatives, she pushes forward, continuing her efforts with a makeshift office next to the snack bar. SEAT 31: ZOOEY ZEPHYR was a part of the WFF 2024 lineup and is currently available to watch on YouTube.
TWO BLACK BOYS IN PARADISE – Directed by Baz Sells
Through striking animated visuals, TWO BLACK BOYS IN PARADISE tackles the internal and external struggles with self acceptance in the queer community. Two young Black men, Edan and Dula, navigate their identities together, providing a heartfelt personal story. Tied with brilliant stop motion animation from One6th, experience the exploration of discovering love in vulnerability. TWO BLACK BOYS IN PARADISE won the award for Best Animated Short at WFF 2025.
For Pride Month, the Woodstock Film Festival and Queerly, Inc. will be hosting a special screening of Brydie O’Connor’s BARBARA FOREVER and THE FAULT LINE at TInker Street Cinema on Saturday, June 20 at 7 PM, followed by a Q&A with Hammer’s protégé Joey Carducci and film composer Taul Katz. Get tickets here!