Lights, Camera, Pride: Your Guide to Cinema Diverse

Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Film Festival

Sept. 19 – 22 & Sept. 26 – 29

Cinema Diverse is an annual celebration of diverse and inclusive cinema that highlights the experiences, voices, and stories of the LGBTQ+ community. The film festival, held each September, is a vital cultural event in Palm Springs, known for its rich history of LGBTQ+ activism, entertainment, and support. Since its inception in 2008, Cinema Diverse has grown into one of the most anticipated LGBTQ+ film festivals in the U.S., drawing filmmakers, actors, and audiences from across the globe.

Festival Overview

Cinema Diverse is produced by the Palm Springs Cultural Center nonprofit organization, which focuses on creating cultural programming to enrich the community. The festival showcases a wide range of feature films, documentaries, and short films that explore LGBTQ+ themes in a variety of genres. The lineup includes narrative and experimental films, offering emerging and established filmmakers a platform.

The festival spans two weekends, allowing attendees to enjoy the screenings and panel discussions, filmmaker Q&A sessions, workshops, and social events. These additional elements foster a sense of community, inviting festival-goers to engage with the creative forces behind the films and to explore issues pertinent to the LGBTQ+ experience.

Festival Highlights

Film Screenings

The heart of Cinema Diverse lies in its diverse film lineup. The festival curates films that span genres from drama, romance, and comedy to experimental, horror, and fantasy. A key focus is on films that authentically represent the myriad identities within the LGBTQ+ spectrum, including stories about transgender individuals, non-binary characters, and queer people of color. Films often tackle important issues such as coming out, family acceptance, discrimination, relationships, and the search for identity.

Some notable films include:

The Last Taboo is a documentary exploring the rarely discussed topic of homosexuality in professional men’s football, delving into the experiences of the few players who have publicly come out and the inner conflicts they face between self-denial and liberation.

What A Feeling is a heartfelt, clever (and hot!) romantic comedy about two middle-aged women who refuse to be pushed to the sideline of life.

WORLD PREMIERE! BIG RAGE is a gay noir action thriller that blends the gritty atmosphere of CHINATOWN with the tense intrigue of THE BIG SLEEP.

Speaking Out – Three gay men, Jose, Charlie, and Rigg, plagued by the trauma of their own, undergo an emotional journey toward healing to become resilient, overcome their past, and finally speak out.

WORLD PREMIERE! The Bearded Mermaid – Drag queens of The Bearded Mermaid cabaret put on a spectacular show, with singing, circus, and dancing, something never seen before in the small town of Dieppe in France.

Schedule At A Glance

Documentary Features

Documentaries are a staple at Cinema Diverse, offering intimate glimpses into real-life LGBTQ+ struggles, triumphs, and histories. From biographical portraits of LGBTQ+ activists and artists to explorations of pivotal moments in the fight for equality, the documentaries shown at the festival highlight the depth and breadth of the LGBTQ+ experience.

The Genius of Gianni Versace Alive – Filmed in Gianni Versace’s mansion in Miami, where every object is a separate work of art, this stunning documentary attempts to bring the genius of the Italian fashion giant to life

Tinseltown’s Queer: 30 Years Later – A documentary revisiting the amazing journey of gay television.

My Life With Asperger’s – Follow the extraordinary journey of George Steeves, a queer man, as he promotes and performs his educational and entertaining one-person show about growing up with Aspergers.

Shorts Set Films

The festival also presents a robust selection of short films. These films often provide a creative playground for emerging filmmakers and are known for conveying powerful messages in a concise format. The short film category is a favorite among festival attendees, allowing viewers to experience many stories.

Shorts Sets include Just Plain Funny, Animal Instincts, Girls Just Wanna, In the Family, When Life Gives, Fantastic Tales, and Sci-Fantastic.

Panels and Q&A Sessions

Cinema Diverse is more than just a film festival—it’s an opportunity for dialogue and discussion. Following many screenings, Q&A sessions with the filmmakers, actors, and producers offer audiences the chance to ask questions, learn about the filmmaking process, and engage in meaningful conversations about the themes presented in the films.

The festival also hosts panel discussions on topics like LGBTQ+ representation in media, the importance of independent film, and the challenges LGBTQ+ filmmakers face in the industry. These panels feature industry professionals, filmmakers, activists, and academics, making them valuable resources for aspiring filmmakers and cinephiles.

Palm Springs Cultural Center

Cinema Diverse occurs at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Known for its comfortable seating and state-of-the-art projection, it provides an ideal space for intimate screenings and discussions. Enjoy three screening theaters.  2300 East Baristo Road.

Community Impact

Cinema Diverse has become a significant part of Palm Springs’ cultural landscape, reflecting the city’s status as a haven for LGBTQ+ residents and visitors. The festival entertains, educates, and inspires, providing a space for critical conversations about LGBTQ+ issues. Cinema Diverse encourages empathy and understanding across communities by showcasing films that tackle topics like equality, discrimination, love, and family.

The festival also provides an important platform for LGBTQ+ filmmakers, many of whom face barriers in mainstream media. By offering a space for these artists to present their work, Cinema Diverse helps to amplify marginalized voices and ensure that a broader range of LGBTQ+ experiences are represented in film.

How to Attend

Tickets for Cinema Diverse can be purchased online through the Palm Springs Cultural Center’s website. Attendees can buy individual tickets for specific screenings or purchase festival passes, which offer access to multiple screenings and events.   Buy Tickets

You May Also Like:

Arenas District Guide

Palm Springs Gay History

LGBTQ+ Travel