Melbourne Queer Film Festival 2025: Searching for Queer Utopias
The Melbourne Queer Film Festival (MQFF) returns for its 35th Anniversary from 13–23 November, inviting audiences to join the search for Queer Utopias.
Queer Utopia is a multiplicity of spaces, happenings, collectives, and imaginings as diverse as the peoples that make up the rainbow. Often fleeting — lasting the length of a party, a film, a summer romance, or a protest — these are the spaces where queer communities can finally exhale. They are moments where acceptance reigns true, sovereignty over our bodies and our love is sacrosanct, and bigotry is mythologised.
These utopias pulse with colour, play, truth‑telling and collective liberation. They exist on dancefloors, in cinemas, in the intimacy of bedrooms, and across communities — formed not from fantasy, but from courage and connection. Through the films and events of MQFF 2025, audiences are invited to imagine what queer utopia feels like, looks like, and how we might build it — together.
MQFF 2025 Program Highlights
Opening Night: Queens of the Dead
The festival opens with the Victorian Premiere of Queens of the Dead, a dazzling queer zombie comedy starring Margaret Cho, Katy O’Brian, Dominique Jackson and Nina West. Join MQFF’s red‑carpet celebration at Palace Kino, with open bar, catering, and an in‑person tribute to Pose star Dominique Jackson.
Thursday 13 November, 6pm – Palace Kino, Collins Place
Centrepiece Gala: The Crowd
The Centrepiece event presents The Crowd, a moving drama by Azazel Jacobs exploring love, chosen family and resilience. This intimate reflection on queer connection reminds us that utopia begins with empathy, belonging, and shared humanity.
Thursday 20 November, 6:15 pm – The Capitol, Melbourne
An Audience with Dominique Jackson
Beloved actor and activist Dominique Jackson offers a powerful in‑conversation event, discussing her journey from Pose to international advocacy and the global evolution of trans representation on screen.
Friday 14 November, 6:30 pm – The Capitol, Melbourne
Jimpa Premiere and Keynote
The world premiere of Jimpa merges documentary and narrative filmmaking to explore queerness, kinship and Indigenous identity. A post‑screening keynote with its creative team explores truth‑telling and cultural representation in Australian cinema.
Saturday 15 November, 6:00pm – The Capitol, Melbourne
Special Event: Indigiqueer Voices
A celebration of First Nations queer artistry, Indigiqueer Voices features films from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and Canada, honouring Two‑Spirit, Takatāpui and Pasifika creators who reimagine cinema through Indigenous worldviews.
Friday 21 November, 6:30pm – The Capitol, Melbourne
Closing Night Gala: Plainclothes
MQFF closes with the Victorian Premiere of Plainclothes — a Sundance‑honoured romantic thriller from Carmen Emmi starring Tom Blyth and Russell Tovey. The screening is followed by live performances, the premiere of Welcome to the Cyber Rodeo, and a closing celebration at Melbourne Town Hall.
Sunday 23 November, from 6pm – Melbourne Town Hall
How to Buy Tickets
Buy tickets online at mqff.com.au, where you can browse sessions, accessibility details, and content warnings. Online booking is strongly encouraged as sessions may sell out. Check the website for updated session times before attending.
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