SQIFF Returns for 2026: Rebellion, Experimentation, and a Decade of Queer Cinema | Zoe Sievwright
Still from Pang, dir. Lara Delmage
The Scottish Queer International Film Festival (SQIFF) is back for its 11th edition, taking over the Glasgow Film Theatre and The Art School from 19 to 24 October 2026. Packed with 27 curated events, over 100 short films, and six feature titles, this year's lineup lands with a sharp focus on experimentation, rebellion, and building homegrown mythology.
Opening the week is SQIFF’s cornerstone platform, Scottish Shorts, showcasing the current landscape of LGBTQIA+ talent across Scotland. The festival's Best Scottish Short Award will return, judged by a panel that includes I Kissed a Girl star Tyra More and BAFTA-winner Chez Oteka.
Five feature films are set to make their Scottish premieres across the six-day run:
· I Am Going to Miss You (dir. Daniel Ribeiro): An intimate look at trans couple Amanda and Caio as they navigate building a shared home against external pressures.
· A Frown Gone Mad (dir. Omar Mismar): Set inside a Lebanese beauty salon, tracking the steady hum of gossip, cosmetics, and the looming backdrop of war in Beirut.
· Adam’s Apple (dir. Amy K. Jenkins): A documentary crafted from two decades of personal archive footage, following trans teenager Adam and his mother.
· Yapping Out Loud: Contagious Thoughts from an Unrepentant Whore (dir. Mark Karbusicky, Mirha-Soleil Ross): A blend of performance art and political commentary tackling anti-prostitution rhetoric to demand total bodily autonomy.
· Hunky Jesus (dir. Jennifer Kroot): Screening as the closing gala, capturing the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s annual Easter drag contest, accompanied by a live appearance from the Glasgow Order of the sisters.
Still from Hunky Jesus dir Jennifer Kroot
Beyond the cinema screen, the 2026 festival broadens its footprint across Glasgow. The Art School will host SQIFF Over the Years, an archive exhibition tracing the event's evolution from a small volunteer-led gathering into an established cultural charity. The venue will also house a craft fair featuring local independent makers selling zines, art, ceramics, records, and textiles, alongside a drawing social, poetry sessions, industry panels, and a paparazzi-themed closing night party.
This year’s edition also features curated slots from guest groups including Amazonia EcoQueer, JALI Collective, Mostra Queer Brasil, Queer East, Sapphic Cinema Club, Scottish Documentary Institute, Take One Action, and TGirlsOnFilm.
Supported by Screen Scotland, Film Hub Scotland, and the BFI National Lottery Audience Projects Fund, the festival continues its year-round initiatives alongside the October event—including its SATURATE filmmaking course and new £500 pitch funds for short films debuting in 2027.
Tickets for all screenings and events are on sale via the Glasgow Film Theatre and SQIFF websites.
