WICKED QUEER: The Boston LGBTQ+ Film Festival is the fourth oldest LGBTQ+ film festival in North America and it is largest LGBTQ+ media event in New England. Founded in 1984 by film programmer George Mansour, the festival has been hosted by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston since the early nineties. In 2009 the festival expanded to include screenings at the Brattle Theatre in iconic Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass. College of Art, Coolidge Corner, Brookline, and the Institute of Contemporary Art. Our mission is to build community and to celebrate Queer storytelling and filmmaking through the uplifting of voices and stories not yet heard and to present and preserve the vibrancy of our histories. In 2025, the festival screened over 130 films in 43 programs throughout the month of April, as well as, screenings in Nantucket, MA and Washington DC among others.

Awards & Prizes

The festival holds Juried awards for Best Feature, Narrative and Best Feature, Documentary. We also have audience awards for Best Narrative Feature, Best Feature Documentary, and Best in Show Short Film.

Rules & Terms

Review Format
We prefer that preview submissions be submitted as digital online screeners.

Filmmakers are required upon acceptance to have a COMPLETE press kit assembled with stills labeled with the film's name and poster images, trailer, synopsis, log line and social media handles. Moving toward our goal of becoming more accessible, all films, including English language, that are accepted must have ENGLISH CAPTIONS or SUBTITLES burnt onto a DCP with an MP4 back-up. WE DO NOT ACCEPT PRORES FILES FOR SCREENING. If you need direction with creating a DCP please consider our festival partner Simple DCP.

SHIPPING
Physical exhibition copies must be sent to the festival prepaid. The festival will pay for return or forward shipping. The festival cannot accept nor assume responsibility for damage or loss of materials while in transit. In case of loss or damage during the Festival, the responsibility of the Festival is limited to the costs for repair or replacement of the print.

EXHIBITION
Films will be considered for presentation in both physical and virtual venues.

62 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Shiao-ya (Maggie) Huang

    Last Day of Us screened as part of the Queer Asian Shorts program at the Brattle Theatre, right by Harvard at the a beautiful venue in a great area of the city. It was my first time in Boston and it left a really good impression. I got to attend in person and do a Q&A, and even though I was the only director from the program who made it in person, the festival made sure I never felt alone. The directors lunch was a highlight: intimate, relaxed, and the perfect setting to actually get to know other filmmakers from across the programs. The food was great too! The whole festival had a warm, community feel to it and the staff were genuinely friendly throughout. Really lovely experience and would love to come back.

    June 2026
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  • Iven Tu

    I love returning to Wicked Queer! The hosts are incredibly welcoming (and the free food certainly helps), and the festival’s intimate atmosphere makes it easy to connect with like-minded filmmakers!

    June 2026
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  • Gabe Gabriel

    Such a pleasure to screen our short film DREAD at Wicked Queer this year, all the way from South Africa. The team was organised, communicative, and supportive throughout.

    May 2026
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  • Michele Noble

    LOVE LOVE LOVE !! Wicked Queer is a wonderful film festival that embraces and builds community! Great screenings! Beautiful films! Fantastic Q&A's, filmmaker brunches, wonderful communication and networking and the best T-shirts!! Thank you Wicked Queer Film Festival for selecting and screening our short film, The Yellow Sponge is the Dish Sponge. We adored our time with you all

    April 2026
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  • Pol Kurucz

    My short screened at Wicked Queer this year. I wasn’t able to attend, but friends of mine did. The communication with the festival team and the feedback from the screening were fantastic ✨!!!!

    April 2026
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