The film sits at 88 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes and is streaming on Paramount+.
Sauna
Denmark’s Sauna turns the heat up as Johan, a sauna attendant, falls for William, a trans man taking time out from uni.
So today, we’re spotlighting five standout queer short films from 2025 with unique stories from diverse cultures and backgrounds that prove just how powerful short-form storytelling can be.
Making the rounds at festivals across the UK and beyond, The Space You Need is a heartwarming and refreshingly original romantic comedy.
The film festivals of 2022 were a testament to the significance of this movement, showcasing some of the most captivating and inspiring gay short films that left audiences around the world in awe.
Through conversations with his nurse Dorothy (Erin Kellyman), he recounts his past relationship with Philip (Robert Aramayo) and the tragic consequences of an experimental treatment. From Sundance award winners to big-budget musical adaptations, there’s something for everyone. Using animal characters adds an extra layer of originality, making We Cool? stand out not only as a queer animation but also as an outstanding piece of cinema.
West by God
Directed by Scott Lazer and starring trans actor Aphrodite Armstrong, West by God follows the beauty and mundanities of romance and attraction between two individuals in West Virginia.
It’s a SXSW short film colored by the Appalachian Mountains and West Virginia roads, where teenaged Nelly (Armstrong) and local drug dealer Dane (Kyle Riggs) have their first date.
West by God is written by Juli Blachowiak and also features Michael Washington.
Bowen Yang, Han Gi-chan, Kelly Marie Tran, and Lily Gladstone star in this comedy about a green-card marriage between a gay man and his lesbian friend. They remind us that, even in the face of adversity, love, courage, and hope always find a way to shine.
As we celebrate the outstanding LGBTQ+ short films of 2022, it’s important to remember that behind every great film is a supportive community and ample funding opportunities.
A meditation on life and love in the digital age.
Running time:17 minutes
The Good Waiter (Gay Short Film)
Romantic, sweet but also disturbing and weird, ‘The Good Waiter’ challenges our views of having ambitions and aspirations.
Running time:14 minutes.
You Say Hello
Returning to his family home to end his life, a suicidal young gay man is taken aback by a chance encounter with a hustler which halts him in his tracks.
Running time: 22 minutes
My Name is Love
Can an innocent chance encounter always be that innocent?
These films demonstrate the power of storytelling to bring visibility and understanding to communities. Director Harry Lighton adapted Adam Mars-Jones’s novel Box Hill for his feature debut, winning the Best Screenplay prize in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes. It was co-produced by Eva Yates and Emily Morgan, edited by Rebecca Lloyd, composed by Ré Olunuga, and DP-ed by Nanu Segal.
Closing out
The world of short films is a celebration of diversity, creativity, and resilience.
Make sure you don’t forget about our film funding opportunities, either!
5. This one hits hard and will leave you aghast.
Running time: 13 minutes
Pretty Boy
Pretty Boy explores the sad and dangerous reality of the lengths some parents will go to to try and ‘correct’ their children.
After his devoutly religious father finds some gay magazines in his sons room, Sean (the son) is taken to a motel and is given a prostitute for his 18th birthday.
Based on Shannon Pufahl’s 2019 novel, the film is now streaming on Netflix and HBO Max.
Jimpa
Jimpa stars John Lithgow as an ageing gay man living in Amsterdam.
It’s currently streaming on HBO Max.
Hedda
Hedda stars Tessa Thompson as a 1950s British socialite navigating a lavish party while confronting the return of her former lover Eileen (Nina Hoss).
This heartfelt drama, blended with a surprising sense of humor, is the directorial debut of Palestinian filmmaker Dana J. Atrach, who has already a long career as screenwriter and professor.
It tells the story of Sam (played brilliantly by Raphael Khouri), a trans man who returns home after his father’s passing. The story follows two truck drivers stranded in the middle of nowhere, who find shelter with Sônia, a charming woman stuck in an abusive relationship.
Tank Fairy
Tank Fairy – which has a run time of just 9 minutes – made SXSW’s Narrative Short screening category in their 2022 lineup.
It follows Grandma Nai—already deceased—who sneaks out of the afterlife after learning her queer grandson is about to marry a woman.
Visually stunning and laced with sharp humor, the film feels both claustrophobic and liberating as it examines the expectations LGBTQ+ people face within their families. This short feels like a conversation I am sure many people have had, very relatable and hard hitting.
Running time: 5 minutes
Staccato
Set in the past where the class divide is more evident than ever, Master Thomas Croyden can’t quite concentrate with the new young gardener around.
All the Crows in the World
Para All the Crows in the World won the Palme d’Or award for Best Short Film at Cannes in 2021. The film is distributed by A24 and released in cinemas in the UK in late November, with a US release to follow.
On Swift Horses
On Swift Horses tells parallel stories of queer desire in post-war America.