Lesbian Visibility Week 2026
Explore a selection of lesbian cinema from the NewFest Canon.
It’s undeniable: some of the greatest films in the queer canon are by and/or about lesbians. From the prolific Cheryl Dunye (whose film THE WATERMELON WOMAN is recognized as the first feature film directed by a Black lesbian) to television and film’s Angela Robinson (The L Word, D.E.B.S.), lesbians have been gracing culture with insightful, sexy, and hilarious art for decades.
And NewFest is proud of have been a part of amplifying these stories and their creators since the very beginning. We’ve compiled twenty films from the NewFest Canon to showcase just some of the excellent lesbian stories from the last fifty years. Here we go, lesbians!
Born in Flames (1983)
Directed by Lizzie Borden
Queering the Canon: Totally Radical 2023
Streaming On: The Criterion Channel
An underground feminist landmark of cinema, Lizzie Borden’s BORN IN FLAMES is brazenly queer, and unapologetically down to disrupt and dismantle the patriarchy. Set in a near future downtown New York ten years after a socialist revolution, radical feminist factions strategize and debate their own agendas as women’s equality remains unfulfilled. With guerrilla style filming and a docu-narrative approach, the pulsing energy of NYC and layered political viewpoints might just have you ready to start your own radical queer biker gang.
Desert Hearts (1985)
Directed by Donna Deitch
NewFest2, NewFest37, Queering the Canon: We’re Out Here 2026
Streaming On: The Criterion Channel, HBO Max, Kanopy
Donna Deitch’s classic of lesbian cinema is one of the greatest love stories of all time. The year is 1959 and Professor Vivian Bell has arrived in Reno, Nevada for a divorce. There she meets Cay Rivers, a backwards-driving, jean short-wearing sculptor/casino employee who is brazenly herself. These two opposing forces circle around each other, falling in lust and love, as Cay dares Vivian to take a risk for something more.
From an overwhelming kiss in the rain to one of the best sex scenes ever put on film, DESERT HEARTS redefined what queer women could expect from our movies. The romance crackles with possibility, but its love story goes beyond this central pair — it’s also about the bonds of friendship, the challenge of family, and the importance of embracing the entirety of oneself.
Explore the photos from the 2K Restoration screening at Queering the Canon: We’re Out Here 2026, and watch a clip from the in-person Q&A with Donna Deitch and Patricia Charbonneau.
Framing Lesbian Fashion (1992)
Directed by Karen Everett
NewFest4
Streaming On: archive.org
Using fashion as a social and political indicator, FRAMING LESBIAN FASHION (World Premiere) soars through two decades of lesbian threads.
Go Fish (1994)
Directed by Rose Troche
NewFest6, Queering the Canon: Besties 2024
Streaming On: Tubi, Prime Video
The fête of lesbian friendship and community are at the center of director Rose Troche’s landmark debut feature, a clever and sexy matchmaking romance set in Chicago. As Max (co-writer Guinevere Turner) looks to end a 10-month sexless drought, her friends may have a freshly single someone in mind. With lyrical interludes and black-and-white independent panache, Troche carves an indelible film for the unabashed lesbian life of the 90s–and shows how enticing finger clipping foreplay can be.
“Making work from your heart and from what you believe in will deliver… 30 years later.” Enjoy a clip from the in-person Q&A with Rose Troche and Guinevere Turner.
The Watermelon Woman (1996)
Directed by Cheryl Dunye
NewFest8
Streaming On: The Criterion Channel, Kanopy, archive.org
“In her delightful debut feature film, Cheryl Dunye recasts movie history with Black lesbians in the starring roles. Cheryl, played by Dunye herself, is an aspiring filmmaker who, in her quest to portray lesbian lives on the screen, uncovers “The Watermelon Woman,” a character actress who appeared as “the mammy” in ‘30s Hollywood films. Obsessed with this illusive movie figure, Cheryl goes in search of the nameless woman and discovers a life and a love, both shrouded in mystery.
The New Festival is especially proud of its support of this film which so passionately deals wit the historic absence of African-American lesbians in film and film history. Last year, The New Festival awarded Cheryl Dunye’s project the Vito Russo Award, providing finishing funds for the film.” — Excerpt from the 1996 NewFest8 Festival Program Guide
Bound (1996)
Directed by The Wachowskis
NewFest8
Streaming On: Kanopy
“It’s lesbians versus the mob in this fast-paced sexy crime thriller starring Jennifer Tilly (Bullets over Broadway) and Gena Gershon (Showgirls). With Bound, the Wachowski sisters successfully exhibit Hollywood’s constant reinvention of moribund and predictable film genres, in this case with the insertion of a sapphic twist. In Bound, Corky (Gershon) is an ex-con fixing up an apartment in a high-rent building. Corky falls for her next door neighbor, Violet (Tilly), the coquettish, sexy moll of a Mafia money launderer. Once the two women have connected, both literally and figuratively, the plot thickens and the action escalates as they concoct a plan to steal two million dollars. A hit amongst film industry dykes at its premiere in the 1996 Sundance Film Festival, Bound is sure to be a source of pure movie entertainment for lesbian audiences everywhere.” — Excerpt from the 1996 NewFest8 Festival Program Guide
Set It Off (1996)
Directed by F. Gary Gray
Queering the Canon: Besties 2024
Streaming On: STARZ
Frustrated by a system stacked against them, four women join forces to pull off bank robberies. Featuring an all-star cast including Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, Kimberly Elise, and Academy Award nominee Queen Latifah as an iconic no-holds-barred butch lesbian. Full of exhilarating action set pieces, robust 90s soundtrack, and snappy dialogue, SET IT OFF is a powder-keg ode to reclamation and sisterhood.
High Art (1998)
Directed by Lisa Cholodenko
NewFest10, Queering the Canon: So Obsessed 2025
Streaming On: Kanopy
NewFest’s Opening Night Film in 1998 and winner of the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Prize at Sundance, this enduring debut feature from Academy Award nominee Lisa Cholodenko (THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT) is an evocative portrait of ambition, addiction, and passion in 90s New York.
Idle fascination blooms into intense connection when aspiring magazine editor Syd (Radha Mitchell) discovers her upstairs neighbor is Lucy Berliner (Ally Sheedy), a renowned yet reclusive photographer. As complex emotions and creative forces ignite, Syd lures Lucy out of early retirement when they begin an artistic collaboration. Syd and Lucy fervently fall deeper into each other’s aesthetic aims while manifesting their growing human desires, much to the chagrin of Lucy’s oft-drug-addled German actress girlfriend Greta (Patricia Clarkson).
Show Me Love (1998)
Directed by Lukas Moodysson
Queering the Canon: We’re Out Here 2026
Streaming On: Kanopy
Set in the small Swedish town of Åmål, this cherished coming‑of‑age film follows Agnes, a creative and lonely teenager who has long been secretly in love with Elin — the cute, rebellious sister of the school’s most popular girl. As the only visibly queer student, Agnes endures bothersome bullying but finds refuge in poetry and the moody alternative music she treasures. Around her, classmates try to play into a world shaped by contemporary pop culture and teen‑idol wave of the late ’90s (including Robyn, an iconic pride of Sweden). When Agnes and Elin’s paths – and angsty vibes – finally intersect, Agnes’s long‑held crush proves a challenge to the town’s conservative notions, revealing a tenderly defiant story of budding desire, courage, and self‑acceptance.
D.E.B.S. (2004)
Directed by Angela Robinson
NewFest16
“D.E.B.S. kicks off NewFest 2004 with style, action, and a hell of a lot of campy fun. Angela Robinson’s first feature and expansion of the short of the same name (winner of the Best Short Award at NewFest 2003). Amy, Dominique, Max, and Janet are plaid micro-mini-skirted top secret agents of the government’s most elite paramilitary organization: the D.E.B.S. Selected through a secret test in the SAT designed to identify students who can lie, cheat, fight, and kill, these young women represent the principles of Discipline, Energy, Beauty, and Strength while they kick the asses of evildoers threatening national security. Their current mission: capture the sexy criminal mastermind Lucy Diamond (Jordana Brewster). But when Lucy meets Amy (Sara Foster), sparks of attraction fly, and, try though she might, Amy can’t resist. Soon, Lucy “kidnaps” Amy for a date, leading the rest of the unknowing D.E.B.S. to mount a rescue mission. Has the “perfect” D.E.B. really betrayed her country? Robinson has pulled out all the stops for D.E.B.S. — combining a sexy lesbian romance with fantastic girls-with-guns action scenes and a hilariously funny script to deliver non-stop entertainment for all audiences.” — Excerpt from the 2004 NewFest16 Festival Program Guide
Saving Face (2004)
Directed by Alice Wu
Queering the Canon: Rom-Coms 2022
Streaming On: Fubo, The Roku Channel
Wil (Michelle Krusiec), a dedicated Chinese-American surgeon living in Manhattan, meets and falls for ballet dancer Vivian (Lynn Chen) in this playful and heartfelt feature debut from writer/director Alice Wu (THE HALF OF IT).
Pariah (2011)
Directed by Dee Rees
NewFest33
Since its release, this powerful portrait of a young lesbian coming into her own continues to be celebrated as a monumental influence by critics and filmmakers alike. The debut feature from Academy Award nominee Dee Rees (MUDBOUND) remains an enduring exploration of the inner and outer lives of 17-year-old Alike (Adepero Oduye, in a breakthrough performance) as she navigates her burgeoning sexuality, familial frustrations, and talents as a poet in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene.
PARIAH occupies an essential place in queer and Black film canon, and is undeniably one of the 21st century’s greatest films.
Stud Life (2012)
Directed by Campbell X
NewFest24, Queering the Canon: Besties 2024
Streaming On: Cineverse
Campbell X’s London-set STUD LIFE is a sexy, young and cool look at a slice of British urban life and a post-modern queer SHE'S GOTTA HAVE IT for the YouTube generation. JJ (charismatic British star T’nia Miller) is a hot black British 'Stud' and together with her best friend Seb, a white gay pretty boy, they work as wedding photographers and run around the urban London LGBTQ+ scene. When JJ falls in love with a beautiful and mysterious woman, JJ and Seb's friendship is tested. JJ is forced to choose between her hot new lover and her best friend. STUD LIFE is a provocative and edgy take on gender, sexuality and urban street life as it also portrays a wonderful tale of love and friendship.
Mosquita y Mari (2012)
Directed by Aurora Guerrero
NewFest24
“Studious, sweet-natured 15-year-old Yolanda feels the pressure to succeed under the eyes of her hard-working immigrant parents. When she meets her new neighbor, the feisty and alluring, BMX-riding Mari, Yolanda’s humdrum high school routine gets a jolt. The two girls don’t have much in common on the surface, but they become fast friends and their deep bond develops into a tension that neither one expected nor quite knows how to handle. Aurora Guerrero’s impressive feature film debut (which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival) features two breakout lead performances by Fenessa Pineda and Venecia Troncoso, who perfectly embody the awkwardness and cautious desire of two teenage girls experience love and desire for the first time.” — Excerpt from the 2012 NewFest24 Festival Program Guide
Her Story (2016)
Directed by Sydney Freeland
NewFest27
“HER STORY is a groundbreaking new series following two trans women who hve given up on love when chance encounters offer them hope. With an impressive pedigree including director Sydney Freeland (DRUNKTOWN’S FINEST), writers Jen Richards (I AM CAIT) and Laura Zak (#HASHTAG) and Executive Producers Eve Ensler and Katherine Fisher, HER STORY promises to be one of the most exciting trans shows of the year.” — Excerpt from the 2016 NewFest27 Festival Program Guide
Read coverage from the World Premiere at NewFest here.
Alice Júnior (2019)
Directed by Gil Baroni
NewFest32
Streaming On: Kanopy
Winner of the top prize at Mix Brasil, this one-of-a-kind charmer infuses the spirit of classic high school films such as MEAN GIRLS and THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER with an electricity that will leave you buzzing with warmth and energy. Forced to leave the coastal city of Recife when her father gets a job in a small conservative town in the South of Brazil, transgender teenage social media star Alice Júnior's life is suddenly thrust into uncertainty and drab dread. Although she's far out of her comfort zone and facing the kind of resistance she never could have imagined, Alice is determined to take on Catholic school (and its uniform) with verve and wit and make the most of her new setting, religious classmates, and budding crushes. In her very first acting role, Anne Celestino Mota infuses Alice with an infectious relatability, inspiring confidence, and nuanced charm that demands great attention and suggests a bright future for the young actress. Powered by a spirited style rife with color, kitsch, and creativity, ALICE JÚNIOR is a celebration of rebellious youth and the potential for future generations to rethink outdated perspectives of gender, sexuality, and differences as a whole.
Mars One (2022)
Directed by Gabriel Martins
NewFest34
A working-class Black family tries to keep their spirits up after the election of a right-wing president in Brazil’s official selection for the Oscar’s International Feature Award. As they figure out ways to cope and continue dreaming in the months that follow, the shifting political tides threaten to engulf them.
Each member of the family, including aspiring soccer player Deivinho and lesbian student Eunice, seeks to assert their independence and identity, all the while relying on each other more than ever before. Winner of Outfest’s Jury Prize for Best International Feature, MARS ONE is a searing indictment of Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters, and is a powerful story as personal as it is political.
Am I OK? (2022)
Directed by Tig Notaro & Stephanie Allynne
NewFest Pride 2024
Streaming On: HBO Max
Lucy (Dakota Johnson) and Jane (Sonoya Mizuno) have been best friends for most of their lives and think they know everything there is to know about each other. But when Jane announces she's moving to London, Lucy reveals a long-held secret. As Jane tries to help Lucy, their friendship is tested and thrown into chaos.
Co-directed by Tig Notaro & Stephanie Allynne and written by Lauren Pomerantz, this uplifting comedy celebrates personal awakenings no matter one’s age or identity, along with all the absurd missteps and joys we face on the road to self-discovery – either with or without the help and advice from our besties.
Bottoms (2023)
Directed by Emma Seligman
NewFest Pride 2023
How do you hook-up with the popular girls if you’re deemed a high school “gay loser”? In this raucous no-holds-barred comedy directed and co-written by Emma Seligman (SHIVA BABY, NewFest32), unpopular queer girls PJ (co-writer/star Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”) start a fight club in their senior year of high school for the sole purpose of impressing their cheerleader crushes. This brash satire subversively shifts the teen comedy genre into an anarchic queer romp with startling and hilarious results.
The Queen of My Dreams (2023)
Directed by Fawzia Mirza
NewFest Pride 2024, NewFest36
Grad student Azra (Amrit Kaur) lives in Toronto with her girlfriend and has a strained relationship with her conservative Muslim mother, Mariam (Nimra Bucha) in this vibrant festival favorite (TIFF, SXSW) from writer/director Fawzia Mirza. Following the unexpected death of a relative, Azra must travel to join her family in Karachi, Pakistan for the burial. There she finds herself inspired by the sounds and smells of a city that is so distant yet so familiar—and where her parents met and fell in love 30 years prior.
Spanning three decades in the life of a Pakistani-Canadian family, this delightful dramedy explores intergenerational connections between mothers and daughters, East and West, and home and away. Infused with humor, romance, music and Bollywood fantasy, THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS shows the expansive journey of women seeking to define and decide their own paths, while simultaneously learning—or remembering—how to love.
Explore these titles on Letterboxd, and spend your weekend watching lesbian cinema.
What are some of your favorite lesbian films?
Omg I need to watch all of theseeeeee! And love that you featured films with so much diversity 🙌👏 THIS is what we need more of on substack
https://leftiejane.substack.com/p/we-dont-need-lesbian-visibility-week?r=pm4cz&utm_medium=ios