10 Queer Films to See at the 2026 Reeling Festival
Every year, Chicago hosts the Reeling Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival, a celebrated event that stands as one of the longest-running queer film festivals globally. This year, the 44th edition is gearing up to celebrate the breathtaking depth and spectrum of queer independent cinema, presenting 36 features and 59 shorts that dive deep into the complex realities of the queer experience.
The festival acts as a vital lens, illuminating the full range of queer life—from gay infatuation and lesbian commitment issues to trans heartbreak and the potent historical and political forces shaping these identities. It is a celebration of the full spectrum of queer existence, exploring the intense personal and collective struggles that define modern queer life.
A selection of films set to captivate audiences includes ambitious epics and deeply intimate character studies. For instance, the sprawling epic La bola negra, a Netflix production, weaves together three generations of queer men with significant moments in Spanish history, proving that history and queerness are inextricably linked. It is a grand cinematic statement, pairing the talent of Los Javis with stellar performances.
The festival also champions films that tackle contemporary relationships and identity with raw honesty. I Am Going to Miss You offers a tender look at the complexities of a T4T relationship, exploring the messy, beautiful reality of cohabitation and heartbreak through the eyes of trans partners. This film captures how universal yet intensely personal the experience of queer love can be.
Diving into the shadows, other entries explore the nuances of societal pressures and longing. Efraín Mojica and Rebecca Zweig’s documentary Jaripeo offers a mesmerizing look at the machismo and queer desires hidden within the landscape of Mexican rodeos, revealing the profound loneliness and glimmers of community found among gay men operating within restrictive societal structures.
The festival is rich with genre-bending narratives, from dark comedy to tender solidarity. Nick Butler’s Lunar Sway blends the aesthetic of the Coen Brothers with the heart of David Lynch to craft a story of a heartbroken gay cowboy, navigating messy desires and unexpected turns along the way. Meanwhile, the heartwarming Mermaid serves as the Narrative Centerpiece, charting the powerful bond between a grief-addled drag queen and a trans child, illustrating the essential queer act of leaning on each other through transformation.
Beyond the emotional depth, the festival provides crucial historical context. The retrospective screening of The Celluloid Closet offers a vital exploration of queer history, tracing cinema’s journey from early silents through the Hays Code to the contemporary frontiers of New Queer Cinema. It reminds us that the stories we tell on screen are inseparable from the stories of queer lives.
Finally, films like My Brother’s Killer use documentary to shine a light on justice, following queer Angelenos as they work to close a decades-old murder case, offering a powerful look at community resilience. Whether exploring the intensity of performance in Test, the poignant drama of Meeting Marsha, or the unsettling horror-comedy Son of Sara, the Reeling festival confirms its role as the essential platform for cinema that celebrates the full, vibrant, and sometimes chaotic truth of the queer world.
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