Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival 2025

1:00PM COCKROACH GENDER REVEAL SHE’S THE HE

3:30PM SHORTS SHOWCASE GIRLFRIEND GIRLFRIEND DIVIDE CLEAN SLATE SPACE DADDY DOUBLE DATE TIGER LILY MOUNTAIN PASS JUST BETWEEN US PORELESS TWO BLACK BOYS IN PARADISE

7:00PM VINTAGE SHORTS PSYCHO BEACH PARTY 25TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENING HOSTED BY VANITY REX

Premiere Night Celebration:

Kick off our 25th anniversary in style! Join us upstairs at Kan-Kan for a festive pre-film reception featuring hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and great company as we toast to 25 years of queer cinema.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 6:00PM

3:30PM DOC SHORTS SHOWCASE A-OKAY DANCING IN TOMORROWLAND AUTOEROTICA: WE BUY GAY STUFF TESSITURA THANKS, BABS! BIG BASS SHELLY’S LEG

5:30PM TIPPI & BARB HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY

TUESDAY — NOVEMBER 11

7:00PM BEAUTIFUL EVENING, BEAUTIFUL DAY

THURSDAY — NOVEMBER 13

7:00PM DOUBLE FEATURE—VELVET VISION: THE STORY OF JAMES BIDGOOD FOLLOWED BY PINK NARCISSUS

WELCOME TO THE 25TH ANNUAL INDIANAPOLIS LGBT FILM FESTIVAL!

What began in early 2001 as a small gathering of friends passionate about queer cinema has grown into a cherished cultural tradition. For 25 years, the Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival has celebrated LGBTQ+ stories, voices, and artistry—building community through the power of film.

We’re proud to celebrate a quarter century of queer cinema in Indianapolis. This year, we present 32 films that showcase the diversity, creativity, and resilience of LGBTQ+ voices from around the world.

Step into the magic of Oz on Premiere Night with It’s Dorothy!—a dazzling documentary that celebrates cinema’s most iconic dreamer and the generations of fans and filmmakers she continues to inspire. To mark our silver anniversary, don’t miss the 25th anniversary screening of the cult favorite Psycho Beach Party, hosted by Kan-Kan’s own Vanity Rex. (We dug into the archives for some vintage shorts as well!) We’re also thrilled to present Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day, winner of the Audience Award for Narrative Feature at this year’s Frameline festival—earning its place as one of the year’s most celebrated queer features. And for our closing night, join us for an extraordinary double feature: the new documentary Velvet Vision: The Story of James Bidgood, followed by the dazzling 4K restoration of his 1971 masterwork Pink Narcissus

We’re thrilled to be back at Kan-Kan Cinema, where films are best experienced—together. So grab your popcorn, lean into the joy of shared stories, and celebrate this milestone year with us. Here’s to the films, the filmmakers, and you—our festival family—who make the Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival what it is.

Thank you for celebrating 25 years with us. Let’s make it unforgettable!

Matt Mutchmore | Director Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival

AT RIGHT:

kankanindy.com

November 7-9, 11, and 13

Film Screenings—$12

Closing Double Feature—$20

Full Festival Pass (All 9 screenings)—$85 1258 Windsor St, Indianapolis, IN 46201 (317) 800-7099

ROYCE COLE JR

Served as Director of the Festival in 2010 and as a member of the Festival Steering Committee from 2004 to 2024. Throughout nearly two decades of involvement, Royce played a pivotal role in fundraising and was instrumental in expanding the festival’s reach and impact.

PAM POWELL

A founding member, Pam served as Director from 2002 to 2007 and Co-Director in 2008. From 2001 to 2021, Pam was a dedicated member of the Steering Committee. As one of the festival’s earliest leaders, Pam helped shape its vision and also recounted its beginnings, writing a remarkable oral history of the festival’s first decade.

MARK HARPER

Served on the Festival Steering Committee from 2006 to 2007, became Co-Director in 2008, and Director in 2009. Known for his deep insight into film, Mark continued his passion for cinema in the English Department at IUPUI and currently as an Associate Professor of Film Studies at Heartland Community College.

KEISHANA VAZQUEZ WHITE-HICKS

Served on the Steering Committee from 2010 to 2021 and was Co-Director in 2012. Keishana initiated key fundraising efforts and as our longtime box office manager, she welcomed audiences year after year, bringing joy to the community. She also helped create—and memorably wore—our beloved Poppy mascot costume.

KAT HICKS

Served on the Festival Steering Committee from 2010 to 2021. Known for their creativity and vision, Kat brought forward innovative ideas—many of which were put directly into action—helping the festival grow in fresh and exciting ways.

NEW TO DEKKOO

JUST BETWEEN US

These films are our nominees for the 2025 Best of Festival Award. The winner is selected by our panel of judges and announced at the end of the festival.

Festival Selection Chairs

Ted Letherer

Petra Fippen

Festival Steering Committee

Jerlyn Southwick

Greyson Gullion

Social Media Assistance

Annette Marino

Festival Director

Matthew Mutchmore

Special Thanks Lilly Indy Pride SDA

Westmont Apartments

Diagonal Hospitality Group

Indy Bag Ladies

Zay Cooley

Kan-Kan Cinema

TLA Releasing

Tracy Robbins Smith

Scott Benson

Mike Barclay

Mickey Rogers

Royce Cole Jr

Pam Powell

Mark Harper

Keishana

Kat Hicks facebook.com/IndianapolisLGBTFilmFestival

Premiere Night

Friday NOVEMBER 7

DINNER

Premiere Night—Feature Documentary

It’s Dorothy!

The Wizard of Oz has remained one of the most enduring stories for over one hundred years, spawning dozens interpretations. Its protagonist, young Dorothy Gale from Kansas, has become one of the most recognizable characters in pop culture history. But what is it about this young girl thrust into an unknown world that has resonated with audiences for decades?

It’s Dorothy! is a dazzling and deeply queer celebration of one of pop culture’s most enduring heroines. From Judy Garland’s landmark portrayal to the countless reinventions that followed across film, stage, and television, Dorothy Gale has long stood as a symbol of resilience, belonging, and hope for those who feel like outsiders.

Directed by Jeffrey McHale USA, 2025, 100 Minutes

Preceded by the short films The Dinner Ghost and Dragfox

Director Jeffrey McHale crafts a mesmerizing documentary that mixes archival footage with insight from a remarkable roster of voices. Former Dorothys like Fairuza Balk and Ashanti join cultural icons including John Waters, Lena Waithe, Amber Ruffin, Rufus Wainwright, and Margaret Cho to explore how Dorothy — and Garland herself — became touchstones for the LGBTQ+ community. Critics and filmmakers alike illuminate the parallels between Garland’s struggles and triumphs and Dorothy’s own story of endurance, discovery, and compassion. Together, they reveal how the character’s legacy has shaped generations and continues to inspire. Thoughtful, celebratory, and unapologetically queer, It’s Dorothy! shows us why we still find ourselves over the rainbow.

Kan-Kan, Friday, November 7, 7:30pm

NOVEMBER 8

SHE’S THE HE SHORTS SHOWCASE

PSYCHO BEACH PARTY

Comedy

She’s The He

Two best friends pull a prank that takes an unexpected turn when one discovers her true identity as a trans woman. A bold, hilarious, and heartfelt twist on the teen comedy, She’s The He reimagines the gender-swap trope for a new generation. Director Siobhan McCarthy brings fresh energy and vital authenticity to a genre long overdue for reinvention.

Set in the final week before high school graduation, Alex and Ethan scheme their way into the girls’ locker room by pretending to be trans women. While Alex chases after his crush with crude bravado, Ethan finds herself feeling unexpectedly at home in her new identity. What begins as a joke soon becomes life-altering, forcing both friends to confront truths they never anticipated.

Directed by Siobhan McCarthy, USA, 2025, 82 Minutes

Preceded by the short films Cockroach and Gender

Reveal

McCarthy crafts a coming-of-age comedy that is as outrageous as it is moving, blending slapstick hijinks with moments of tenderness and revelation. By centering trans, nonbinary, and queer voices both in front of and behind the camera, She’s The He transforms familiar teen-movie clichés into a resonant story of acceptance, identity, and friendship. The result is a film that’s as funny as it is necessary—proving that the best comedies are the ones with something real at their core.

With humor, heart, and a sharp edge, the film dives into self-discovery, friendship, and the messy joy of growing up.

Kan-Kan, Saturday, November 8, 1:00pm

Saturday, November 8, 3:30pm

A vibrant mix of queer stories—funny, fierce, tender, and bold—all gathered into one irresistible package.

Girlfriend Girlfriend

Director: Sara Werner, USA, 5 Minutes

A queer woman's mind is blown by her new coworker's bold question in this experimental short film.

ivide

Director: Jeanette Buck, USA, 9 Minutes

Two estranged siblings of opposing political persuasions cleaning out their mother's home after her death, fight over the inheritance of a sentimental souvenir.

Clean Slate

Director: Emily May Jampel, USA, 9 Minutes

Two Asian nonbinary best friends and actors must make some sacrifices when they go up for the same breakout role.

Space Daddy

Director: Stephen Carruthers, UK, 10 Minutes

A hookup between twentysomething Andy and a mysterious hunk (played by Crystal from Drag Race UK) who meet on a dating app has some out-of-this-world consequences.

Double Date

Director: Hannah Wolf, USA, 9 Minutes

A newly out middle-aged lesbian panics before a third date and impulsively hires a sex worker to help her prepare.

Tiger Lily Mountain Pass

Director: Nate King, USA, 5 Minutes

This hand-drawn, animated short was inspired by director Nate King's time spent in the forests of Appalachia. In a region where queerness is often hidden or disguised, the work explores nature as a space of queer erotic encounter.

Just Between Us

Director: Vac Hug, USA, 15 Minutes

Sam and Dustin’s open marriage unravels after one probing question: do they ever sleep together alone? Spiraling into temptation and mistakes, Sam is forced to confront what intimacy means when love lives in the gray. Featuring special guest Ben Baur.

Poreless

Director: Harris Doran, USA, 13 Minutes

A fabulous, queer, Muslim beauty entrepreneur competes in a Shark Tank-like contest after suffering an untimely allergic reaction.

Two Black Boys In Paradise

Director: Baz Sells, UK, 9 Minutes

A movingly tender animation, based on Dean Atta’s eponymous poem, sees two boys on a journey of self-acceptance and love, for each other and themselves.

25th Anniversary Screening

Psycho Beach Party is a gleefully twisted send-up of two Hollywood staples—the sunny, carefree beach movies of the 1950s and the dark, suspense-laden psychological thrillers of Alfred Hitchcock. Imagine surfboards colliding with split personalities, sun-drenched dance numbers bumping up against sinister shadows, and campy innocence crashing headfirst into gleeful gore.

Preceded

With rapid-fire jokes, kinky innuendo, and even a rocking dance number, the film blends Charles Busch’s brilliantly theatrical script with Robert Lee King’s fresh and sassy direction. The result? A cult-classic comedy that pays homage to cinematic traditions while gleefully skewering popular conservatism.

Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, this mash-up still sparkles with biting satire and irresistible retro style. Hosted by Kan-Kan’s own Vanity Rex, the screening promises laughs, thrills, and campy beach-party mayhem—you won’t want to miss it! Plus, we’re kicking things off with a splashy lineup of vintage festival shorts to get you in the mood.

Kan-Kan, Saturday, November 8, 7:00pm

sdadvertising.com

NOVEMBER 9

TO THE MOON DOC SHORTS SHOWCASE HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY

To The Moon

When the moon threatens to crash into Earth, three neighbors discover that finding yourself can be just as unpredictable—and just as funny. A cosmic comedy about family, identity, and the pull of the heart.

Closeted single dad Sam (Jacob Sampson) is suddenly faced with an impending empty nest, and with it, the question of who he is outside of being a father—and whether that means finally coming out after nearly four decades in the closet. His daughter Ella (Phoebe Rex) is navigating the turbulence of teenage life at a new school, all while trying to parent her parent. Their curious new neighbor Claire (Amy Groening), freshly escaped from the corporate grind, hovers nearby with her notepad in hand, hoping to turn the quirky duo into material for her writing. Together, the three wrestle with love, self-discovery, and the small matter of keeping the moon from crashing into the earth.

Directed by Kevin Hartford Canada, 2024, 85 Minutes

Preceded by the short film Slay

Returning to our festival after screening his last film, Lemon Squeezy (2022), Canadian filmmaker Kevin Hartford once again delivers his signature blend of humor and heart in To The Moon. With a sharp ensemble, bursts of choreographed dance, and plenty of cosmic mischief, the film is a reminder that it’s never too late—or too strange—to figure out who you really are.

Kevin will join us after the screening for a Q+A session.

Kan-Kan, Sunday, November 9, 1:00pm

Sunday, November 9, 3:30pm

A collection of thought-provoking, queer stories in bite-sized form, highlighting fresh voices and compelling perspectives.

In a world saturated with romance and intimacy, one person dares to break the mold. After years of self-discovery, they write a raw, honest letter to their younger self. This short documentary blurs memory and reflection, revealing a journey of breaking free and becoming whole.

In this fantasia of a 1980s gay rights theme park documentary an unsung teen activist fights to overturn Disneyland’s ban on same-sex dancing.

AutoErotica: We Buy Gay Stuff

Behind an unassuming "We Buy Gay Stuff" sign in San Francisco’s Castro district lies a hidden archive of queer history. For decades, AutoErotica’s proprietor Patrick Batt has curated artifacts from shuttered gay bars, vintage leather magazines, activist pins, and rare 8mm films. Nearly lost to the pandemic, a customer-led campaign saved this living museum, transforming it into a global touchstone of LGBTQ+ counter-culture.

Tessitura

Directors: Lydia Cornett, Brit Fryer, USA, 18 Minutes

Tessitura weaves history and character portraits to explore how voice, character, and gender are continually reshaped in opera. The film follows contemporary transgender singers as they navigate tradition, blending personal stories with historical context to illuminate the ongoing dialogue about gender fluidity in the art form.

Thanks, Babs!

Directors: Jen Rainin, Rivkah Beth Medow, USA, 14 Minutes

Meet Babs, an irrepressible octogenarian racing through life on five-year plans. Part Maude, part whirlwind, she spars with her ex, flaunts her vibrator, lap-dances at her “39th-again” party, and kicks out anyone who dares say “80.” Between aquacise at the JCC and a visit to the AIDS memorial grove, she muses—hilariously and tenderly—on love, aging, and the afterlife.

Big Bass

Director: Drew Dickler, USA, 14 Minutes

What happens when others recognize who you are before you do? A filmmaker journeys back to 1997, unearthing a surreal second-grade memory that intertwines her emerging queer identity, an unforgettable PE teacher, and one very mysterious giant plastic fish.

Shelly’s Leg

Director: Wes Hurley, USA, 16 Minutes

In 1970, flamboyant stripper Shelly Baumann lost her leg in a bizarre parade cannon mishap—then turned tragedy into triumph. With her settlement money, she launched Shelly’s Leg, one of the first openly gay discos in the U.S., sparking a cultural revolution. Narrated by Kathleen Turner, this vibrant documentary celebrates the wild, defiant legacy of a nightclub that changed queer history.

Heightened Scrutiny

An urgent story of resistance unfolds as ACLU lawyer Chase Strangio—a Queens-based attorney, father, and cat lover—joins forces with journalists and activists to confront a rising anti-trans backlash in workplaces and communities across America. At the same time, the film exposes how mainstream media has fueled and normalized attacks on hard-won trans civil rights.

Heightened Scrutiny follows Chase through the full arc of an epic legal fight: LW v. Skrmetti, a 2023 challenge to Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth. With a Supreme Court decision looming in June 2025, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Chase, the first out trans person ever to argue before the Court, is not only fighting for trans youth but also for the future of bodily autonomy—from contraception to abortion to reproductive healthcare. Along the way, the film features appearances from Jeani Cobb, Lydia Polgreen, Gina Chua, Laverne Cox, Elliot Page, Peppermint, Phillip Picardi, and Annette Bening, who lend their voices to this historic struggle.

Directed by Sam Feder USA, 2025, 85 Minutes

Preceded by the short film Tippi & Barb

As attacks escalate nationwide, the film offers a sharp, unflinching look at the backlash machine and the media’s complicity in enabling the far right’s agenda. At once deeply personal and politically explosive, Heightened Scrutiny traces the battle for trans rights all the way to the steps of the Supreme Court—where the outcome could reshape American democracy itself.

Kan-Kan, Sunday, November 9, 5:30pm

Tuesday

NOVEMBER 11

BEAUTIFUL EVENING

BEAUTIFUL DAY

Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day

A sweeping historical epic of love, loyalty, and resistance, Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day charts the lives of four friends whose art and identities collide with the demands of a repressive state. From the ashes of World War II to the height of Cold War suspicion, their fight for truth and freedom echoes across decades.

The story follows lovers Lovro and Nenad and their lifelong companions Stevan and Ivan, filmmakers who achieve acclaim in post-WWII Communist Yugoslavia even as they are forced into making propaganda for the regime. Though accepted by family and peers, their visibility draws the gaze of state surveillance, where whispers of suspicion threaten to dismantle everything they have built. Assigned to undermine them is Emir, a party loyalist concealing his own secrets, whose loyalties begin to fracture.

Selected as Croatia’s official submission for the 2025 Academy Awards and Best Film at this year’s Frameline festival. Drama

Directed by Ivona Juka Croatia, 2024, 137 Minutes

English subtitles

Note: Explicit content

Infused with lush imagery, sensual honesty, and a piercing critique of authoritarianism, Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day blends historical realism with emotional urgency. Juka’s drama—part love story, part political thriller—captures the peril of living authentically under a system that demands conformity. With its resonant parallels to today’s political climate, the film serves as both a stirring history lesson and a poignant celebration of art, friendship, and the unbreakable pursuit of truth.

Kan-Kan, Tuesday, November 11, 7:00pm

Thursday

NOVEMBER 13

Closing Double Feature — Feature 1

Velvet Vision

Velvet Vision is a dazzling exploration of artist James Bidgood, whose 1960s fantasy-laden “beefcake” photographs and cult classic film Pink Narcissus forever changed queer visual culture. Initially shrouded in mystery and misattributed to Warhol and Anger, Pink Narcissus emerged decades later as Bidgood’s singular creation, a dreamworld conjured entirely within the walls of his Manhattan apartment.

Directed by Bart Everly, this 2025 documentary invites audiences into both the mythology and reality of Bidgood’s artistry. Featuring appearances by filmmaker John Waters, art historian Jonathan David Katz, designer Christian Louboutin, and Bidgood himself, the film chronicles his attempts to return to photography after a forty-year hiatus while revisiting his past as a drag artist, window dresser, and costume designer. Through rare archival material and intimate present-day encounters, the film captures the tension between Bidgood’s exuberant imagination and the societal rejection he endured as a queer outsider.

Directed by Bart Everly, USA, 2025, 97 Minutes

There will be a 15-20 minute intermission between the two features

Velvet Vision also situates Bidgood’s legacy within the broader arc of LGBTQ+ art and culture, illustrating how his lushly colored fantasies became lifelines—both for himself and for generations of artists who followed. At once a biography and a meditation on the power of beauty, the film reveals how one man’s devotion to fantasy served as a means of survival, and how his vision continues to inspire today.

Kan-Kan, Thursday, November 13, 7:00pm

Closing Double Feature — Feature

Pink Narcissus

A dazzling work of underground cinema, James Bidgood’s Pink Narcissus follows a young hustler who escapes the gritty realities of his life by retreating into vivid dreamscapes of beauty, desire, and erotic fantasy. Shot almost entirely within Bidgood’s New York apartment, the film stands as a fevered vision of queer longing and imagination unlike anything that had come before.

Constructed over seven painstaking years with hand-built sets and intoxicating colors, the film was controversially wrested from Bidgood’s control and completed without his approval—released in 1971 to little fanfare and without his name attached. Yet in the decades since, Pink Narcissus has been reappraised as a landmark of queer cinema, its aesthetic DNA echoed in the work of artists such as Pierre et Gilles and generations of visual stylists who followed.

Now restored in 4K after a years-in-the-making effort, Pink Narcissus’s erotic tableaux shimmer with new life, inviting both longtime admirers and first-time viewers to immerse themselves in Bidgood’s uncompromising vision. More than just a film, it is a mythic artifact of queer art history—achingly beautiful, defiantly imaginative, and eternally seductive.

Kan-Kan, Thursday, November 13—Film begins after intermission

Guide to

Dragfox

Director: Lisa Ott, UK, 8 Minutes

Sam's search for identity gets interrupted by a mysterious neighborhood fox. Together they embark on a magical journey to the attic to discover the surprising things they might have in common, and how to celebrate the ways in which they differ.

The Dinner Ghost

Directors: Christopher David Herbst, Zachary Allen Kapinos, USA, 3 Minutes

Sam, an anxious lesbian, who on the night of her proposal is surprised by the sudden appearance of her Grandpa's ghost!

BEFORE SHE’S THE HE

Cockroach

Director: Heather Older, USA, 9 Minutes

Juliette tries to survive a recent breakup with her longtime girlfriend by chronically masturbating and trying to convince herself to start dating men. Her delirium is finally relieved (sort of) by an unexpected stranger. Like cockroaches, love always finds a way to survive against the odds.

Gender Reveal

Director: Mo Matton, Canada, 13 Minutes

Rhys, a dedicated people pleaser, winds up at their boss’ gender reveal party with their two partners. The trans throuple soon realize that they are dealing with more than they were prepared for.

Tank Fairy

VINTAGE SHORTS BEFORE PYSCHO BEACH PARTY

Director: Erich Bettstatt, USA/Taiwan, 10 Minutes (2022)

Once upon a time, the magical Tank Fairy delivered tanks of gas (with plenty of sass) to the home of young Jojo, a lonely dreamer in need of a glittery godmother.

Mother Bunker

Director: George Metaxas, Australia/USA, 6 Minutes (2021)

Set during the robot-human war, a military robot begins to self-express by dressing in human drag and performing to a robot army.

BEFORE TO THE MOON

Director: Kevin Hartford, Canada, 10 Minutes (2022) Slay

Faced with the impending departure of his BFF, Glen makes an effort to rekindle old female friendships, to varying degrees of success.

BEFORE HEIGHTENED SCRUTINTY

Tippi & Barb

Director: Brad Burleson, USA 12 Minutes

Tippi and Barb’s Arkansas love story shatters on their wedding day when one phone call costs Tippi her career. Refusing silence, their fight for justice transforms them into unlikely champions for LGBTQIA+ rights and launches Tippi into politics. A powerful story of love, resilience, and the courage to spark lasting change.

POSTER GALLERY

Supporting LGBTQ+ young people, building caring communities.

Programs.

Programs at IYG revolves around building community, developing leadership qualities, and increasing self-esteem and self-efficacy. Through this programs, our staff hopes to lessen the impact of stressors most commonly faced by LGBTQ+ youth.

Case

Management.

One of the most important resources we offer to the youth is case management. Our case managers interview and evaluate youth to complete intakes and assessments.

Basic Needs.

One in four LGBTQ+ youth that comes out to their family is kicked out of their home. Many youth “couch surf,” stay with family/friends, or end up living on the street. IYG offers a plethora of resources for these youth including laundry, shower, food pantry, rapid rehousing assistance, clothing, and transportation assistance.

Indiana GSA Network.

IYG's Indiana GSA Network provides support to Gender and Sexuality Alliances (GSA) and Diversity clubs in middle and high schools across the state. Support comes in the form of information, community, skill-building resources, regional and state-wide events, and annual site visits.

Parent Resources.

IYG offers education and support to parents/guardians, family, and other caring adults. Meetups, online support, and both one-on-one and family counseling sessions are all available.