DNA Magazine’s Top Ten Tips For The Mardi Gras Film Festival 2026
The 33rd Mardi Gras Film Festival is about to take over screens with a massive lineup of 139 films from 38 countries. Run by Queer Screen, this festival has become a global staple for showcasing the best in LGBTIQIA+ storytelling. The 2026 program runs from 12 February to 26 February, and it is packed with world premieres, restored classics, and bold new voices.
Navigating a program of this size can be overwhelming, so DNA has combed through the schedule to find the absolute must-see titles. Whether you are into starry dramas, kinky thrillers, or surreal fables, these are our top tips for the festival.
Alexander Skarsgård revs up in Pillion.
This special presentation is likely to be one of the hottest tickets of the festival. Pillion, directed by Harry Lighton, stars Alexander Skarsgård (Big Little Lies) and Harry Melling (The Queen’s Gambit). The story follows Colin, a directionless wallflower who gets uprooted from his dull suburban life. He is introduced to a community of kinky, queer bikers and uninhibited BDSM sex. It sounds like a wild ride that mixes star power with a gritty, provocative edge.
Russell Tovey returns in Plainclothes.
If you missed this at the Queer Screen Film Fest in 2025, now is your chance. Plainclothes is back by popular demand. Directed by Carmen Emmi, this tense romantic thriller features Russell Tovey (Looking) and Tom Blyth (The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes). Tovey is always a favourite with our readers, and pairing him with Blyth in a 1990s setting makes this a standout.
A classic returns with The Naked Civil Servant.
It has been 50 years since this film first shocked and delighted audiences. Directed by Jack Gold, The Naked Civil Servant stars the legendary John Hurt as Quentin Crisp. Crisp made the bold decision to live as an openly gay man in the conservative England of the 1930s and 1940s. This anniversary screening is a perfect opportunity to revisit a piece of queer history that paved the way for so many modern stories.
Historical drama unfolds in Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day.
Directed by Ivona Juka, Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day (originally titled Lijepa večer, lijep dan) is a sweeping historical drama. It confronts the harrowing cost of artistic freedom under repression. For those who love cinema that chews on serious themes and delivers high-stakes emotion, this looks like a winner.
Get ready to dance with The Best Friend.
Sometimes you just need a good musical. The Best Friend (O Melhor Amigo), directed by Allan Deberton, promises to be a frothy, feel-good romantic comedy. The film is punctuated with bright and catchy 1980s-style tunes that will have you dancing in your seat. It is the perfect antidote to some of the heavier dramas in the lineup.
A surreal fable in Perro Perro.
Director Marco Berger delivers something truly unique with Perro Perro. This is described as a homoerotic fable where “man’s best friend” is literally a man. It is a sweetly surreal exploration of intimacy, loneliness, and desire. Berger often plays with tension and male interaction, so we expect this to be a fascinating watch.
Voyeurism and spectacle in Night Stage.
For those looking for something edgier, Night Stage fits the bill. Directed by Filipe Matzembacher and Marcio Reolon, this is a bold and unapologetically queer erotic thriller. The film embraces themes of voyeurism, seduction, and spectacle. It sounds like a film that will push boundaries and spark conversation.
Masculinity under pressure in On The Sea.
Directed by Helen Walsh, On The Sea offers a quietly aching portrait of masculinity. The film explores desire not as an escape, but as something hard-won and deeply human. This kind of introspective storytelling often resonates deeply, offering a look at the complexities of male vulnerability.
Caught between worlds in Tiger.
This film takes us to Tokyo. Tiger, directed by Anshul Chauhan, follows Taiga, a gay masseur. He finds himself caught between traditional expectations and the life he has chosen for himself. It promises to be a compelling look at the clash between duty and personal truth in a modern Japanese setting.
A defiant romance in We Are Faheem & Karun.
Co-written by Fawzia Mirza, who gave us The Queen Of My Dreams, this film is directed by Onir. We Are Faheem & Karun presents a defiant queer romance set against the volatile borderlands of Kashmir. Stories that balance political conflict with personal love stories are often the most powerful, and this one looks unmissable.
Tickets are on sale now at the Queer Screen website or through the Queer Screen app.
