Russell Tovey Lights Up Queer Screen Fest 2025 With Opening Night Screening Of “Plainclothes”
Queer Screen Festival wastes no time setting the stakes high! Plainclothes follows Lucas, a closeted undercover cop in 1990s New York whose sting operation flips when he falls hard for his target, played by Russell Tovey. Carmen Emmi’s nostalgic visuals and dreamy soundtrack make the romance feel urgent and dangerously close.
Award winners keep the energy high.
Dylan O’Brien’s dark comedy Twinless arrives fresh from Sundance with an Audience Award under its belt. O’Brien plays opposite writer-director James Sweeney in a sharp dive into grief, identity and messy intimacy that critics have already called “hilariously twisted.”
Steam, sand and self-discovery.
Denmark’s Sauna turns the heat up as Johan, a sauna attendant, falls for William, a trans man taking time out from uni. Director Mathias Broe mines class and gender politics while serving sun-bleached visuals and tender chemistry that broke ground at Sundance earlier this year.
A memoir that never lets go.
Ten years after its first screening, Holding The Man returns for a one-night salute at the Sydney Opera House, marking 40 years of ACON and three decades since Timothy Conigrave penned the memoir that still cuts deep. Expect the Q&A to flow with stories, laughter, and a few tissues.
Local voices, big feelings.
Western Sydney director Bina Bhattacharya brings From All Sides, a fearless look at an open, bisexual marriage balancing teenage chaos and cultural pride. The NSW premiere lands on 29 August, followed by a cosy chat with the cast and crew.
Quiet chemistry blooms under a mango tree.
Winner of Sundance’s World Cinema Dramatic Jury Prize, Cactus Pears brings a gentle rural romance from India. Childhood mates Anand and Balya reunite during a mourning period, letting grief and affection tangle in lyrical silence. Director Rohan Parashuram Kanawade captures small-town intimacy without gloss.
At DNA, we love a festival that feeds both heart and head. Queer Screen’s new Emerging Narrative Feature Competition drops $2,500 on first- or second-time directors, while the Pitch Off dangles a $20,000 pool for shorts. It is a week where newcomers mingle with icons, and every seat offers a fresh point of view.
The festival lights up Event Cinemas George Street, Sydney from 27 to 31 August. Tickets, Flexi Passes, and memberships are live now at queerscreen.org.au.
