“Going Varsity in Mariachi” is one of the films with LGBTQ themes that will screen at AFI Fest 2023 in Hollywood. Photo: Provided by AFI Fest.
AFI Fest, in its 37th year, will launch Wednesday in Hollywood with a lineup of LGBTQ movies. The five-day festival will open with the world premiere of Sam Esmail’s “Leave the World Behind” and close with Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein biopic “Maestro.” But between those films are several LGBTQ movies and some shorts.
AFI Fest 2023 will also present panels and conversations, featuring both master filmmakers and new cinematic voices. Here’s a rundown of the queer feature films. “20,000 Species of Bees” (“20,000 Especies de Abejas”) In this sun-soaked, sublimely sensitive debut, an 8-year-old experiences a gender identity crisis during a summer vacation in Basque Country, where three generations of women in her family reside together.
Andrew Scott, left, and Paul Mescal star in “All of Us Strangers,” which will screen at AFI Fest 2023. Photo by Parisa Taghizadeh/Searchlight Pictures. “All of Us Strangers” The latest from director Andrew Haigh (“45 Years,” “Weekend”), who identifies as gay, is eagerly anticipated.