What's Queer at the 2025 Regent Park Film Fest?

From November 26 to the 30th, Toronto gets a free, beautifully programmed film fest and this years boasts some great queer content.

The Regent Park Film Festival is our city's "longest-running, FREE film festival, which amplifies and centers marginalized communities and their stories, while opening up access to the film and television industry through year-round programming."

Making film accessilble to all, we excitedly spoke to RPFF Manager of Programming, Sarah-Tai Black about the queer content to check out this year.

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Yohomo: Any thoughts on some of the queer programming at this year's fest?

Sarah-Tai Black: This year, we are so privileged to platform so many specifically Canadian and Toronto-based queer and trans voices in our two short film programs. From Gulzar's gorgeous and warmly shot film A Kin Sin, Emma Stuck's diaristic punky short Stubble, and Halen King's If We Met Now, a tender, yet complicated look at how changes in gender identity impact relationships, this year's programming features an amazing roster of racialized queer and trans voices that offer a beautifully kaleidoscopic view of how we experience the worlds around and within us.

RPFF is such a beautiful film fest, and it's FREE! Why should queer movie lovers support and check it out if it's their first time.

We also offer free childcare :) We really try our absolute best to make sure everything we do is accessible to community so, please, come out and join us in celebrating, not just accessibility in the arts, but a chance to catch programming that you might not be able to see anywhere else — we've got a ton of films having their Canadian and Toronto premieres!

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Shorts Program 1 - Between Rituals and Return

A Kin Sin, dir. Gulzar [director in attendance]

Intimate and beautiful — like a peek into those conversations and moments with friends that are unseen but so necessary in the formation of our full selves. Allows us to witness trans & queer South Asian folks work through something as transformative as gender norms in an inquisitive and fun way. Beautifully shot on celluloid/film proper!

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Shorts Program 2 - Tender Points

Mùa Xuân Của Mẹ | Mother’s Spring, dir. Trâm Anh Nguyễn [director in attendance]

A graceful reflection and witnessing of intergenerational dialogue/conflict around gender identity and traditional cultural/family norms. Reflects with ease on the misunderstandings between cis parent and trans child, challenging audiences by offering that some parents do have the capacity to come to know how to support and offer care for, if not fully understand, the transness of their child. A powerful film for queer youth to see!

If We Met Now, dir. Halen King

Lovely intimate film that approaches difficult conversations and shifting relationship dynamics with care and awareness. Examines how self-definition impacts those around us, particularly in intimate relationships. Strong dialogue drives the narrative, posing important questions about personal autonomy: How do you choose yourself and honor your needs without negatively affecting your partner? Is that even possible? The film navigates these complex interpersonal tensions with nuance and authenticity.

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Stubble, dir. Emma Zuck

Cute and reflective personal documentary spanning different backgrounds and generations and the different perspectives those identities bring to the idea of softness. Touching and reflective diary film that explores the nuances of gender, relationships, and how we become our full selves.  

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Films without explicit queer content or exclusively focused on queer folks, but I, as a queer person, Sarah-Tai enjoyed this in a queer way (lol):

Cutting Through Rocks, dir. Mohammad Reza Eyni, Sara Khaki

Electric, angering, stunning! Does exactly what a doc should do. Cheered from my seat for this feminist, gender defiant woman who continues to advocate for the women and girls in her community despite the active opposition from all the men in positions of power! Main character is not explicitly named as queer or trans, but I literally know lesbians will love her and her motorbike :)

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Dinner With Friends, dir. Sasha Leigh Henry

Set piece drama following a group of friends, many of whom are couples, including a queer [boy] couple. Toronto-set film!

Lastly, the wonderful Gulzar is also hosting a 3-hr, interactive 16mm direct animation workshop. Check that out too.

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Beyond the festival,  give RPFF a follow on IG for their annual summer screening series for more queer fun (this summer they showed the wonderful romcom A Nice Indian Boy and had a performance from the one and only Mango Lassi! It was a TIME!)