One of America’s preeminent LGBTQ+ film festivals, the Oscar®-qualifying and USA TODAY “10Best” Out On Film Festival (#OOF26), invites the community to be part of “The World We’re Making” as the nonprofit festival kicks off its 39th year of bringing the best in LGBTQ+ films, documentaries, and shorts to local, national, and international audiences – in person and via the festival’s virtual platform. The festival boasts 150+ narrative films, documentaries, shorts and special events. Presented by GILEAD, all festival screenings, Q&As and panels will take place at the historic Landmark Midtown Art Cinema.

Every ticket helps create spaces where LGBTQ+ stories can be seen, celebrated, and shared, and helps build “The World We’re Making.” This year’s theme reflects the power of queer cinema to not only tell our stories, but to help shape the world around us. Every screening, filmmaker, volunteer, audience member, sponsor and conversation contributes to building a more connected, visible, and inclusive future.

This 39th festival offers a diverse selection that includes 38 features (26 narrative films and 12 documentaries, four of which are streaming-only films); an episode of an upcoming TV series; 108 shorts; three music videos; and five episodics for a total of 155 films. In all, Out On Film will host 10 world premieres, five international premieres, 11 U.S. premieres and more than 20 regional premieres as part of the 2026 festival.

“Coming off of a record-breaking 2025, we are extraordinarily proud to present our largest festival ever, one that shines a spotlight on cinema and voices around the world,” said Out On Film Festival Director Jim Farmer. “It’s also wonderful to be able to offer so many Atlanta-area films and filmmakers, including some exciting world premieres.”

“’The World We’re Making’ feels especially meaningful and empowering right now,” said new Out On Film Executive Director Cindy L. Abel. “We’re not waiting for a better world to be handed to us, we’re building it, frame by frame and story by story, together. There’s something powerful about experiencing these films in a room full of people and discovering the conversations and connections that begin when the credits roll. We hope audiences leave a little more hopeful, a little more connected, and certain that the world worth making is already under construction — right here, right now.”

Out On Film continues to build on its national recognition. Earlier this year, Two People Exchanging Saliva, directed by Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh (France/USA), which

qualified for Oscar® consideration through Out On Film in 2025, tied for the Academy Award® for Best Live Action Short.  

Seven films awarded grants from Out On Film’s Filmmaker Fund are in the line-up, including Charlene Fisk’s Call and Response and Hannah Alline’s Scissors. Reel Resistance Fellowship (a six-month in partnership with Atlanta Pride) recipient films include Carlo Velayo’s The Center and Beyond The Doors of Club 708.

Thursday, Sept. 24, opening night is the East Coast premiere of Before I Do exploring a lakeside bachelor party weekend that devolves into comedic chaos when the groom and his best man’s past romantic feelings reignite, entangling the wedding party in pre-wedding drama. The film stars Cole Doman, Michael Hsu Rosen, Nico Greetham, Robin de Jesús and Jared Reinfeldt.

The festival’s Centerpiece Film Sunday, Sept. 27, 6:15 p.m. is Give Me The Ball!  Billie Jean King is a global icon whose impact on tennis and equality resonates around the world. But the personal turmoil behind this transformational figure has in many ways remained hidden from view. The film shares the sacrifices King was forced to make behind the scenes, even as she fought high-profile battles for the professionalization of her sport and equal treatment for women. From struggling to escape an unhappy marriage and hiding her sexual orientation to facing an eating disorder and staring down misogyny at every turn, her march to triumph was a long and often lonely one. This is a woman whose saga cuts deeper than her victory in the “Battle of the Sexes” showdown, and the film showcases King like the persistent fighter she had to become. Through a trove of rarely seen archival material and powerfully honest interviews with King, this film explores the depths of agony she endured so that others might follow a less painful path. It is the story of selflessness, struggle, and triumph that shines an unforgettable light on a figure who is widely admired but, until now, never properly understood.

Additionally notable, Closing Night Sunday, Oct. 4, 6:30 p.m. is La Bola Negra. The film is a bold tapestry spanning nearly a century of Spanish history. It is last week’s TIFF People’s Choice winner and tells the story of three generations of men whose lives are intimately connected through desire, pain, and love in this celebrated film from Cannes-winning directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi. It stars Milo Quifes, Guitarricadelafuente and Carlos González with featured performances by Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close.  

Another notable special presentation is 1985’s iconic Desert Hearts with Director Donna Deitch set to appear. Based on Jane Rule’s novel, this romantic drama has become an iconic lesbian classic. While waiting for her divorce papers, repressed literature professor Vivian Bell (Helen Shaver) finds herself unexpectedly attracted by a carefree, spirited young woman named Cay (Patricia Charbonneau).

A few other anticipated highlights of the festival:

• The world premiere of In Between, directed by Nicholas Molencupp and Juli-Ann De Barros, filmed in Atlanta with a local cast
• The U.S. premiere of Canadian film I Come Home
• The Southeastern premieres of Ephemera from Singapore and Out of the Woods featuring Frances Fisher
• The Georgia premiere of Israel film A Man Walks Down the Street
• A Rising Star Award presentation to actor/singer/director Jelani Alladin, whose short film Next Year will have its world premiere at the festival
• The first episode of the STARZ drama “Tip Toe”
• The Mexican films The Divine Tragedy and On The Road
• The Brazilian film Gugu’s World
• The Spanish film Ivan & Hadoum
• The British film Madfabulous
• The South African film Black Burns Fast

Passes and tickets are on sale now at festival.outonfilm.org.