Prague is set to welcome filmmakers, actors, and international guests for the 26th edition of the Mezipatra Queer Film Festival, running from Nov. 6-13 in the capital and Nov. 14-21 in Brno. The festival will present 26 feature films and 49 short films, offering a wide-ranging exploration of contemporary queer cinema from around the world.
The program balances high-profile premieres with emerging voices, featuring films that tackle diverse topics including identity, intimacy, social marginalization, and political realities. Audiences can also engage with festival guests and experts in post-screening discussions, emphasizing the festival’s commitment to dialogue and education.
From thought-provoking feature films to experimental documentaries and short film competitions, Mezipatra continues to serve as a platform for both creative expression and critical reflection within the queer cinematic landscape. In Prague, Mezipatra screenings will take place at Kino Světozor, Kino Lucerna, Edison Filmhub, and Kino 35.
International features and main competition
This year’s festival brings a varied slate of feature films, ten of which will compete for the Grand Jury Prize. Among them is the Austrian debut If You Are Afraid You Put Your Heart Into Your Mouth and Smile, directed by Marie Luise Lehner. The film follows 12-year-old Anna and her deaf mother living in a low-income Vienna housing estate, presenting queer existence as a natural part of everyday life without relying on conventional narrative tropes.
German drama No Dogs Allowed (pictured at top), by director Steve Bache and screenwriter Stephan Kämpf, confronts the delicate subject of pedophilia with sensitivity, supported by psychological expertise and on-set intimacy coordination. Brazilian-Portuguese crime drama Toll, edited by Lautaro Colace, offers a tense narrative-driven exploration of moral and social boundaries.
Other anticipated entries include the Mexican road movie On the Run, winner of the Queer Lion Award at Venice, and French psychological drama Love Me Tender, based on Constance Debré’s autofictional novel and starring Vicky Krieps. The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo transports viewers to 1980s Chile, blending magical realism and absurdist humor in a story about queer family life under mysterious circumstances.
Norwegian actor Lars Jacob Holm will attend with Dreams, portraying a psychologist navigating intimate and emotional complexities, while Croatia-Lithuania-Slovenia co-production Sandbag Dam adds to the festival’s European representation. Additional films include Australia’s Lesbian Space Princess, South Korea’s 3670, and a selection of short films from Central Europe, China, and Ukraine.
Documentaries, retrospectives, and expert discussions
The documentary program highlights queer lived experience and social issues. German director Maja Classen’s Truth or Dare follows Berlin-based sex workers exploring intimacy and embodiment, while Heightened Scrutiny draws attention to systemic transphobia in the United States. Ukrainian drag performers feature in Queens of Joy, providing insight into performance, identity, and resilience under challenging conditions.
Retrospectives will focus on female directors including the Wachowski sisters (Bound) and Jamie Babbit (But I’m a Cheerleader), while special screenings range from Czech-Vietnamese director Dužan Duong’s Summer School, 2001 to the midnight zombie comedy Queens of the Dead.
The festival will also host expert debates following selected screenings. Discussions on queer identity and social issues include commentary by Czech documentarian Lukáš Houdek on No Dogs Allowed, University of Vienna researcher Stefan Schweigler after If You Are Afraid…, and trans-rights activist Viktor Heumann following Gen_, a documentary on pioneering hormonal therapy. These debates underscore Mezipatra’s dual role as both a cinematic showcase and a forum for informed discussion about LGBTQ+ realities locally and internationally.
In addition to screenings, the festival spotlights industry-focused programs. The Queering the Industry section and a new collaboration with OUTPITCH aim to support V4-region and Ukrainian filmmakers in developing queer-themed films, highlighting the festival’s role in nurturing the next generation of international queer cinema.
More info about this year’s fest can be found at the official Mezipatra website.
