Before I was an archivist, I was a film programmer. Before I was a film programmer, I was an audience member. 

Last year, as I looked at the coming summer of queer cinema, I put myself in the place where it all began–sitting in a theater, in community, watching worlds unfold. For me, queer moving images are heirlooms, passed from one generation to the next through the work of artists and cultural workers.

At the UCLA Film & Television Archive, home to the largest queer moving image archive in the world, our responsibility to the community goes beyond our vaults. We honor this commitment and the Archive’s history by focusing on the filmmakers and audiences seeking spaces to come together.

With Queer Rhapsody, the Archive is proud to present this contemporary series in collaboration with independent programmers, with venues dedicated to queer audiences, and in gratitude for the incredible support of the Andrew J. Kuehn, Jr. Foundation and the Robert Gore Rifkind Foundation.

Collectively, we present a slate of brave, innovative, and visionary works that reflect LGBTQIA+ stories and experiences. Thank you for joining us in celebrating the power of art in community.

See you on screen,

May Hong HaDuong

Director, UCLA Film & Television Archive

It is a profound honor to gather with you here in Los Angeles to celebrate the rich tapestry of LGBTQIA+ cinema.

As a curator and educator, it is my immense joy to cultivate spaces of belonging. I believe storytelling is a revolutionary act—a defiant and affirming practice of wonder. Now more than ever, LGBTQIA+ stories are essential. They illuminate our shared experiences, explore our differences, foster resilience and inspire collective action.

My vision for audiences is to experience a collective gaze of care on screen and within our community. “Beautiful” by Hey, King! featured in the Queer Rhapsody trailer, expresses this dream: “Come on now, come on and get me / Cause with you, the world that I see / Is beautiful.” This anthem captures the spirit of Queer Rhapsody—stories that connect, empower, and celebrate our diverse community are richer by experiencing them together. 

Our series opens on July 19th with Second Nature. Directed by Drew Denny and narrated by Elliot Page, this spirited documentary challenges myths about gender and sexuality and sets the tone for a series celebrating curiosity and collective learning.

When curating Queer Rhapsody, our incredible programming team was drawn to seven themes that resonate deeply within our community. In addition to innovative feature narrative and documentary films across July, our shorts programs are packed with joyful narrative wonder:  Determined Defiance: Voices of Change showcases the power of defying the status quo. Generations in Bloom: Growth and Connection Across the Ages captures the beauty of connection and growth through different life stages. Laughing Through Fire: Comedy as a Compass uses humor to navigate modern complexities. Love in Focus: Black Queer Rhapsody highlights the creative wisdom found in Black queer life. Queering Memory: Gathering Light Past, Present and Future honors our past and envisions a future of belonging. Sacred Sites: Queer Sanctuaries explores queer spaces of resonance and delight. Transcendent Movements: Queer Artists in Motion celebrates creative expression. 

We close out the series on July 28th with The Queen of My Dreams from writer-director Fawzia Mirza. The warm, must-see coming-of-age and Bollywood-inspired journey through memories, both real and imagined, is a reminder that healing and joy are intertwined.

Our cultural partners—UCLA Film & Television Archive at the Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum, American Cinematheque at the Egyptian and Los Feliz 3 Theatres, Eagle Theatre at Vidiots and Oculus Hall at The Broad—offer sanctuaries where queer stories can be vibrantly appreciated. 

As we embark on this journey together, let these films inspire you to engage your community with new conversations, follow your curiosity to explore an unexpected program, dance post-screening at Queer Prom or befriend a seat neighbor  to affirm the beauty and collective wonder of cinema. Our stories have the power to transform our personal journeys and mirror the compassion, joy and justice we all deserve.

I look forward to celebrating Queer Rhapsody with you at the movies. 

With deepest gratitude,

Martine McDonald

Creative Director, Queer Rhapsody