Out On Film returns for 39th year, announces first films of 2026 festival

For nearly four decades, Out On Film has helped make Atlanta a destination for LGBTQ+ cinema, bringing filmmakers and audiences from around the world together while elevating stories that often go unseen in mainstream theaters.

Now in its 39th year, the nonprofit festival returns Sept. 24 through Oct. 4 with the theme “The World We’re Making,” celebrating the power of queer storytelling to foster community and inspire conversation. Organizers recently announced the first two films in this year’s lineup, offering an early glimpse of what audiences can expect when the festival returns to Landmark Midtown Arts Cinema this fall. Festival passes are now on sale, and the full lineup will be announced Aug. 19.

Founded in 1987, Out On Film has grown from a five-day event into an 11-day festival recognized as one of the nation’s premier showcases for LGBTQ+ filmmaking. The organization became an independent nonprofit in 2008 and, in 2020, earned Academy Award-qualifying status for Best Live Action Short, placing it among a small group of LGBTQ+ film festivals worldwide with that distinction. Beyond its annual festival, Out On Film hosts year-round screenings, educational programs and filmmaker events that support LGBTQ+ artists and audiences in Atlanta.

Last year’s festival welcomed more than 17,000 attendees across its in-person and virtual programming, featured 155 films, hosted 43 filmmaker conversations and special events, and reached audiences in 254 cities across 13 countries through its virtual platform.

A still from “Test” a movie about an amateur wrestler who grapples with his sexuality in the midst of a dysfunctional family. The film premiered at the out on film festival, beginning September 24. (Provided by Out On Film.)

This year’s campaign, “The World We’re Making,” reflects the organization’s belief that film does more than entertain. Organizers say each screening, filmmaker, volunteer and audience member helps create a more connected and inclusive future where LGBTQ+ stories are seen, celebrated and shared.

Festival Director Jim Farmer said organizers are building on the momentum of last year’s record-breaking festival.

“After a record-breaking 2025, we are excited to bring Atlanta, and the region, one of our most exciting and biggest lineups,” Farmer said in a statement. “‘Test’ and ‘Dreamers’ are both stories that will resonate deeply with our audience.”

The first announced centerpiece selection, “Test,” marks director Sam McConnell’s feature debut. Set in rural Ohio, the drama follows an amateur bodybuilder struggling with family conflict, substance abuse and his emerging sexuality while pursuing his dream of becoming a champion. The film stars Brock Yurich, who also wrote the screenplay, alongside Tammy Blanchard and Matthew Morrison.

The movie poster for “Dreamers”, a film debuting at the Out On Film festival this fall. The movie features the story of Isio, an undocumented Nigerian woman living in the UK who falls in love with her roommate (photo via Out On Film).

The second centerpiece film, “Dreamers,” from writer-director Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, follows Isio, a Nigerian woman detained in a United Kingdom asylum removal center, after living undocumented for two years. As she falls in love with her roommate, Farah, the two women must navigate an uncertain future while confronting questions of identity, belonging and survival.

While dozens of additional features, documentaries and shorts will be announced next month, the first two selections reflect the festival’s longstanding focus on stories that explore identity, resilience and the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ communities. For Atlanta audiences, the festival continues a tradition that has connected local moviegoers with independent filmmakers and global perspectives for nearly 40 years.