CinePride Film Festival Debuts in Los Angeles, Celebrating Queer Cinema This September 2025
A bold new chapter in queer cinema begins this fall as CinePride Film Festival, an innovative LGBTQIA+ film festival, makes its debut in Los Angeles, September 11-14, at Landmark Theatres Sunset in West Hollywood.
This four-day event promises a transformative journey through authentic and diverse queer narratives, spotlighting stories that challenge convention, ignite conversation, and affirm the powerful impact of LGBTQIA+ voices in film.
“The country is at a cultural crossroads where visibility and representation can literally save lives,” says Cecilio Asuncion, Executive Director of CinePride Film Festival. “Authentic storytelling challenges stereotypes, humanizes our experiences, and ensures that queer people—especially the most marginalized—see themselves reflected in ways that affirm their existence.”
The festival’s lineup will feature 30-40 films across genres, including feature films, shorts, and documentaries. Selections will be chosen by a collaborative team of filmmakers, critics, and community leaders passionate about queer cinema. The focus will be on artistic excellence, fresh perspectives, and the ability to spark conversations—with a strong emphasis on elevating the stories of those who are transgender, non-binary, BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color), immigrants and those with disabilities.
“We aim to showcase films that are bold, unapologetic, and emotionally resonant,” says transgender supermodel and actress, Arisce Wanzer, who serves on the festival’s Board of Directors. “Stories that take risks, speak the truth, and capture the full spectrum of the LGBTQIA+ experience—joy, love, pain, and resilience.”
“The country is at a cultural crossroads where visibility and representation can literally save lives.”
Joining Wanzer on the CinePride Film Festival board are, Winston Emano, founder of Mano Y Mano Media, a boutique media strategy firm representing films as well as NBA and NFL athletes, and Sabrina Riddle, a founding member of the San Francisco LGBT Center who played a pivotal role in launching the premiere of Showtime’s The L Word.
The executive team features Cecilio Asuncion, an award-winning documentary film director and TV producer; Programming Director Miguel Santos, a media executive and producer currently serving as COO of Whoopi Goldberg’s All Women’s Sports Network; and Development Director Michael Daly, a sales and experiential marketing consultant.
CinePride Film Festival will present awards in 17 categories, including Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Web Series or TV Pilot, Best Lead Performance, Best Director, and the Trailblazer Award. The coveted Audience Choice Award will be decided by festival goers.
Screenings will be enhanced by workshops, filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions, and a Director’s Brunch. A dedicated workshop will support emerging queer filmmakers, reinforcing CinePride Film Festival’s commitment to providing institutional support and funding for creators from marginalized backgrounds. Additionally, in a nod to the past, the festival will feature a retrospective honoring groundbreaking queer films from Asia.
Beyond the four-day festival, CinePride Film Festival aims to foster community engagement year-round through initiatives, workshops, and collaborations with LGBTQIA+ organizations. “CinePride Film Festival isn’t just a film festival—it’s a movement that belongs in Los Angeles, the epicenter of the film industry,” Mr. Santos declares. “We’re setting the stage for the next generation of storytellers who will redefine what’s possible in film.”
“True progress happens when queer films aren’t just for queer audiences but are seen as vital storytelling for everyone,” says Ms. Riddle.
Mr. Asuncion adds, “For too long, LGBTQIA+ narratives have been sidelined, tokenized, or filtered through a heteronormative lens. We must challenge outdated industry gatekeeping and demand seats at the table—whether in festival circuits, distribution deals, or award bodies—while pushing audiences beyond their comfort zones.”
For more information, visit www.CinePride.org.
