OUTshine Film Festival unveils 2026 fall lineup with premieres from 20 countries

The OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival returns to South Florida Oct. 15-25 with more than 20 premieres, special events and screenings across Broward and Miami-Dade counties. The 28-year-old festival is leaning on international titles, local stories and Halloween-themed programming to draw audiences back in person and online.

Why it matters: - The OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival remains one of the largest LGBTQ+ cultural festivals in the world. - The fall edition adds more than 20 premieres from 20 countries, giving South Florida audiences access to films that may not otherwise screen locally. - The lineup mixes international titles with local stories, which broadens the festival’s cultural reach and community impact.

What happened: - OUTshine announced its Fall Edition will run Oct. 15-25, 2026, in South Florida. - Screenings and events will take place in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. - The festival will feature international, North American, East Coast and Florida premieres. - The schedule includes OUTshine After Dark, a Halloween-themed centerpiece film and afterparty, a local documentary sneak preview, filmmaker panels and special events. - The festival says it is celebrating 28 years of film diversity in South Florida.

The details: - The opening film is La Bola Negra on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. at Regal Dania Pointe, followed by an afterparty at 14 North Daiquiri Bar. - Men’s and Ladies Spotlight films on Oct. 17 include Flesh & Fuel (Du Fioul dans les artères) and Mouse at Paradigm Cinemas: Gateway Fort Lauderdale. - Cocktails & Cinema on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20 includes the Florida premiere of Loves Company in Fort Lauderdale, The Old Man and The Parrot and short films Hogar, Brackish and Duke in Miami, the hometown feature The Drive in Fort Lauderdale, and Bea Arthur: The Documentary in Miami. - The centerpiece film on Oct. 21 is the Florida premiere of No Rest for the Wicked at 7:30 p.m., followed by a Halloween afterparty. - Noche CineMundo on Oct. 23 includes the international premiere of Love on a Tightrope (Tal Vez), the Florida premiere of Narciso, and the Southeast premiere of Corpus at Silverspot Cinema Downtown Miami. - Closing night is Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. with the Florida premiere of Before I Do at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex. - Other highlights include world premieres of The Mirror and The Fixation. - Additional international premieres include Ballroom, Whispering Trees and The Last Routine. - Heir to Secrets will make its U.S. premiere. - East Coast premieres include Jim Queen, The Golden Age, A Good Child, The Arrangement and Chica Checa. - I Am Mario is set as the Trans Spotlight selection and will have a Southeast premiere. - Regional Florida premieres also include Labrador or the Autopsy of Silence, Downtown, I Come Home and Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders. - Select films will be available for OUTshine At-Home viewing from Oct. 26-Nov. 1. - Ticket subscription packages and individual tickets start at $17. - OUTshine passholders and Producer Circle members get priority advance ticket access. - The full film listing and ticket sales are available at outshinefilm.com.

Between the lines: - Programming leans into both celebration and resistance, with the festival framing LGBTQ storytelling as culturally necessary. - The lineup also shows a deliberate balance between global cinema and South Florida-specific stories, which can help the festival attract both cinephiles and local community audiences. - The Halloween-centered events suggest OUTshine is trying to package screenings as social experiences, not just movie showings.

What's next: - The festival will continue rolling out screenings and special events through Oct. 25. - Audience members can then stream select titles through OUTshine At-Home from Oct. 26-Nov. 1. - Additional attendance will depend on ticket sales, passholder access and event turnout across the two-county run.

The bottom line: - OUTshine is betting that a broad, internationally sourced lineup and strong community programming will keep South Florida engaged for another year.