Your Guide to OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival
The OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival is back at the Carolina Theatre with a new slate of films that celebrate the LGBTQIA community.
Formerly the North Carolina Gay + Lesbian Film Festival, the OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival is returning to the Carolina Theatre on August 13-16, 2026. This year's festival marks 31 years of embracing and celebrating the LGBTQIA community in Durham and worldwide.
The festival will feature over 141 shorts, documentaries and feature films that celebrate gay, lesbian and transgender life, including independent and mainstream productions. While the films span a broad thematic range every year, this year's focus will be on queer filmmakers’ recent work, historical fiction, HIV/AIDS stories and Black queer voices.
After the festival events are over, rub elbows with like-minded folks at queer-owned and queer-friendly local bars and restaurants like –
- The Pinhook – a community-forward bar and venue with live events like local and touring bands and drag shows.
- Velvet Hippo – a recently opened rooftop bar offering good vibes and drinks for everyone.
- Rubies on Five Points – a casual bar and venue with nightly events like live music and dance parties.
- Arcana – an intimate bar with a tarot theme & loungey decor known for draft cocktails and mocktails and a variety of artistic events.
- Queeny’s – a uniquely Durham gathering place with casual vibes, serving good food and drinks until late.
Learn more about LGBTQIA-owned businesses in Durham and find out how Durham celebrates queer culture all year round.
The History of OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival
This incredible festival dates back to 1995 when it debuted as the QFest. That was the same year the NC Pride Parade approached the Carolina Theatre with the idea of hosting a gay and lesbian film festival in conjunction with Pride’s annual parade and festival.
Regarding the festival held the following year, now the NCGLFF, the Carolina Theatre proclaimed:
The festival pays tribute to an historical struggle, explores important and controversial issues, and celebrates the diversity of our community through the visual voice of film. The festival committee, comprised of volunteers from across the Triangle, has worked for months planning the [festival’s] events. They selected the festival’s films to represent a broad spectrum of gay and lesbian filmmaking and life.
The festival attracted a few hundred people in its first year, but now it attracts over 15,000. “The lobbies are packed. The screenings are packed,” said Jim Carl, the Senior Director of Programming at the Carolina Theatre.
In 2023, the festival hosted filmmakers from New York and L.A. as well as international filmmakers from Estonia, Chile, Mexico and Canada. The 2024 festival welcomed international artists from Italy, Canada, Mexico and Romania.
"Coming Together as a community is powerful." says Carolina Theatre CEO Randy Mckay. "It's a political statement and a stand. In a world more emboldened than ever to marginalize, to minimize, to say that different voices should not be heard, OUTSOUTH is a welcoming space and a reminder that we each deserve the rights guaranteed to all Americans."
Chuck Wheeler, Festival Coordinator since its inception in 1996, was recognized in 2024 by Out Magazine's OUT100 list of artists, disruptors, educators, groundbreakers, innovators and storytellers making the world a better place for the LGBTQIA community.
Outsouth Film Lineup & Programming Highlights
OUTSOUTH allows visitors to see a variety of films they most likely won't find in a theater elsewhere. Screenings range from programs of short films and international films to screwball comedies, dramas, and more.
Raunchy Doc: "Hunky Jesus"
This feature documentary from Jennifer Kroot explores and celebrates the "legacy of the San Francisco chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence." This group is a secular order of queer and trans "nuns" who have gathered together in the name of joy, humor and irreverence to combat guilt and shame.
Free Screening: "What Will I Become?"
On August 15th at 10 a.m., there will be a free screening of "What Will I Become." Directed by Lexie Bean & Logan Rozos, two trans suicide survivors, this film affirms trans youth and the LGBTQIA2S+ community. In the film, the directors travel across the country, "trying to understand their own trans boyhoods through the legacies of two young trans men no longer here today," Blake Brockington and Kyler Prescott.
First feature: "Whistle Down Wind"
Directed by Durham native Morgen Lander, this film follows the lives of Janie and Alex from childhood and into adulthood as they navigate the conservative ideologies of their Appalachian upbringing with their sexualities and the future of their relationship.
Other films include "There's Something About Oakwood," "She's Always On My Mind," "Something Wicked This Way Comes," and so many more.
Check the screening schedule to make sure you don't miss any of these must-see films.
Where to Stay
When you come to OUTSOUTH, don't forget that the Carolina Theatre is situated in the heart of downtown Durham, a walkable district with plenty of new things to see and do. There are five hotels within walking distance of the Carolina Theatre:
- Durham Marriott City Center Marriott City Center is connected to the Carolina Theatre, offering easy access to festival activities.
- 21c Museum Hotel Explore the hotel’s art collection and snag a selfie with the 21c mascot – a hot magenta penguin (.2 miles from the Carolina Theatre).
- The Durham Hotel A mid-century boutique hotel with a celebrated restaurant and rooftop bar (.2 miles from the Carolina Theatre).
- Aloft Durham Downtown Located near the American Tobacco Campus, Aloft offers a modern aesthetic, heated pool, and proximity to plenty of dining and entertainment options (.5 miles from the Carolina Theatre).
- Residence Inn Durham McPherson/Duke University Medical Center Area The newly constructed Residence Inn has apartment-style suites, heated pool, and fitness center near the Brightleaf District (.6 miles from the Carolina Theatre).
- Unscripted Durham An eclectic hotel with a rooftop deck, pool and unique cocktail and cuisine options. (.1 miles from the Carolina Theatre).
- Springhill Suites by Marriott City View A stylish, all-suite hotel with modern amenities and sustainable practices. Enjoy free breakfast and bring along the pup for a pet-friendly stay. (.8 miles from the Carolina Theatre).
Where to go During OUTSOUTH
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The Carolina TheatreBe sure to catch a show at Carolina Theatre, an institution that’s been standing in the heart of downtown Durham since…
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Durham Marriott City CenterExperience a blend of comfort and cosmopolitan style at Durham Marriott City Center. Set in the heart of Durham, this hotel…
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21c Museum HotelStanding tall and proud in the center of downtown Durham, 21c Museum Hotel is a multi-venue contemporary art museum offering a…
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The Durham HotelThe Durham, a mid-century modern boutique hotel, has been resurrected and reimagined using the fibers of its past. With 2,317 square…
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Springhill Suites by Marriott Durham City ViewJust one block from downtown, the all-suite Durham City hotel seamlessly blends design and functionality, offering the modern amenities you need…
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Aloft Durham DowntownWhether you’re visiting DPAC for a show, catching a Durham Bulls game, or taking in the downtown vibe, we are located…
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Residence Inn by Marriott Durham McPherson/Duke University Medical Center AreaHost your private meeting, small forum, weddings, and special occasion. The property offers a prime location near Duke University, North Carolina…
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PinhookAt this gritty, intimate venue downtown, you're equally likely to see a popular band up close and personal, discover your new…
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The Velvet HippoOn weekends, you don’t have to leave Fido behind when visiting this new neighborhood bar downtown. The Velvet Hippo, an homage…
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Queeny’sA uniquely Durham gathering place with casual vibes, serving good food and drinks until late – one of the few Durham…
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Arcana Bar and LoungeYou'll be rewarded with a good time once you make your way to this hidden gem in Durham, which is recognized…
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Rubies on Five PointsA casual bar and venue with nightly events like live music and dance parties, Rubies on Five Points is a classic…
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Mothers & Sons TrattoriaFind handmade pasta inspired by chef Josh DeCarolis’s Italian nonna at Mothers & Sons Trattoria downtown, where our best recommendation is…
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M SushiIn 2023, M Sushi was North Carolina's only spot in OpenTable's Top 100 Restaurants in America list. Minimalist decor, matte stone-gray…
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Bulldega Urban MarketBulldega is a small, family-owned grocery and convenience store in the heart of downtown Durham. With fresh produce, humanely raised meats…
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Remy’s LoungeWhiskey. Beer. Tacos. Three main components of any stellar neighborhood bar. Don't sleep on the South Texas tacos made by Lady…
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NanaSteakNanasteak is a cherished and well-respected restaurant perfect for a special occasion. Serving steakhouse classics in an upscale setting, plus an…
What to Eat
You’ll also find various restaurants and bars in downtown Durham, ranging from grab-and-go options to snag between films to celebrated hot spots where you can unwind after a film-filled day. (Check out our comprehensive list of downtown restaurants.)
- Mothers & Sons Trattoria Specializing in handmade pasta, antipasti, and traditional Italian dishes. Dinner only (.2 miles from the Carolina Theatre).
- M Sushi An upscale sushi restaurant that offers an authentic Omakase dining experience (.2 miles from the Carolina Theatre).
- Bulldega A neighborhood grocery that offers the essentials alongside grab-and-go meal options (.2 miles from the Carolina Theatre).
- Remy's Lounge This casual cocktail bar serves food from Lady Gold Tacos like tacos, burritos, quesadillas, bowls and more.
- NanaSteak A modern steakhouse in a chic space with abundant natural light (.4 miles from the Carolina Theatre).
Between the films, the special events, and a great location downtown, OUTSOUTH is an excellent opportunity to experience Durham!
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