This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant
Reel Out Charlotte
May 17-21, 2023
The Queen City’s Annual LGBTQ Film Festival
The Independent Picture House
4237 Raleigh St., Charlotte, NC 28213
Presented by K&L Gates
Red Carpet Sponsors
Silver Screen Sponsor
Spotlight Sponsor
“Drag Me to the Movies” Drag Cocktail Hour
Saturday, May 13th from 4:00 – 6:00pm
Join Charlotte Pride and The Artisan’s Palate for afternoon of drag and Old Hollywood glam to kick off Reel Out Charlotte: The Queen City’s Annual LGBTQ Film Festival. Tickets are free, but we are asking folks to make a $10 donation at the door. Dress in your favorite cinematic masterpiece and enjoy bar bites, specialty cocktails, and an homage to your favorite Old Hollywood stars!
Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!
Five days of independent LGBTQ cinema
Reel Out Charlotte, the Queen City’s Annual LGBTQ Film Festival, is back for another year! Join us as we celebrate the beauty of independent cinema and see our LGBTQ lives, loves, and triumphs on the big screen.
Join us at our new venue, The Independent Picture House, in partnership with the Charlotte Film Society!
Join us for our Opening Night/LGBTQ Shorts Night – SOLD OUT
Presented by
Wednesday, May 17, 2024 at 7pm
With popcorn and drinks in hand, take your seat and your place as a judge for the annual LGBTQ Shorts Night! An eclectic mix of LGBTQ short films will grace the big screen, with audience members voting at the end of the night for Best Short. Shorts Night is one of the most popular and well-attended events of each year’s film festival. Don’t miss out — grab your free tickets today!
Get Your Tickets Now!
$10 — Individual screening tickets
Purchase individual tickets to the film screening of your choice.
$80 — All-Access Passes
An All Access Pass to Reel Out Charlotte (The Queen City’s Annual LGBTQ Film Festival) will get you ten (10) passes to the Festival. These passes can be used for one free ticket to ten (10) different screenings of your choice, OR two (2) tickets to 5 screenings of your choice, OR ten (10) passes to one screening* of your choice (excluding Scott Pilgrim).
The All Access Pass will get you FREE access to our kickoff event – Drag Cocktail Hour at The Artisan’s Palate on Saturday, May 13th from 4-6pm.
Additionally, you will get access to our Shorts Night on Wednesday (must still reserve a FREE ticket) and exclusive access to the Scott Pilgrim pre-screening party with complimentary food and beverage before the Scott Pilgrim showing on Friday, May 19th. Please note: Tickets to the Scott Pilgrim pre-screening party are limited. Free tickets are first come, first served and must be reserved.
*The Scott Pilgrim screening is not available for the 10-passes to one screening option.
All-Access Pass holders must arrive 15 minutes before each screening or your seat will be released.
Festival Schedule At-a-Glance
Saturday, May 13
4pm — Festival Kickoff: Drag Cocktail Hour at Artisan’s Palate
Wednesday, May 17
7pm — Annual LGBTQ Shorts Night – SOLD OUT
Thursday, May 18
6pm — Soy Niño + Talkback with PFLAG Charlotte
8pm — Golden Delicious
Friday, May 19
5:30pm — Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Pre-Party (All-Access Passholders Only)
7:15pm — Scott Pilgrim vs. the WorlD – SOLD OUT
9:30pm — Big Boys
Saturday, May 20
2pm — A Run for More
4:30pm — Finlandia
7pm — Private Desert + Talkback with Cine Casual
Sunday, May 21
1pm — You Can Live Forever
3:30pm — DOUBLE FEATURE: Our League & When Time Got Louder + Talkback and Meet & Greet with Our League Team
7:30pm — Esther Newton Made Me Gay
PURCHASE YOUR ALL-ACCESS PASS TODAY!
An All Access Pass to Reel Out Charlotte (The Queen City’s Annual LGBTQ Film Festival) will get you:
– Ten (10) tickets to the Festival. These passes can be used for one free ticket to ten (10) different screenings of your choice, OR two (2) tickets to 5 screenings of your choice, OR ten (10) passes to one screening* of your choice (excluding Scott Pilgrim)
-Access to our Shorts Night on Wednesday in addition to your 10 feature film tickets (must still reserve a FREE ticket)
-FREE access to our kickoff event – Drag Cocktail Hour at The Artisan’s Palate on Saturday, May 13th from 4-6pm
-Exclusive access to Scott Pilgrim Pre-Party presented by Charlotte Gaymers Network before the film with complimentary food and beverage (Friday, May 19th). Please note: Tickets to the Scott Pilgrim pre-screening party are limited. Free tickets are first come, first served and must be reserved.
*The Scott Pilgrim screening is not available for the 10-passes to one screening option.
All-Access Pass holders must arrive 15 minutes before each screening or your seat will be released.
2023 Festival Screenings & Events
Browse the details of all our film screenings and special events. When you’re ready to purchase tickets, click the ticket button to be taken to FilmFreeway, our event ticketing system.
Click here to view information on film caption/subtitle availability.
FREE EVENT!
WED, MAY 17, 7pm
Annual LGBTQ Shorts Night – SOLD OUT
in partnership with PBS North Carolina
Mix-and-mingle with community members and indie film lovers. With popcorn and drinks in hand, take your seat and your place as a judge for the annual LGBTQ Shorts Night. An eclectic mix of LGBTQ short films will grace the big screen, with audience members voting at the end of the night for Best Short. Shorts Night is one of the most popular and well-attended events of each year’s festival.
PLEASE NOTE: Tickets are FREE but required for the Shorts Night. Guests without Shorts Night tickets will be granted entry at the door on a first-come-first-serve basis as night-of capacity allows.
NC PREMIERE!
THURS, MAY 18, 6pm
Soy Niño
62 minutes
2022, Chile/France
Spanish with English subtitles
Director: Lorena Zilleruelo
Documentary
Bastian, a young trans boy, has to face a very difficult time in life: adolescence. It becomes even harder when he has to put his best efforts into asserting his individuality. From age 12 to 18 Bastian is filmed by his dear cousin Lorena who catches every glimpse of intimacy and difficulties. We witness how social and economical obstacles can put at risk Bastian’s transition.
Be sure to stay for a talkback after the film with PFLAG Charlotte.
CHARLOTTE PREMIERE!
THURS, MAY 18, 8pm
Golden Delicious
119 minutes
2022, Canada
English
Director: Jason Karman
Drama/Romance
The classic coming-of-age-as-queer story gets a fresh and charming update in the context of a complex, contemporary Asian Canadian family in this new narrative feature by director Jason Karman. Faced with traditional teenage expectations from family, friends and his girlfriend, Jake is unsure of what he wants until a handsome, basketball-loving, shamelessly-out gay kid, moves in across the street – turning Jake’s world wonderfully upside down.
FRI, MAY 19, 7:15pm
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World – SOLD OUT
in partnership with Charlotte Gaymers Network
112 minutes
2010, United States
English
Director: Edgar Wright
Action/Comedy/Fantasy/Romance
The film follows Scott Pilgrim, a slacker musician who falls in love with Ramona Flowers, a mysterious girl with colorful hair. Scott must defeat her seven evil exes.
FRI, MAY 19, 9:30pm
Big Boys
88 minutes
2023, United States
English
Director: Corey Sherman
Comedy/Drama
Big Boys is a coming-of-age comedy about the thrilling turning point in a queer person’s life, before they come out to the world, when they come out to themselves. Jamie is a chubby, gay fourteen year-old confused about his sexuality and uncomfortable in his own body, but all that changes when his cousin brings her new boyfriend, Dan, on a family camping trip. Dan is a beefy, charming “bear” of a man who ignites feelings in Jamie that he had previously repressed and proves to him that big men can be sexy too. Although Dan is straight and twice his age, that doesn’t stop lovestruck Jamie from doing whatever it takes to get closer to him in this funny, tender film about the power of a first crush.
SAT, MAY 20, 2pm
A Run for More
82 minutes
2023, United States
English
Director: Ray Whitehouse
Documentary
As a transgender woman in Texas, Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe expected to encounter resistance to her campaign for city council. She did not anticipate questioning her relationship to identity, activism and civic engagement. On the campaign trail, she finds herself on an unexpected journey of self-discovery and healing.
REGIONAL PREMIERE!
SAT, MAY 20, 4:30pm
Finlandia
97 minutes
2021, Spain/Mexico
Spanish with English subtitles
Director: Horacio Alcala
Drama/Fantasy
An earthquake releases the emotions of a community. Muxes fight for the recognition of their gender as one more in society, while fighting their own passions, traumas and hidden feelings. Delirio is the leader who will guide this community towards the discovery of themselves. Mariano and Amaranta find themselves under a black avalanche of suffering that clouds their way to freedom. A journey that transforms the life of a designer. Her way of appreciating reality and her internal vision of herself changes when she begins to live with the inhabitants of this part of society, managing to discover the origin of her torment.
SAT, MAY 20, 7pm
Private Desert
in partnership with Cine Casual
121 minutes
2021, Brazil/Portugal
Portuguese with English subtitles
Director: Aly Muritiba
Drama
Daniel is an exemplary policeman, but he ends up making a mistake and becoming suspended. With nothing keeping him in his hometown, he goes to visit his online love interest.
Be sure to stay for a talkback with Cine Casual.
NC PREMIERE!
SUN, MAY 21, 1pm
You Can Live Forever
96 minutes
2022, Canada
English
Directors: Mark Slutsky & Sarah Watts
Drama
When lesbian teen Jaime is sent to live in a Jehovah’s Witness community, she falls hard for a devout Witness girl and the two embark on an intense affair with consequences that will reshape the rest of their lives.
NC PREMIERE!
SUN, MAY 21, 3:30pm
Our League
37 minutes
2022, United States
English
Director: Sam Cullman
Documentary
Sam Cullman’s short doc OUR LEAGUE about a community of bowlers just outside of Cleveland coping with fundamental change when new owners take over at a landmark alley and a longtime league member comes out as a trans woman.
Be sure to stay after the double-feature for a talkback and meet & greet with the team from Our League.
REGIONAL PREMIERE!
SUN, MAY 21, 3:30pm
When Time Got Louder
114 minutes
2022, Canada
English
Director: Connie Cocchia
Drama
Departing for college, Abbie leaves behind her parents and brother, Kayden, who is non-verbal and has autism. As Abbie falls in love with her new independence and budding relationship with a woman, her parents try to teach Kayden more independent life skills as they help him transition from high school to adulthood and adjust his routine without Abbie. Due to Abbie’s absence, Kayden’s struggles increase as he cannot communicate with his sister. When Abbie returns home for the holidays, she discovers Kayden is in the hospital, and as a family they must find a solution for his future.
SUN, MAY 21, 7:30pm
Esther Newton Made Me Gay
92 minutes
2022, United States
English
Director: Jean Carlomusto
Documentary
Drawn to the drag scene as a student in the 1950s and identifying as both butch lesbian and between genders, Esther Newton has spent seven decades writing about and forging queer communities; and her 1972 book ‘Mother Camp: Female Impersonators in America’ is noted as the first rigorous academic/anthropological study of queer community in modern history. ESTHER NEWTON MADE ME GAY is a rare look at queer history and gender studies through a living lesbian icon, encompassing amazing archival footage peppered with Esther’s other passion…dog training poodles!
Special Thanks to
Attendee Information and Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay for my ticket in cash?
— No, cash will not be accepted by Charlotte Pride to pay for your ticket. All ticket purchases for the festival must be made via FilmFreeway. Cash may be used to pay for concessions at the Independent Picture House.
Are concessions offered?
— Yes, the Independent Picture House will have a full concessions stand with candy, popcorn, sodas, water, and alcohol (21+).
Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?
— Minors under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all film screenings and events. All events are open to attendees regardless of age, unless otherwise noted.
Do films have any ratings or content guides?
— Guests are advised that none of our films are rated by the MPAA or other authorities and may contain varying levels of sexual or suggestive content, profanity, triggering content including violence, and other content not appropriate for all ages. Please see the film listing at charlottepride.org/reelout for film content details.
What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event?
— Parking is readily available at The Independent Picture House. Public transit options include LYNX Blue Line, Sugar Creek Station (approximately half-mile from venue) and CATS routes 4, 13, and 211.
What can I bring into the event?
— Outside food and beverage is not allowed inside the venue.
What’s the refund policy?
— Tickets are non-refundable.
Is this event accessible?
— The Independent Picture House has an accessible, ground-floor entrance and includes accessible restrooms. ASL interpretation will not be provided. Captions and subtitles may not be available for all films. Please see full film listing at charlottepride.org/reelout for details on films with captions. If you require any other accommodations, please notify media@charlottepride.org no later than Wednesday, May 1, 2023.
What are your COVID precautions?
— In keeping with current CDC recommendations, masks are not required for those who are fully vaccinated. We highly encourage guests who are not vaccinated to wear masks. We will update these precautions if recommended by government authorities.
Film Caption/Subtitle Information
Captions/Subtitles will be available for the following feature films:
Soy Niño, Finlandia, & Private Desert
Captions/Subtitles will be available for the following short films :
None
GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
We can’t wait to welcome you to the return of Reel Out Charlotte, the Queen City’s Annual LGBTQ Film Festival! Tickets are $10 per screening, and an All-Access Pass is just $80. Purchase today!
