Playa del Carmen Queer Film Festival Closes 13th Edition With 75 Films

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The 13th International Queer Film Festival in Playa del Carmen closed after a week of screenings, drawing larger audiences and a lineup dominated by young filmmakers, organizers said.

About 75 productions were shown from Nov. 5 to 11 at venues across the resort town, selected from roughly 350 submissions received during the open call. More than 70 percent of the films came from university students, according to festival director Jan Novak.

“More than 70 percent are films by university students. What makes me proudest is that young people, with their new perspectives, are tackling issues facing the LGBT community and sexual diversity. That is very important,” Novak said.

The program included short films, feature films and documentaries from several countries, with screenings at Cinépolis Plaza Las Américas, university events and outdoor showings in public spaces, including a night event called QIFF Bajo las Estrellas at Plaza 28 de Julio.

Novak said the festival also drew more spectators this year, with visitors from the Czech Republic, China, the United States and various regions of Mexico, creating opportunities for exchanges among filmmakers, specialists and audiences.

He highlighted the question-and-answer sessions held after each screening, where viewers could hear directly about the motivations, experiences and creative process behind the films — particularly useful for stories dealing with discrimination, identity, family acceptance and the recognition of rights.

The jury was made up of professionals from different areas of filmmaking: a director, two producers, a specialist linked to Mexico City’s Miradas Lésbicas festival and a viewer chosen for her knowledge and interest in cinema. Novak said the mix allowed the panel to judge the works from several perspectives rather than on technical or directing criteria alone.

He said he was especially pleased that a film from his hometown won awards in several categories, a decision he said had the full consensus of the jury, and he praised the overall quality of the entries.

Organizers described the festival as a platform connecting emerging creators with industry professionals while broadening the cultural offerings available in Playa del Carmen — a destination where independent films often struggle to reach commercial circuits.

Novak said the event’s main value is putting audiences face to face with the people behind the stories, something rarely possible at conventional screenings. Preparations for the 14th edition, scheduled for 2027, are already beginning, and organizers invited those interested to follow the festival’s official channels for upcoming calls for entries and activities.