12th Queer Film Festival in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Mexico — The twelfth edition of the International Queer Film Festival will be held in Playa del Carmen, featuring a total of 75 films from 18 countries. The pride event will take place across various screening venues throughout the city.

Jan Novak, founder of Playa Pride, extended an invitation to the festival, which begins on Friday with an inauguration event at the Sayab planetarium in Playa del Carmen. Films will be shown at the planetarium, a Cinépolis theater, and within the organization's own facilities.

"It is a festival that is completely for the LGBT community. We received more than 200 films from all over the world, from which a selection of 75 was made for the official selection… it will have three venues this year, with the inauguration at the Sayab," stated Jan Novak.

For the second consecutive time, young filmmakers from Puerto Aventuras will participate in the festival, establishing themselves as one of the most active and committed student delegations in audiovisual production and topics of inclusion. Their participation reinforces the festival's impact as an educational platform that supports new generations seeking to tell diverse stories from the heart of the Riviera Maya. These talents will participate in workshops, mentorships, and meetings with industry professionals, in addition to presenting their academic projects within the student-directed program.

"The schedule is already available on our social media, on Instagram and Facebook, with the nations and the places where they will be screened," added Jan Novak.

Some of the films to be screened have received nominations at various festivals, such as Cannes or Guadalajara. The festival has already become a benchmark in the genre, not only in Quintana Roo but also in other parts of the country, as some visitors travel to Playa del Carmen specifically to appreciate this type of cinema. "Because there are films that touch on themes from their own lives, and that is the idea," he said.

Novak explained that certain hotels are supporting the festival by offering discounts for attendees; however, he also noted that more tourist promotion is needed to increase the event's visibility.