Reel Affirmations LGBTQ+ Film Festival 2026
When: –
Where: Washington DC, Washington, D.C., US
Reel Affirmations, founded in 1991, is one of the oldest queer film festivals in the United States. It's Washington DC's LGBTQ+ film festival.
Every October, the festival screens LGBTQ+ feature films, documentaries, and shorts. You'll find films from around the world, playing in venues all over DC.
This isn't some pop-up event. Reel Affirmations has been around for over 30 years, and it feels like it. Its October timing, coupled with DC's political pulse, gives it the heft of a real institution.
They've shown films from dozens of countries. Past years have included Q&As with filmmakers.
More than just movies, it's a community gathering. Screenings, post-show talks, and other social events pack a lot of LGBTQ+ culture into the quiet stretch between Pride and the full-throttle political season.