With this guide to the best lesbian movies, we want to create a place where stories of queer women are celebrated and collected. Searching for “best lesbian movies” online often leads to the wrong places, dominated by adult content. Lesbian cinema, however, tells stories of self-discovery, relationships, heartbreak, resilience, and sometimes joy after years of struggle. For lesbian, bisexual, and queer women, films often carry an extra weight: they offer recognition, visibility, and the comfort of knowing that their stories belong on the big screen as much as anyone else’s. It is about real lives, not stereotypes.
Why lesbian movies matter
This introduction frames why representation in cinema matters and sets the tone for everything that follows about our selection of the best lesbian movies. The first time we saw a queer woman on screen, it felt like a door opening into a world that many people rarely get to see reflected in cinema. As two gay men who spend a lot of time traveling, we’ve learned to look out for LGBTQ+ film festivals wherever we go. But also at home, in Amsterdam, the Roze Filmdagen LGBTQ+ Film Festival has become a highlight of the year. Every spring, filmmakers gather to present new stories about love, identity, activism, and community. Among them are always remarkable lesbian films that bring perspectives into focus which mainstream cinema tends to overlook.
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Best lesbian movies by year – annual highlights
Lesbian cinema has grown rapidly in the last two decades, with new voices, genres, and formats making their way into festivals and streaming platforms every year. To keep track of these developments, we compile yearly lists that highlight films worth watching. This section serves as an archive, bringing all annual collections together in one place, while also offering examples of recent standout movies that shaped discussions worldwide. Keeping these lists structured by year also makes it easy for readers to follow the evolution of sapphic storytelling across different generations and cultural contexts.
Annual lists of lesbian movies to explore
Our annual lists create an overview of the most important lesbian movies of each year. These summaries guide readers to our more detailed posts where we review films in greater depth.
- Link to Best Lesbian Movies 2025 for Amsterdam’s Roze Filmdagen
- Link to Best Lesbian Movies 2024 for Amsterdam’s Roze Filmdagen
- Link to Best Lesbian Movies 2023 for Amsterdam’s Roze Filmdagen
- Link to Best Lesbian Movies 2022 for Amsterdam’s Roze Filmdagen
- Link to Best Lesbian Movies 2021 for Amsterdam’s Roze Filmdagen
- Link to Best Lesbian Movies 2020 for Amsterdam’s Roze Filmdagen
- Link to Best Lesbian Movies 2019 for Amsterdam’s Roze Filmdagen
- Link to Best Lesbian Movies 2018 for Amsterdam’s Roze Filmdagen
- Link to Best Lesbian Movies 2018 for Filmfest Homochrom
- Link to Best Lesbian Movies 2017 for Amsterdam’s Roze Filmdagen
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Lesbian Film Festivals Around the World
Film festivals are where many lesbian movies first find their audience. They not only give visibility to queer filmmakers but also set the stage for awards and international distribution. Larger festivals like Berlinale or Cannes include queer sections and prizes, while smaller LGBTQ+ events provide safe spaces for community storytelling. Together, they form the backbone of lesbian cinema culture. This section introduces the global infrastructure that supports lesbian films and explains why festivals remain vital for visibility.
Major Queer Film Festivals
These are the international festivals that have consistently supported lesbian and sapphic cinema, building reputations as key cultural stages.
- Roze Filmdagen Amsterdam (The Netherlands) – Our local festival, and one we never miss. It brings together international voices and always features a strong lesbian program.
- Berlinale Panorama (Germany) – A section of the Berlin International Film Festival where daring, political, and deeply personal lesbian stories often premiere.
- Frameline (San Francisco, USA) – One of the oldest and largest LGBTQ+ film festivals in the world, always packed with groundbreaking lesbian films.
- Outfest (Los Angeles, USA) – A mix of indie and Hollywood productions, showcasing lesbian cinema to global audiences.
- BFI Flare (London, UK) – A celebration of queer cinema in all its diversity, with lesbian films forming an important part of the program.
Smaller Festivals with Big Impact
Smaller events often play an outsized role in promoting lesbian films that might not otherwise be screened internationally. They provide visibility for filmmakers from regions with fewer queer resources.
- Mix Brasil Festival (São Paulo, Brazil) – Highlights lesbian and queer women’s films from across Latin America.
- Rainbow Reel Tokyo – Queer Film Festival (Japan) – Includes sapphic short films and documentaries that rarely reach Western audiences.
By attending both major and minor festivals, we see firsthand how lesbian films are discovered and how they travel internationally after debuting on these stages.
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Themes & Topics in Lesbian Movies
Lesbian cinema is diverse in its themes, ranging from historical dramas to lighthearted comedies. By examining recurring storylines, viewers can gain a deeper understanding of how filmmakers explore themes of sexuality, identity, and love. This section breaks down the major themes and highlights exemplary films under each.
Coming Out & Identity
Coming out remains one of the most common storylines. These films show both the challenges and relief of embracing one’s sexuality, often under social or family pressure.
- But I’m a Cheerleader (1999, USA) – Satirical, colorful, and heartfelt. More here.
- The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018, USA) – Sundance winner about conversion therapy and survival. More here.
Romance & Relationships
Romantic dramas and comedies help normalize queer love stories, showing their joy and heartbreak. They connect with audiences worldwide because love stories are universal.
- Imagine Me & You (2005, UK) – A lighthearted rom-com about unexpected love.
- Carol (2015, USA) – Period drama nominated for six Academy Awards.
Family & Parenthood
Family dynamics provide strong material for lesbian cinema, often showing resilience in conservative settings and how parenthood is negotiated in queer families.
- The Kids Are All Right (2010, USA) – Nominated for four Oscars, portraying a lesbian couple raising teenagers. More here.
Activism & Society
Some films explicitly address the political fight for queer rights, focusing on how lesbian women resist societal pressures and fight for equality.
- Desert Hearts (1985, USA) – Groundbreaking for its positive portrayal of lesbian love. More here.
- Les Invisibles (2012, France) – Documentary spotlighting older queer women. More here.
Desire & Intimacy
Intimacy in lesbian movies is often portrayed with nuance and emotional depth, offering authentic portrayals of desire.
Award-Winning Lesbian Movies in Mainstream Cinema
Some lesbian films have earned recognition at the world’s most important film awards. Their success shows that sapphic stories can stand at the center of cinema culture and reach wide audiences. This section emphasizes the role of prestigious prizes in elevating lesbian narratives.
Mainstream Award Success
These films earned nominations and awards from global institutions, bringing lesbian cinema to the mainstream.
- Carol (2015, USA) – Six Academy Award nominations and Queer Palm at Cannes.
- Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013, France) – Palme d’Or winner at Cannes, awarded to both director and actresses.
- Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019, France) – Winner of the Queer Palm and Best Screenplay at Cannes.
- The Kids Are All Right (2010, USA) – Four Oscar nominations, Golden Globe winner.
- Pariah (2011, USA) – Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.
- Disobedience (2017, UK) – Critically acclaimed, premiered at TIFF.
Queer-Specific Awards
Dedicated queer awards highlight sapphic cinema alongside broader LGBTQ+ films.
- Queer Palm (Cannes) – Lesbian winners include Portrait of a Lady on Fire and Blue Is the Warmest Color.
- Teddy Award (Berlinale) – Recognizes LGBTQ+ films; lesbian-centered winners include Watermelon Woman and Nelly & Nadine.
- GLAAD Media Awards (USA) – Lesbian winners include Happiest Season (2020) and The Handmaiden (2016).
Our Personal Lesbian Movie Highlights
Traveling and attending festivals has given us the chance to discover lesbian movies in unique settings. These personal highlights show how cinema creates connection, blending individual experiences with collective community responses.
Festival Experiences
At Roze Filmdagen Amsterdam, we’ve watched documentaries about lesbian activists in Eastern Europe and romances from South America. These films made us feel like emotional travelers, connecting us with struggles and joy far beyond our daily lives.
At the Berlinale, we remember Pariah (2011, USA), a moving story of identity. We also saw A Fantastic Woman (2017, Chile), which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and highlighted overlapping trans and lesbian experiences.
At Frameline San Francisco, the screening of Disobedience (2017, UK) created a community feeling we’ll never forget. The audience’s reactions turned the cinema into a celebration.
These experiences remind us why queer festivals are essential spaces for lesbian cinema.
Beyond Lesbian Movies – More Queer Cinema
While this page focuses on lesbian movies, queer cinema is much broader. By exploring gay, trans, and non-binary films alongside sapphic stories, we gain a fuller picture of representation and see how different narratives intersect.
Notable Queer Award Winners
These queer films broaden the conversation and show how recognition across the LGBTQ+ spectrum shapes cinema.
- Moonlight (2016, USA) – Academy Award for Best Picture, centering Black queer masculinity.
- Call Me By Your Name (2017, Italy/USA) – Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
- A Fantastic Woman (2017, Chile) – Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, trans-led narrative.
- Tangerine (2015, USA) – Indie breakout filmed entirely on iPhones, spotlighting trans women.
More LGBTQ+ movies on Couple of Men to explore
Why Keep Watching Lesbian Movies
Calling lesbian films a niche doesn’t do them justice. They’re an essential part of queer culture, giving visibility to stories that deserve to be seen. They help normalize different kinds of love and family, challenge stereotypes, and connect audiences with emotions that feel both personal and universal. This landing page is built as an evolving resource that collects festival experiences, annual lists, and award-winning highlights.
Come back for our yearly lists (Best Lesbian Movies 2025, 2026, and beyond) and join us in celebrating sapphic cinema wherever we travel.
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