Amidst the ongoing, relentless attacks on the trans community, the Frameline LGBTQ+ Film Festival proves that art is more important than ever. The 49th anniversary of the festival coincides with a year filled to the brim with transphobia and dedicated attacks on the rights of queer and trans people—the cup overrunneth in the wrong ways. 

But we mustn’t forget that even in a world of hate, joy can still exist. It’s why we chant, “We’re Here. We’re Queer.” Because this moment is new, but the fight isn’t. Just look back on the millions of ways that our community has had to fight back against governments, people, and bottomless hatred to exist. To claim our space in the world. And what better way to remind ourselves than through art? 

I watched several screeners from Frameline 49’s lineup this year, and I have to say, the talent bar is high, mamas. Here are my recommendations for the new cohort of trans films that could change the world and you. 

I’m Your Venus

Directed by Kimberly Reed | 2024 | USA | 85 m

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Touch this skin. Touch all of this skin.” We can thank the New York ballroom legend Venus Xtravaganza from Paris is Burning for that line. Venus died before the film was released at just 23 years old. I’m Your Venus follows Venus’ biological and chosen family more than 20 years after her murder as they look for answers. 

Venus’ brothers, John, Joseph, and Louie, meet many of Venus’ chosen family members on their journey for closure, one of whom is José Disla Xtravaganza. In a real and honest conversation, José and the brothers unpack their feelings for Venus and each other. Love, anger, and acceptance radiate in that dialogue, proving the film’s authentic way of storytelling subverted against the misinformation spread about trans and queer people in society. 

The brothers tirelessly pursue a definite answer to who was responsible for Venus’ death, unearthing terrible details from the crime scene as well as their own prejudices against the trans community. Together, they and the members of the current House of Xtravaganza seek a legal name change for Venus’ grave since it’s still inscribed with her dead name. 

The moving and timely documentary celebrates an icon in our community who is still inspiring people 20 years after she left this earth. While the film can easily seem like a true crime mystery, it’s so much more. I’m Your Venus is about how fierce and fighting love can drive change not just for each other, but the world. 

She’s the He

Directed by Siobhan McCarthy | 2025 | USA | 82 mins

In this unhinged, heartfelt coming-of-gender movie, trans-masc comedian Nico Carney plays Alex, the high-energy, horny, himbo who wants to get in the pants of Sasha, the sexy girl at school. His bestie and counterpart is Ethan, played by Misha Osherovich, a softer-spoken, but just as sassy egg, ready to be broken into her womanhood. Alex and Ethan pretend to be trans girls in high school to gain access to the women’s locker room, but with all not thought through adolescent plans, their mission falls apart.

If we lived in a world where being trans wasn’t so political all the time, we’d have more high school romcoms like She’s the He. It’s a refreshing take on gender and identity–trans actors playing cis characters in their interpretation of masculinity, femininity, and everything in and around the spectrum. 

In a year when gender and transness feel overwhelmingly serious, She’s the He, creates a moment where gender is dumb and whatever we want it to be, from himbo to bimbo. There are so many more interesting things than gender, but if we’re going to talk about it, let’s have some laughs about it. 

MĀHŪ: A Trans-Pacific Love Letter at KQED

Directed by Lisette Marie Flanary | 2025 | USA | 30 mins

Lisette Marie Flanary’s 30-minute documentary follows master hula teacher (hula is traditional Hawaiian dance) Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakāne’s new production, where māhū (transgender) people are celebrated. Before Western Imperialism, the islands of Hawai’i and Polynesia recognized a third gender in their social makeup. These individuals were often healers, caretakers, and the most spiritually connected, as they could communicate with both the masculine and feminine gods and goddesses. But with most things that colonization touched, the idea of māhū became a slur used to reduce a once well-respected community to the outskirts of society. 

The film interweaves performance clips from the finished piece with interviews with the mothers of the community, like Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu and Kaumakaiwa Kanaka'ole. The film conveys a deep sense of humanity, of an indigenous cultural practice being uplifted from the heavy hand of the West and celebrating a minority community. 

MĀHŪ is a perfect short watch that packs a punch in its runtime. Cultural preservation not only helps the current generation remember, but it also serves as a baton to pass off to future generations so they remember where their lineage came from. 

A Deeper Love: The Story of Miss Peppermint

Directed by Oriel Pe'er | 2025 | USA | 80 m

Most people came to know iconic New York City drag performer Pepperment when she was on season 9 of RuPaul’s Drag Race (and first runner up). But Peppermint had a life before the show, of course, and in A Deeper Love: The Story of Miss Peppermint, we are taken behind the scenes with footage spanning years before and after Drag Race. 

The film starts with Peppermint making breakfast in her red-walled Harlem apartment she’d been living in for 17 years. It’s real and raw; there’s no sugarcoating in her story, no PR angle to build a case for her. From her humble beginnings in New York City to travelling the world and performing in Berlin after her season on Drag Race, we witness the grit of being a drag performer. At one point, Peppermint says, “It’s the illusion of being successful that we have to maintain,” a stark contrast to the actual moments in this film.

A Deeper Love: The Story of Miss Peppermint made me fall in love with Peppermint again. She’s not only an iconic drag performer, but she’s also been on Broadway, TV, and movies. She’s appeared on the news to speak up for the trans community. She is the full package girl and it's refreshing to see the reality of her whole life. These days, we see such contrived or lazy documentaries about people in hopes of good PR that this one stands out as really, really real. You know what I mean?

There are so many other great films during Frameline49, I encourage you to check them all out. If you’re in San Francisco or the Bay Area, the theatrical festival starts today, June 18t,h and runs until June 28th. Streaming is also available for anyone farther away, starting June 23rd and running until June 30th.