Just in time to watch the 35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on Hulu, we’ve complied a few (of the many) critically-claimed LGBTQ films that were standouts of awards season and where to stream them!
All of Us Strangers
The queer romantic drama All of Us Strangers, written and directed by gay filmmaker Andrew Haigh, centers on the fledgling relationship between lonely screenwriter Adam (gay actor Andrew Scott) and his mysterious neighbor Harry (Paul Mescal). As two begin to build a life together, Adam finds himself drawn back to his childhood home, where his parents appear to be living just as they were on the day they died 30 years ago. All of Us Strangers was named one of the top ten independent films of 2023 by the National Board of Review and has earned seven British Independent Film Awards (BAFTAs). The film also won big at the Dorian Awards, being named both Film of the Year and LGBTQ Film of the Year, as well as Haigh being awarded LGBTQ Screenplay of the Year. Stream All of Us Strangers on Hulu!
American Fiction
Acclaimed comedy-drama American Fiction, based on Percival Everett’s 2001 novel Erasure, explores identity and the commodification of culture. Fed up with the establishment profiting from Black entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes, novelist-professor Monk writes an outlandish satirical “Black” book of his own, only for it to be mistaken by the liberal elite for serious literature—propelling him to the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain. American Fiction was also named on the the top ten films of 2023 by the American Film Institute and has received a number of accolades, including Best Adapted Screenplay at the BAFTAs. Sterling K. Brown has been recognized for his portrayal of the recently divorced gay character Dr. Clifford Ellison, winning Best Supporting Actor at the African-American Film Critics Association and the Black Film Critics Circle. The film received five nominations at the 96th Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Original Score (by out composer Laura Karpman), and took home the award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Rent or buy American Fiction on Prime Video or Apple TV+.
Anatomy of a Fall
The winner of this year’s Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Anatomy of a Fall is a riveting procedural and a delicate inquiry into the impossibility of an ultimate truth in human relationships. The film stars Sandra Hüller as Sandra Voyter, a bisexual mother who is suspected of her husband Samuel’s murder. The consequential trial is not just an investigation into the circumstances of Samuel’s death but also an unsettling psychological journey into the depths of Sanda and Samuels’ conflicted relationship — putting every aspect of their marriage under intense scrutiny. Anatomy of a Fall has gained international acclaim, winning two Golden Globes, a BAFTA and the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Rent the French crime drama on Prime Video or Apple TV+.
The Blue Caftan
The queer Arabic-language drama The Blue Caftan follows middle-aged husband and wife Halim and Mina, who own a traditional caftan store in one of Morocco’s oldest medinas. In order to keep up with increasing demands, the couple hire Youssef as an apprentice. The talented young man shows the utmost dedication to learning the art of embroidery and tailoring from Halim, ultimately upending the couple’s relationship as Mina discovers just how much her husband is moved by the presence of Youseff. The film premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the FIPRESCI Prize. This year, Lubna Azabal, who plays Mina, won Best Actress at the Magritte Awards. Additionally, The Blue Caftan was chosen to represent Morocco in the 2023 Oscars shortlist in the “International Feature Film” category. Rent or buy The Blue Caftan on Prime Video or Apple TV+.
Blue Jean
In queer writer Georgia Oakley’s directorial debut Blue Jean, it’s 1988 in Newcastle under Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government in the wake of Section 28 — which outlawed the “promotion” of homosexuality by local authorities and in schools. Lesbian PE teacher Jean (Rosy McEwen) leads a double life, establishing boundaries between the sanctuary of attending gay bars with her queer friends and girlfriend Viv (Kerrie Hayes) and the escalating homophobia at work, in the family and on TV. Lines are blurred, however, when one of Jean’s students, Lois (Lucy Halliday), makes an appearance at the local lesbian bar and threatens to expose her, disrupting the future of Jean’s relationship, identity and career. Blue Jean premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it won the People’s Choice Award. The film also received numerous nominations at the BAFTAs, where Oakley won Best Debut Screenwriter, and McEwen and Hayes took home the awards for Best Lead Performance and Best Supporting Performance, respectively. Twenty years after Section 28 was struck down, this narrative remains more urgent and relevant than ever as threats to LGBTQ youth and education persist across the globe. Stream Blue Jean on Hulu.
Bottoms
Bottoms, the raunchy, extraordinarily queer comedy starring Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott, who co-wrote the script with out director Emma Seligman, is unapologetic in its depiction of modern teenage sexuality. The story follows high school senior BFFs PJ (Sennott) and Josie (Edebiri) who decide to start a fight club as a way to meet and date the hot cheerleaders they have crushes on. Among the star-studded cast are out actors Havana Rose Liu, Ruby Cruz, Punkie Johnson, and more. Bottoms premiered at South by Southwest, where it was nominated in the Audience Award – Headliners category. The satirical teen comedy won the Sidewalk Film Festival Programmers’ Award – Feature Film Award and has earned a plethora of additional nominations, including Best Comedy Film at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, St. Louis Film Critics Association, Astra Film and Creative Awards, and Denver Film Critics Society, as well as Best Screenplay at the Independent Spirit Awards and Indiana Film Journalists Association. Watch Bottoms on Prime Video.
Joyland
The first Pakistani film to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, Joyland delves into the challenging complexities of desire and gender identity through the lens of the conventional Muslim Rana family. When the youngest Rana brother Haider takes a job as a backup dancer for a strong-willed transgender woman Biba, played by trans actress Alina Khan, the entire family must confront their own yearning for sexual rebellion. At the film’s premiere, Joyland received a standing ovation and won the festival’s Un Certain Regard Jury Prize, as well as the Queer Palm prize for best LGBTQ-themed film. The film also won an Independent Spirit Award, an Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Award, and the Palm Springs International Film Festival Award. In last year’s awards season, Joyland was selected as Pakistan’s Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards, becoming the first Pakistani film to be shortlisted in the category. Rent or buy Joyland on Prime Video or Apple TV+.
Kokomo City
Transgender multi-hyphenate D. Smith’s directorial debut, the groundbreaking documentary Kokomo City chronicles the lives of four Black trans sex workers in Atlanta and New York City: Daniella Carter, Koko Da Doll, Liyah Mitchell, and Dominique Silver. Through intimate interviews and re-enactments, the stars unapologetically break down the walls of their profession. Executive produced by lesbian Emmy winner Lena Waithe, Kokomo City won the Sundance Film Festival’s NEXT Innovator Award and NEXT Audience Award, as well as the Berlinale’s Audience Award in the Panorama Documentary section. Stream the film on Paramount+ with Showtime.
Nyad
The biographical sports drama Nyad tells the remarkable true story of Diana Nyad, a sixty-year-old lesbian swimmer who resolves to accomplish one thing that has eluded her—a 110-mile nonstop swim from Cuba to Florida—which she had unsuccessfully attempted thirty years prior. Annette Bening portrays the titular character alongside out actress Jodie Foster as Nyad’s fellow lesbian best friend and trainer Bonnie Stoll. Both Bening and Foster have been praised for their performances, receiving nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively, at the 81st Golden Globe Awards, the 30th SAG Awards and the 96th Academy Awards. The pair also took home the award for Best Screen Couple at the Women Film Critics Circle. Catch Nyad on Netflix.
Rustin
The critically acclaimed biographical drama Rustin stars gay actor Colman Domingo as the unsung queer civil rights pioneer Bayard Rustin. From out playwright George C. Wolfe, the biopic follows Rustin as he leads the charge in orchestrating 1963’s March on Washington, cementing himself as one of the greatest activists and organizers the world has ever known. Despite his extraordinary impact on our nation, Rustin has been all but erased from history books for his status as a gay Black man. A portrait of grassroots activism, the film restores Rustin’s legacy and reflects on on today’s societal discourse surrounding marginalized communities—specifically queer people of color. Domingo’s powerhouse performance garnered numerous accolades including nominations for a BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award (SAG) for Best Actor. At the Dorian Awards, Domingo was named this year’s LGBTQIA+ Film Trailblazer for creating art that inspires empathy, truth and equity. With a long history of straight actors being recognized by the Academy for portraying LGBTQ characters, Domingo broke the mold by becaming the second out gay man to earn an Oscar nomination for playing a queer character, as well as the first-ever Afro-Latino nominated in the Best Actor category. Stream Rustin on Netflix!
Let’s keep the queer winning streak going! The 35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards deliver a sparkly mix of red carpet arrivals, iconic main stage moments, and an impactful message that demonstrates the value of representation and inclusion of LGBTQ people within all forms of media. Don’t miss the Los Angeles show streaming exclusively on Hulu Friday, March 29.
Check out the full list of GLAAD Media Award nominees and stay tuned for more extraordinary LGBTQ honorees at the New York City GLAAD Media Awards on Saturday, May 11!