ARRAY Releasing
ARRAY is an independent film producer and distributor founded in 2011 by filmmaker Ava DuVernay. Originally named African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (AFFRM), the company rebranded to ARRAY in 2015. Past LGBTQ-inclusive films from ARRAY include Alaska is a Drag (2020), which follows a young drag performer who is trapped working at an Alaska cannery. Forced to fight back to protect himself, he is noticed by a boxing coach and meets a new sparring partner, forcing him to face the real reason he is stuck in Alaska. In 2023, ARRAY released GLAAD Media Award nominee Frybread Face and Me, a coming-of-age drama that follows a young queer boy from San Diego that is sent to spend the summer with his Navajo extended family on a reservation in Arizona. They also released Mars One, a Brazilian drama that focuses on a working-class Black family of four, which includes queer daughter Eunice, after the election of far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, and Who We Become, a documentary about three Filipino women in Texas, including bisexual woman Lauren, who grapple with the emerging pandemic and discover themselves in the process.
Blue Fox Entertainment is a global film distribution and sales company founded in 2015 by Todd Slater and James Huntsman. In 2017, Blue Fox merged with Level 33 Entertainment, an independent film distributor, which now operates under the Blue Fox Entertainment banner, alongside Red Hound Films. In 2023, Blue Fox Entertainment released GLAAD Media Award nominee Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, a gay romance film adapted from a book of the same name. The film tells the story of Aristotle and Dante as they navigate growing up as queer Latine youth in The South, and the struggles and joys that can come along with it.
The Horror Collective, founded in 2019 by Shaked Berenson and Jonathan Barkan, is a film distribution company focused on the horror genre that operates under Berenson’s production and distribution company Entertainment Squad. In 2023, The Horror Collective released Summoning Sylvia, a horror comedy about a group of gay friends who rent out a haunted house for a bachelor party. The weekend takes a spooky turn when the fiancé’s homophobic brother shows up and a seance gone awry summons more sinister spirits than they bargained for.
IFC films has distributed independent films since its founding in 2000, such as genre films (including horror and thrillers) through their IFC Midnight branch, and festival favorites from Sundance Selects. Some LGBTQ-inclusive films from IFC over the years include Weekend (2011); Jenny’s Wedding (2015); A Kid Like Jake (2018); Vita and Virginia (2019); Summerland (2020); The Novice (2021); The Nowhere Inn (2021); Benedetta (2021); and Moffie (2021). In 2023, IFC Films released the GLAAD Media Award-winning drama Monica, which tells the story of the titular character, a transgender woman, returning home to take care of her ailing mother that she has not seen in years. They also released Paint, a comedy parodying Bob Ross as “Carle Nargle”, that features Ambrosia, a queer artist who challenges Nargle for his spot on TV and seduces a number of Nargle’s ex-relationships. The Origin of Evil, a 2023 French thriller from IFC, follows con-woman Nathalie as she takes on the identity of Stéphane, her imprisoned girlfriend, in order to gain acceptance into her wealthy family. 
Indigenous Film Distribution is an independent film distributor founded in 2009, with, in their own words, a focus on “African content for Africans,” with a specific focus on South Africa. In 2023, Indigenous Film Distribution released GLAAD Media Award nominee Runs in the Family, a comedy-drama that follows reformed con-artist Varun as he connects with his transgender son, River, on a road trip across South Africa to rescue River’s estranged mother from a rehab clinic. When River’s drag partner gets injured, he teams up with Varun for a drag competition that could win him enough cash to pay for his gender-affirming care. 
Magnolia Pictures, founded in 2001, is a subsidiary of 2929 Entertainment and specializes in independent and international releases. Previous LGBTQ-inclusive highlights include GLAAD Media Award winner Tangerine (2015), GLAAD Media Award nominee The Handmaiden (2016), Whose Streets (2017), Skate Kitchen (2018), and GLAAD Media Award nominees Swan Song (2021) and Anaïs in Love (2022). In 2023, Magnolia Pictures released GLAAD Media Award-winning documentary Kokomo City, which shines a light on the lives of four Black trans women in Atlanta and New York City as they navigate the challenges of existing as trans, participating in survival sex work, and the persistent threat of violence. Magnolia also released GLAAD Media Award nominees Little Richard: I Am Everything, which centers on music icon Richard Penniman and tells the Black queer origins of rock n’ roll, and Blue Jean, a period drama that focuses on a high school gym teacher as she navigates her public and private identity under Margaret Thatcher’s conservative government.
Mubi is a global streaming service, producing company, and film distributor founded in 2007 by Turkish entrepreneur Efe Çakarel as “The Auteurs.” In 2010, the company was renamed Mubi. In 2016, the company began distributing films in the United States and the United Kingdom, and expanded to Latin America and Germany in 2021. In 2023, Mubi released GLAAD Media Award nominee Passages, a romantic drama that follows couple Tomas and Martin, whose relationship is thrown into chaos when Tomas becomes enamored by a young female school teacher, Agathe. They also released The Five Devils, a French fantasy film about a woman who can reproduce any smell, and through her power is shown memories of her mother’s affair with her father’s sister, as well as Rotting in the Sun, which follows a gay, depressed artist who meets a social media influencer on a nude beach and begins to collaborate with him, but life has other plans. Finally, in 2023 Mubi released Alcarras, a drama about a family of Catalan peach farmers, including their gay aunt Gloria, as they are thrown into conflict over a change in tradition in their peach harvesting methods.
Music Box Films, which specializes in independent and foreign film, has been releasing films in theaters and on demand since 2007. Past inclusive releases include the original Swedish-language version of Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009) and its subsequent sequels, which feature a bisexual lead, Emily Dickinson biopic A Quiet Passion (2016), and And Then We Danced (2020), which follows a young Georgian dancer who develops feelings for another male dancer. In 2023, Music Box Films released GLAAD Media Award-nominated Italian drama film L’immensità, which follows a dysfunctional Italian family. This includes Andrea, the transmasculine eldest child who is going on a journey of self discovery
Neon was founded in 2017 and has released numerous award-winning and far-reaching independent films. In 2021, Bleecker Street partnered with Neon to create the joint home entertainment distribution company Decal, which launched in February with the Bleecker Street release Supernova (2021), an LGBTQ love story. Neon’s LGBTQ inclusive highlights include the critically acclaimed lesbian French romance Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019); GLAAD Media Award and Academy Award-nominated animated documentary Flee (2021); Ailey (2021), which paints a portrait of iconic dancer Alvin Ailey; and the GLAAD Media Award and Academy Award-nominated documentary All the Beauty in the Bloodshed (2022), which tells the story of bisexual photographer Nan Goldin and her fight against the Sackler family. In 2023, Neon released the GLAAD Media Award-nominated film How to Blow Up a Pipeline, which follows a group of eight teens, two of whom are in a queer relationship, as they decide to blow up a pipeline in Texas. Neon also released the Academy Award-nominated film Anatomy of a Fall, which follows bisexual main character Sandra after she is accused of her husband’s murder, and Eileen, a psychological thriller that follows the titular Eileen, who begins to develop feelings for a woman who is the new psychologist at the juvenile detention facility where she works.
Oscilloscope Laboratories is an NYC-based independent feature film company founded in 2008 by Adam Yauch and TH!NKFilm executive David Fenkel (who later co-founded A24). In 2008, Dan Berger was named president of the company and signed a deal with Warner Bros. Digital Distribution in 2009. Oscilloscope’s previous LGBTQ-inclusive films include the GLAAD Media Award nominee No Ordinary Man (2021), which tells the story of trans musician Billy Tipton through the lens of trans performers and artists, as well as the GLAAD Media Award-nominated documentary Sirens, which follows the first and only all-women metal band in Lebanon, Slave to Sirens, as the members discover more about their friendship and sexuality, all while bringing refuge to Beirut’s youth. In 2023, Oscilloscope released GLAAD Media Award nominee Joyland, which follows the Rana family and their life in Pakistan, which includes youngest son Haider, who finds work at a dance theater and falls for transgender dancer Biba. Oscilloscope also released Piaffe, a German fantasy film that follows Eva, who is forced to take on the identity of her nonbinary sibling Zara, but suddenly finds herself growing a horsetail.
RLJE Films was founded in 1981 as Image Entertainment, and initially distributed LaserDiscs of both mainstream and X-Rated films. In 2012, RLJ Acquisition Inc. acquired Image Entertainment and Acorn Media, merging the two companies in RLJ Entertainment. Finally, in 2018, AMC bought the company. Previous LGBTQ-inclusive RLJE Films releases include All Cheerleaders Die (2013), a supernatural horror comedy that follows Mäddy, a queer teen cheerleader who seeks revenge for the death of her friend, as well as her ex-girlfriend Leena, and Tracy, who Mäddy seduces as part of her plan for revenge. In 2023, RLJE released the GLAAD Media Award-nominated It’s a Wonderful Knife, a Christmas horror film that results in a queer romance between its lead character Winnie and her unlikely companion Bernie, as well as featuring queer characters Jimmy and Gail as part of the ensemble.
Roadside Attractions was founded in 2003 by Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff. In 2007, Lionsgate bought a minority stake of the studio and the company continues to release independent films. Notable LGBTQ-inclusive films previously released by Roadside include GLAAD Media Award winner I Love You Phillip Morris (2010); GLAAD Media Award nominees Dear White People (2014) and The Skeleton Twins (2014); Hello, My Name is Doris (2016); Whitney (2018); Judy (2019); Benediction (2022); and Firebird (2022). In 2023, Roadside Attractions released GLAAD Media Award-nominated comedy Moving On, which tells the story of two older women, one of whom is lesbian, reconnecting at a funeral and deciding to take revenge on the widower of their now deceased friend.
Strand Releasing was founded in 1989 as a distribution company for LGBTQ films, but has since expanded their repertoire without losing sight of their queer roots. Previous inclusive films include The Living End (1992); Yossi and Jagger (2002); documentary Mala Mala (2014), which spotlights Puerto Rico’s queer and trans community; GLAAD Media Award nominee Monsoon (2020); Straight Up (2020); Guatemalan drama José (2020); GLAAD Media Award nominee Twilight’s Kiss (2021); Cicada (2021) The Winner (2021); Minyan (2021); and GLAAD Media Award nominee Girl Picture (2022). In 2023, Strand Releasing distributed GLAAD Media Award nominee The Blue Caftan, which tells the story of a closeted tailor and his wife as their relationship is thrown into chaos by an attractive new apprentice, and Mutt, which follows a transgender man as he reconnects with his father, ex-boyfriend, and half-sister after transitioning.
Vertical Entertainment has distributed independent films in theaters and on demand since its 2012 founding. Past LGBTQ-inclusive films include GLAAD Media Award-winning comedy-drama Other People (2016), and GLAAD Media Award nominees The True Adventures of Wolfboy (2020) and Breaking Fast (2021). In 2023, Vertical Entertainment released GLAAD Media Award nominee Our Son, which follows a gay couple that appears perfect from the outside, but when a divorce breaks out after 13 years of marriage, the fight for custody over their son becomes the focus of their lives. Vertical Entertainment also released To Catch a Killer, which follows a troubled cop recruited by the FBI to catch a murderer, and features gay FBI lead investigator Geoffrey, and All Fun and Games, a horror film that follows a group of teenagers, including lesbian Sophie, as they accidentally summon a demon and are forced to play gruesome versions of childhood games. 
Wolfe Releasing is the oldest and largest North American distributor of LGBTQ films, founded in 1985. Past studio releases include Brother to Brother (2004), an unprecedented exploration of Black gay culture during the Harlem Renaissance; GLAAD Media Award nominees Boy Meets Girl (2015) and Naz and Maalik (2015); An Almost Ordinary Summer (2020); Good Kisser (2020); Milkwater (2021); and GLAAD Media Award nominees The Obituary of Tunde Johnson (2021) and Death and Bowling (2022). In 2023, Wolfe Releasing debuted The Sixth Reel, a queer comedy that follows a gay collector of movie memorabilia who is thrown into a series of adventures after he discovers a reel of a long lost Lon Chaney film.