Turin to Host Landmark LGBTQI+ Film festival

Turin is poised to become a vibrant hub for LGBTQI+ culture as it prepares to host the Lovers Film Festival, Europe’s longest-running queer film festival, from April 10th to 17th, 2025. The Massimo cinema will serve as the central venue, showcasing a diverse and thought-provoking selection of 70 films from 26 countries. This eight-day event promises a rich tapestry of cinema, art, and culture, all dedicated to celebrating love in its myriad forms.

A Ruby Anniversary: Celebrating Four Decades of Queer Representation

This year marks a significant milestone for the Lovers Film Festival as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. The festival has curated a special edition brimming with unique events and appearances by notable figures. Among the anticipated guests are actor James Duval, content creator Luis Sal, and singer DitonellaPiaga. Moreover, a dedicated panel will focus on Europride 2027, which Turin will proudly host, underscoring the city’s commitment to advancing LGBTQI+ rights. This commitment is particularly important, considering that, according to a recent ILGA-Europe report, while legal protections for LGBTQI+ individuals have expanded in some European countries, social acceptance and lived experiences still vary widely, highlighting the ongoing need for visibility and advocacy.

Leadership and Inspiration: Luxuria and Gascón at the Helm

For the sixth consecutive year, the artistic direction of the festival is in the capable hands of Vladimir Luxuria, a prominent activist and television personality. Adding to the festival’s prestige, Karla Sofía Gascón, an Oscar nominee for Best Leading Actress for her role in the film Emilia Pérez, will serve as the festival’s godmother. This dynamic pairing is expected to infuse the Lovers Film Festival with energy,passion,and a deep commitment to its core values.

“To Emerge”: A Theme of Visibility and Resilience

The theme for this year’s festival, To Emerge, chosen by Vladimir Luxuria, carries a powerful message. It is not merely an invitation to step out of the shadows but also a tribute to Turin itself, a city renowned for its openness and its unwavering dedication to the fight for civil rights. This theme resonates deeply with the current climate, where the LGBTQI+ community often faces challenges and opposition. According to GLAAD’s 2024 Social Media Safety Index, LGBTQI+ individuals continue to experience disproportionately high rates of online harassment and discrimination, underscoring the importance of platforms like the Lovers Film Festival in fostering safe and inclusive spaces.

Complete artist and tireless activist, Alan Cumming has gone through his career without ever failing to his identity and carrying out a speech of visibility and recognition for the LGBT community even at not particularly welcoming times. – brilliant and deep actor, attentive to the independent cinema and a complaint and to ease in the Mainstream of the Major, writer. Sagace and prince of the British and American stage, it is an obligation almost as well as an honor for Lovers to celebrate such a personality that in the world of entertainment and culture has been able to keep faith with himself and support his community, always and in any case.

Vladimir Luxuria, artistic director of the Lovers Film Festival

A diverse Program and Stellar Guests

Beyond the film screenings, the Lovers Film festival offers a complete program of supplementary events, including Q&A sessions with filmmakers, engaging debates, and captivating artistic performances. Among the highly anticipated guests are Cynthia kruk, known for her surrogacy work enabling a gay couple in Apulia to become parents, and actor and producer Alan Cumming, who will be honored with the Stella della Mole Prize by the National Cinema Museum.

Alan Cumming will be at the Festival as Michael Clowaterin’s Back Home interpreter, a film scheduled for Lovers.

Alan Cumming to Receive Prestigious Stella della Mole Prize

On april 12th,the esteemed American actor and producer Alan Cumming will be a guest at the 40th edition of Lovers,where he will receive the prestigious Stella della Mole Prize. This award, presented by the National cinema Museum, recognizes individuals who have made a lasting impact on the world of cinema and beyond.