Starting April 22 in Cologne, the IFFF Dortmund+Köln presents a vast and multifaceted program featuring more than 80 films by directors from around the world. The section desired! – film lust & queer is undoubtedly one of the festival’s defining series. This year, the desired!-films truly engage in a dialogue. We witness just and joyful queer ways of life that forge surprising connections—such as the relationship between the climate crisis and experimentation with ecosexuality, or between the arduous work of navigating family dynamics and the right to joyfully shape one’s own gender.

»Dancing with Tears in my Eyes« asks how we can create a livable reality without letting ourselves be intimidated by the current backlash, with measures such as the rollback of trans rights or brutal deportations.

With films and contributions by Emine Demir, Beverley Palesa Ditsie, Sam Feder, Kani Lapuerta, Yu-jin Lee, Les Lón’su, Anja Sunhyun Michaelsen, Jota Mun, Hoàng Quỳnh Nguyễn, Biene Pilavci, Mithu Sanyal, Laura Schinzel, Annie Sprinkle, Beth Stephens, and Majana Ellie Urban.

desired! – film lust & queer is curated by Karin Michalski and Jules Bieber.

The complete programme will be available online here from the end of March.