SapphicIFF is delighted to be working with Wicked Queer: Boston's LGBTQ+ Film Festival to encourage more sapphic and women-loving-women (WLW) filmmakers to submit their work to the 2026 festival.
One of the reasons SapphicIFF exists is to help strengthen the relationship between filmmakers and the festivals that genuinely want to programme their stories. That means helping filmmakers identify established, reputable LGBTQ+ festivals, but it also means working with festivals to make sure sapphic filmmakers know that their work is wanted.
Wicked Queer is one of those festivals.
Founded in 1984, Wicked Queer has spent more than four decades celebrating queer cinema and building community around LGBTQ+ storytelling in Boston and Cambridge. Its mission centres on uplifting voices and stories that have not yet been heard while recognising and preserving queer histories.
We are therefore very happy to recommend the festival to sapphic filmmakers and to work with the Wicked Queer team to help increase the number of WLW films being submitted for consideration.
A special submission discount for our community
Submissions for the 2026 Wicked Queer festival are currently open, and we particularly want to encourage filmmakers with sapphic short films to consider submitting.
As part of our partnership, we have a special discount code available to our community.
Log in to SapphicIFF to access the Wicked Queer submission discount code.
You can then submit your film directly through Wicked Queer's FilmFreeway page.
Submission fees can quickly add up when you are taking a film onto the festival circuit, which is why partnerships and discounts like this matter. We want filmmakers to make considered choices about where they submit rather than simply submitting everywhere, and we are keen to highlight festivals where we believe sapphic stories have an opportunity to find engaged queer audiences.
As always, selection is entirely at the discretion of the festival and a discount does not guarantee that a film will be programmed. What we can do is help create stronger connections between sapphic filmmakers and quality LGBTQ+ festivals actively looking for these stories.
Why we are supporting Wicked Queer
There are hundreds of film festivals open for submissions at any given time, and deciding where to spend a limited festival budget can be difficult.
Part of SapphicIFF's work is about making that landscape easier to navigate.
We want to amplify festivals doing meaningful work within LGBTQ+ film, particularly those that understand the importance of curation, community and creating a genuine experience around the films they programme.
Wicked Queer has been doing exactly that for decades.
Its long history, queer-specific programming and commitment to bringing LGBTQ+ cinema to audiences across Boston and Cambridge make it a festival we are pleased to support.
If you have a sapphic film that is ready for the festival circuit, take a look at the festival, consider whether it fits your strategy and, if it does, don't forget to log in to access our submission discount before entering.
About Wicked Queer
Wicked Queer is Boston's LGBTQ+ Film Festival and one of the longest-running LGBTQ+ film festivals in North America.
Founded in 1984 by film programmer George Mansour, the festival has grown into a major LGBTQ+ film event in New England, presenting queer films through venues across Boston and Cambridge.
Its mission is to build community and celebrate queer storytelling and filmmaking by uplifting voices and stories that have not yet been heard, while presenting and preserving the vibrancy of queer histories.
The festival programmes feature films, documentaries, shorts and experimental work, with both juried and audience awards recognising selected films.
Find out more about the festival at Wicked Queer's website or submit your film through FilmFreeway.
Are you an LGBTQ+ film festival?
SapphicIFF wants to build stronger connections between LGBTQ+ film festivals and the filmmakers creating the stories their audiences want to see.
If you run an established LGBTQ+ film festival and would like to increase sapphic submissions, reach new filmmakers or explore ways we can work together, we would love to hear from you.
Partnership does not have to be complicated. It might mean helping us spotlight your submission window, providing a discount or waiver for our filmmaker community, sharing information about the types of films you are particularly looking for, or finding other ways to improve the connection between sapphic filmmakers and your programming team.
Get in touch with SapphicIFF to discuss partnering with us.
