Sometimes you’re after a drama, other times a comedy, or a slice of real life via a documentary. Here’s four film that are on our radar to add to our must-see list.
Club Kid
In Club Kid the life of washed-up underground party promoter Peter takes an unexpected turn when he is forced to care for Arlo, a 10-year old son he never knew he had.
The film is the directorial debut of Jordan Firstman, who has garnered acclaim for his previous short films. A24 acquired the film after a bidding war that broke out following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. Firstman plays the title character, while newcomer Reggie Absolom takes on the role of Arlo. Cara Delevingne, Diego Calva, and Miss Benny also appear in the film. It’ll have a US release in November.
Fairyland
Alysia Abbott’s memoir that captures her childhood in San Francisco in the the 1970s with her father Steve, a gay single father – somewhat of a rarity in those days. The story follows the pair’s lives from the being part of a creative and free spirited community through the sudden changes of brought on by the AIDS epidemic. It was declared one of the best books of 2013.
Now its been adapted for the screen. It’s the directorial debut of Andrew Durnham, and was produced by Sophia Coppola. Emilia Jones plays Alysia, while Scoot McNairy plays her father Steve. Also in the cast is Geena Davis, Cody Fern, and Adam Lambert. The film had it’s premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and finally got a US cinema season late in 2025. The film has been added to Amazon Prime Video in some regions.
On The Sea
Set in a remote fishing community in North Wales, On The Sea follows Jack, a mussel harvester who expects his son to continue the family trade. Tensions arise when his son resists this expectation, and the arrival of a new deckhand further complicates relationships within the community. As personal and familial dynamics unfold, the story explores themes of identity, desire, and belonging. The film had a UK release earlier this year.
A House Is Not A Disco
This 2024 US documentary looks into the gay community in Fire Island, New York. The film documents a year-in-the-life in the world’s most iconic “homo-normative” community: Fire Island Pines. Situated fifty miles from New York City, this storied queer beach town finds itself in the midst of a renaissance as a new generation of Millennial homeowners reimagine The Pines for a new, more inclusive era.
Filmed like a Wiseman movie on magic mushrooms, a large cast of unforgettable eccentrics, activists, drifters and first-timers reflect on the legacy of The Pines while preparing their beloved village for the biggest challenge it has faced since the AIDS crisis: rising seas caused by climate change. The film can be watched online at Gathr.
