Welcome

Welcome to Frameline45

Greetings, Frameline family!

We are beyond excited to return for our 45th edition as the world’s premier LGBTQ+ film festival, homegrown right here in San Francisco. It is also the first Festival for Frameline’s new Director of Programming, Allegra Madsen. Allegra brings an unparalleled background in developing programs that are fun, engaging, accessible, and inclusive—which Frameline45 will provide in spades. In honor of our big milestone anniversary, we are going BIG in 2021. Frameline45 will be our first nationally streaming festival. Drive-In screenings are returning to SF and Concord, and—for the first time ever—we are copresenting Pride Movie Nights! We will screen two major film programs on the larger-than-life jumbotron at Oracle Park, home of the SF Giants. And we are thrilled to be presenting screenings back at our real-life homes at the Castro and Roxie Theatres.

The past year has brought into sharp relief the fragility and the value of our connections with one another. This idea is beautifully illustrated by our Centerpiece Language Lessons, a film that shows that even our virtual connections can meet the human desire to be seen and known. Other program highlights include Summertime, a poetic story following a charming cast of characters as they assert their identities in the face of gentrification and displacement; additionally, Potato Dreams of America is a quirky queer coming-of-age fable about the fantasy of the American Dream. As the world takes this year to reopen and revitalize, so too will Frameline—in a bigger way than ever before. Following Frameline45, we plan to re-emerge in the fall to bring you even more new queer cinema to usher in the holiday season. Expect a fabulous gala, a thoughtful award presentation, and the first-ever Frameline Fall Showcase. Did we mention we are going big in 2021? Frameline works year-round to ensure the finest and most inclusive cinematic experience for our audiences. For this, we wish to thank our fearless staff and board of directors, who work tirelessly to bring Frameline to life. We wish to thank our donors at all levels, whose contributions are the lifeblood of our small-and-mighty organization. To these people and more, who are constantly mobilizing our mission to change the world through the power of queer cinema: thank you. We hope you enjoy what our team has created for you. Stay healthy and safe, and till we see each other next…let the show begin!

James Woolley

Executive Director

Allegra Madsen

Director of Programming