Audiences are getting their first look at In Between, a queer romantic dramedy premiering at Atlanta's Out on Film festival on 26 September 2026. Shot in the city and shaped by writer-star Nicholas Molencupp's experiences, the film pairs dating-app chaos with a tender message about self-worth, visibility and learning to love yourself.

Essential Takeaways

  • World premiere: In Between screens on Saturday 26 September 2026 at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema in Atlanta.
  • A personal story: Nicholas Molencupp wrote and stars in the film, drawing on his experiences as a larger gay man navigating dating and belonging.
  • More than a romcom: The film mixes jokes, romance and heavier themes, including shame, rejection and suicidal ideation.
  • Meet the team: A post-screening Q&A will feature members of the cast and creative team.
  • Festival setting: The premiere forms part of the 39th annual Out on Film festival, one of the major LGBTQ+ film events in the region.

A queer love story that refuses to shrink its leading man

The refreshing thing about In Between is that its romantic lead isn't presented as someone waiting to become more acceptable before love can find him. Nick is husky, hairy, funny and emotionally bruised, yet the film lets him occupy the centre of a love story without sanding away the parts that make him recognisable.

According to ArtsATL, Molencupp's project is rooted in self-love and acceptance, but it isn't a glossy confidence makeover. Nick still has bad dates, awkward messages and plenty of reasons to doubt himself. The appeal lies in watching him gradually question the rules he's been using to measure his own desirability.

That makes the film feel particularly timely for viewers who know what it means to sit between labels, body types or social circles. It isn't only about finding the right boyfriend. It's about realising that being chosen shouldn't require disappearing.

Beau arrives with charm, chemistry and complications

The plot begins in familiar romantic-comedy territory. Nick has endured a parade of first dates and disappointing endings when Beau appears, confident, attractive and British. Naturally, the smooth accent helps. For a while, Beau seems to offer the kind of validation Nick has been hoping for.

Then the fantasy starts to wobble. Beau's discomfort about being seen with Nick exposes a painful imbalance, forcing Nick to ask whether attraction is enough when one person is still treating the relationship as something to hide.

The filmmakers describe the story as a romantic dramedy rather than a straightforward comedy, and that distinction matters. There are warm, funny moments, but the film also explores rejection, mental health and the exhausting emotional cost of chasing affection from someone who won't meet you openly.

From a short script to a feature made at full speed

In Between began as a much shorter piece before Molencupp expanded it into a feature. The official film website presents the project as a character-led story about dating, friendship and personal growth, while the production's festival journey shows how quickly a small independent film can gather momentum when its subject resonates.

Molencupp wrote the screenplay, plays Nick and helped produce the film. Cameron Moir joined after seeing the fundraising campaign, auditioning for Beau and bringing production experience and industry contacts to the project. Juli-Ann De Barros co-directed, with Angelica Perez Castro serving as director of photography.

That is a lot of responsibility for one production, particularly when the film was shot over a concentrated schedule in Atlanta. Still, the result sounds less like a polished studio exercise and more like a communal act of belief. Everyone involved appears to have understood why this particular lead character needed to be on screen.

Why the "in between" feeling travels beyond dating

The title works on several levels. Nick feels caught between body categories and sections of gay culture, never quite matching the image he thinks other people want. That uncertainty can feel painfully specific, but the emotional idea is much wider.

Some viewers will recognise it through sexuality or body image. Others may connect through family, culture, gender, illness, class or simply the awkward years when an old identity no longer fits and a new one hasn't settled yet. That's where the film's premise gains reach beyond a single dating story.

The subject also arrives amid ongoing conversations about weight-loss medication, changing body expectations and who gets to belong in body-positive communities. For anyone looking for a queer romantic comedy about body image and self-acceptance, In Between could offer something warmer and messier than the usual transformation narrative.

How to see In Between at Out on Film

The world premiere is scheduled for 9.15pm on Saturday 26 September 2026 at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema. A pre-screening reception is planned at Opera Diem from around 6.30pm, giving audiences a chance to meet members of the team before the film begins.

A Q&A will follow the screening, with Molencupp, Moir, co-director Juli-Ann De Barros and cast members including Sachin Bhatt, Aaron Goldenberg and Julian Burzynski expected to take part. Festival listings from Midtown Atlanta and Creative Loafing place the screening within the wider 39th annual Out on Film programme.

Tickets and festival viewing information are available through the official Out on Film platform. Other screenings and future distribution plans may follow, but the Atlanta premiere is the meaningful starting point: the film returns to the city where it was made, with the people who built it in the room.

It's a small independent film carrying a big, generous reminder: love shouldn't require you to become less of yourself.

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