Film lovers are heading to the Tel Aviv Cinematheque from October 22 to 31 for TLVFest 2025, Israel's leading international LGBTQ+ film festival. The 21st edition arrives with new artistic leadership, acclaimed global titles and a strong showcase of Israeli filmmaking, making it a lively meeting point for queer stories, cultural debate and unapologetic joy.

Essential Takeaways

  • New leadership: Artistic director Gili Porat and producer Yael Lavie are taking over after founder Yair Hochner's two-decade tenure.
  • International highlights: The programme includes Rose, The Wrong Girls and Stop! That! Train!
  • Israeli premieres: New local work includes A Man Walks on the Street and Tell Me Everything.
  • A broad emotional range: Films explore love, faith, family and queer joy rather than settling for a single festival mood.
  • A global reputation: TLVFest has previously been recognised by IndieWire as one of the world's leading LGBTQ+ film festivals.

A new chapter begins at Tel Aviv's queer film festival

TLVFest returns to the Tel Aviv Cinematheque with more than a packed schedule. Its 21st edition also marks a handover between generations, as Gili Porat and Yael Lavie assume leadership following founder Yair Hochner's long stewardship of the event.

That change matters because Hochner helped turn the festival into a durable part of Israel's queer cultural landscape. Now the new team faces the familiar festival challenge: honouring a well-loved identity while giving audiences a reason to look forward, not just back. According to The Jerusalem Post, that transition sits at the heart of this year's edition.

International films bring stars, camp and sharp edges

The international programme has plenty of recognisable names, but it isn't simply a celebrity parade. Markus Schleinzer's Rose, which brought Sandra Hüller the Silver Bear at Berlin, leads a selection that combines prestige cinema with emotionally charged queer storytelling.

Dylan Meyer's The Wrong Girls adds a very different flavour, pairing crime-comedy energy with Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat. Meanwhile, Adam Shankman's Stop! That! Train! promises a campier rush, with RuPaul among its cast. It sounds like the sort of line-up that can move from thoughtful conversation to gleeful audience noise in a single evening.

Why TLVFest still feels bigger than a screening programme

The festival's international standing gives it useful cultural weight. IndieWire has previously placed TLVFest among the world's top LGBTQ+ film festivals, while the event has welcomed figures connected with major gatherings including Sundance and Berlin.

That history helps explain why the festival feels like more than a local cinema season. It creates a route for Israeli audiences to encounter new queer work from abroad, while giving local filmmakers a platform in a setting where their stories are seen as part of a wider conversation. For many viewers, the shared experience matters just as much as the titles on the screen.

Israeli cinema takes centre stage

The domestic selection offers a substantial counterbalance to the international films. Yuval Hadadi's A Man Walks on the Street will premiere at the festival, while Moshe Rosenthal's Ophir Award-winning Tell Me Everything joins the programme.

The line-up also includes And Thou Shalt Love, the final film by the late, award-winning director Nitzan Gilady. Its inclusion brings an especially poignant note to the festival, linking new work and recent cinematic history. The result is a richer portrait of Israeli queer filmmaking, with room for emerging voices, established talent and stories that don't fit neatly into one category.

What audiences can expect this year

The stated themes, including love, faith, family and queer joy, suggest a programme with plenty of emotional variety. Some films will likely invite close discussion, while others are designed to deliver the uncomplicated pleasure of a crowded cinema, a sharp punchline and the lights coming back up.

That balance may be TLVFest's greatest strength. Queer cinema doesn't have to choose between political urgency and entertainment, and this year's selection appears determined to make space for both. If you're planning a visit, browsing the programme by mood as well as genre could be the best way to find a film that suits the evening.

It is a new chapter for TLVFest, but not a quiet one.

Explore the programme and find a screening that speaks to you.

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