Montreal’s Image+Nation queer film festival returns from 19 to 29 November for its 39th edition, with Crave previews, short-film programmes and a first venture into virtual reality. From behind-the-scenes conversations to an interactive look at lesbian life, this year’s line-up offers plenty beyond the cinema screen, with options for both in-person and online audiences.

Essential Takeaways

  • Ten days of queer cinema: Image+Nation runs from 19 to 29 November in Montreal.
  • Two Crave previews: Audiences can see episodes of Degage and Slo Pitch, with people from each production taking part in related events.
  • A VR first: Lesbian Simulator explores experiences including coming out, first dates and discrimination, in English and French.
  • Shorts with a wide lens: Programmes include Indigiqueer Voices, Queerment Quebec, Made au Canada and Docuqueer.
  • Tickets start at $10: Virtual single admission is $10; in-person single tickets are $15, with discounted tickets and passes also available.

Image+Nation returns with a lively Montreal line-up

A festival screening can be more than a seat in the dark, and Image+Nation is leaning into that idea for its 39th edition. The Montreal event runs from 19 to 29 November, bringing queer stories to cinemas and online audiences through a programme that mixes features, shorts, conversations and virtual reality. (Sources: Image+Nation festival website.)

The line-up follows the buzz around last year’s premiere of Heated Rivalry, a Crave series that drew attention to the festival. This year, two new Crave shows give audiences another reason to linger after the credits: the skateboarding series Degage and the sports mockumentary Slo Pitch. (Sources: Montreal Times; Image+Nation festival website.)

Two Crave previews bring the people behind the shows into the room

On 21 November, Concordia University’s SGW Alumni Auditorium hosts a preview of four episodes of Degage. Members of the series’ cast, creative team and production crew are also set to attend, offering an inside look at how the show came together. (Sources: Montreal Times; Image+Nation festival website.)

The following day, Slo Pitch takes the spotlight at Concordia’s J.A. De Seve Cinema. The mockumentary follows an all-female queer beer-league softball team, and its screening will feature live commentary from stars Jess Salgueiro, Karen Knox and Gwenlyn Cumyn, alongside director J. Stevens. Cumyn and Knox are also co-creators and showrunners, making this a particularly appealing session for viewers curious about both the jokes and the craft behind them. (Sources: Montreal Times; Bell Media; Canadian Media Fund.)

A first VR experience offers a different kind of viewing

For the first time, Image+Nation is adding a virtual-reality experience to its programme. Dutch digital artist and filmmaker Iris van der Meule created Lesbian Simulator, a work that blends film and game elements to explore parts of lesbian life, including coming out, first dates and discrimination. It’s available in English and French. (Sources: Montreal Times; Iris van der Meule.)

The project received the Innovation Hub Audience Award at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, giving festival-goers a chance to try a format that asks for more than simply watching. If you’re choosing between a standard screening and VR, check the festival’s programme for the experience’s format and availability before planning your visit. (Sources: Montreal Times; Image+Nation festival website; Iris van der Meule.)

Short films make room for a wide range of voices

The short-film programme offers several distinct routes through queer storytelling, with themed selections including Indigiqueer Voices, Queerment Quebec, Made au Canada and Docuqueer. That spread makes it easier to find work grounded in a particular community or style, while also leaving room for unexpected discoveries between longer screenings. (Sources: Montreal Times; Image+Nation short programmes.)

Other events include the second annual La Soiree Etudiante, which brings emerging queer and feminist artists together for networking and exhibition. Soiree Kino Queer showcases work from the KINO movement, with films connected to places including France, Burkina Faso, Ukraine, Germany and Quebec. For anyone who likes a festival to feel like a meeting place as well as a viewing schedule, these gatherings could be the most memorable part. (Sources: Montreal Times; Image+Nation festival website.)

What tickets cost and how to choose

A regular single-admission ticket costs $15, while people under 30 and over 65 can pay $13. A six-ticket bundle costs $75, and a virtual single ticket is $10. Those planning to watch more widely can choose a $100 online all-access pass or a $225 hybrid pass. (Sources: Montreal Times; Image+Nation festival website.)

If you’re going in person, look over the venue details and programme before buying, especially if you want to catch a specific director, performer or Q&A-style event. Online viewers may find the virtual ticket or all-access pass more convenient, while a bundle offers a straightforward way to sample several screenings. Check the official festival ticket page for current details. (Sources: Image+Nation festival website; Montreal Times.)

Image+Nation’s 2026 programme makes space for big-screen stories, fresh voices and a little headset-powered curiosity.

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