Manchester is set to host the second edition of SCENE, its LGBTQ+ Film and TV Festival, from 15 to 21 August 2025. Building on its debut success last year, the festival will offer a week-long programme of screenings, discussions, and events tied to Manchester Pride 2025, aiming to spotlight queer narratives across cinema and television.
A highlight of the festival will be the 10th anniversary celebration of Channel 4’s drama series Cucumber on 20 August at New Century Hall. Russell T Davies, the show’s creator known also for Queer as Folk and It’s A Sin, will appear alongside cast members Vincent Franklin and Cyril Nri. The event will include a screening of a selected episode and an audience Q&A exploring the series’ cultural impact and its portrayal of gay life in Manchester.
The festival opens at HOME on 15 August with Lesbian Space Princess, a sci-fi romance examining queer identity through genre-bending storytelling. The following day, New Century Hall will host a tribute to writer Jonathan Harvey, featuring clips from his work and a screening of the seminal queer coming-of-age film Beautiful Thing.
On 17 August, Aviva Studios will welcome producers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato—creators behind RuPaul’s Drag Race and the streaming platform WOW Presents Plus—for a conversation on queer storytelling, followed by a screening of Party Monster (2003), a cult documentary-drama about New York club kid Michael Alig. Concurrently, New Century Hall will hold a discussion with the Waterloo Road creative team and cast on LGBTQ+ representation in schools and television.
Capping the festival on 21 August, Manchester Camerata will present a concert featuring works by LGBTQ+ composers including Meredith Monk and Aaron Copland. This will be followed by Monk in Pieces, a documentary examining Monk’s significant contributions to contemporary music. That evening at HOME, there will also be a 30th anniversary screening of Showgirls, accompanied by in-theatre drag performances inspired by the film.
Additional offerings include a selection of queer documentaries from Sheffield DocFest screening at Vue Printworks on 17 August; a New Narrative showcase of international LGBTQ+ fiction features running 18–20 August; and a series of free outdoor screenings of cult comedies and musicals at First Street. Other events include filmmaker Regan Latimer’s exploration of lesbian television tropes and a themed pub quiz focusing on lesbian TV representation.
SCENE 2025 has partnered with several queer festivals and organisations like CULTPLEX, GAZE, Iris Prize, and GASP!, with further programme announcements due on 24 July. Tickets start at £2.50, with many free events, and proceeds will support Manchester Pride Charity. The festival is also offering special hotel packages with discounts and exclusive experiences designed to encourage visitors to extend their stay in the city.
This expanding festival is rapidly becoming a key fixture for LGBTQ+ cultural celebration and discourse in Manchester, reflecting growing interest in queer representation in media and the importance of community engagement through the arts.
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