Now that La Bola Negra is out in limited release, Conrad and Joe can release our thoughts from TIFF 2026.

From filmmaking (and former romantic) duo, Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, the Spanish Netflix film follows three different stories of queer men dealing with homophobia, storytelling, and living an authentic lives.

Featuring supporting turns from Penelope Cruz and Glenn Close, this is one of the most celebrated queer films of the year!

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Our 'Sad Goodbyes and Roadtrips' sub theme on films dealing with HIV & AIDS continues with Neil Armfield's 2015 adaptation of Timothy Conigrave's 1995 memoir, Holding The Man.

Is the film a mainstream reckoning for Australia's AIDS history (as local critics argued) or is simply a decent tearjerker? Conrad and Joe are divided on its success.

Plus: casting Australian acting royalty; the terrible WIG game; and that punishing ~2 hour runtime.

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Conrad and Joe have a spoiler-free discussion of Herman Yau's "based on a true story" We're Nothing At All (2026).

The film tells the story of Fai and Ike - two vulnerable men in Hong Kong who fall in love despite society's attempt to keep them down. This is cross-cut with another timeline in which a bus explosion kills 16 and injures 30. How and when will the two stories intersect?

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Our HIV & Aids sub theme on 'Sad Goodbyes and Road Trips' kicks off with Longtime Companion (1989).

What's surprising about this film is that it went theatrical! Sure, it was a struggle to shoot and finance (and there's only one actual queer in the cast), but it's something of a marvel regardless.

Plus: Speedos and young Dermot Mulroney; another Mary-Louise Parker performance; and why Campbell Scott's character Willy earns Joe's derision.

Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze for ~22 more minutes of spoiler-heavy discussion.

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Conrad and Joe continue their 2026 TIFF coverage with Marine Atlan's 2.5 hour feature directorial debut, La Gradiva (2026). Centering on a French school group who travel to Naples, the film is a coming of age exploration of sex, sexuality, politics, and art. Featuring a trio of leads (one of whom is explicitly queer), this was Joe's favourite film of the festival and one that lingers long after the credits.

Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze for ~13 more minutes of spoiler-heavy discussion.

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Conrad and Joe wrap up our 'Gay Panic' theme with Neil Jordan's The Crying Game (1992).

The film notoriously features a "trans twist" which dominated pop culture discussions, leading to a flawed legacy (to such a degree that Conrad has never revisited it before now).

On a rewatch: this is a love story with a whole act that follows Dil's revelation and, while Fergus' reaction is initially troubling, there's much more to this film than just the reveal.

Plus: exploring the theme of identity; Joe's appreciation of Jordan's filmography; skirting around the IRA and the Troubles; and celebrating Miranda Richardson's Jude.

Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze for ~19 more minutes of spoiler-heavy discussion.

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Conrad and Joe continue their coverage of queer texts at TIFF 2026 with an adaptation that's heavy on the queer coding: Julián (2026).

From acclaimed Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon, Louise Bagnall's adaptation of Jessica Love’s Julián Is a Mermaid is a beautiful, vibrant, gentle animated film with low-stakes conflict.

Plus: a coded Pride parade; speaking Spanish; and Joe's reading of Julián's father.

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Conrad and Joe's TIFF coverage continues with a spoiler-free look at writer/director Lukas Dhont's latest film, Coward (2026).

A love story set in the trenches of WWI, the film focuses on Belgian farmer Pierre and tailor's son Francis as they navigate their developing romance in a time when it's not acceptable to be queer.

Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze another ~20 minutes of spoilery discussion.

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Follow the show on Insta and BlueSky: @thequeergaze.

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