Inside Out, producer of Canada’s queer-focused 2SLGBTQ+ film festival, has selected eight projects for the 10th International Film Finance Forum, to be held May 28-29 in Toronto.
The forum, hosted by Netflix, will screen the film Summer in Heat, directed by Cannes native Levan Akin. “Suffering is Optional” by Pakistani-Canadian Cannes alum Zarar Khan, starring “Ms. Marvel” star Iman Vellani; and “Little Phnom Penh,” the feature-length debut of Sundance Short Film Jury Award winner Chen Kea.
The rest of the lineup includes Film Independent Amplifier Fellow A. Sayeeda Moreno’s feature film “Out in the Dunes,” executive produced by Gabrielle Union; “Joe & Frankie” by Tara Thorne. Nick Borenstein’s feature debut, August, produced by Dan Bucatinsky. SXSW alum Andy Reid’s comedy “Pickup” and Alice Wang’s family drama “Better Left Unside.”
Selected film teams will meet with executives from Netflix, Orion Pictures, Killer Films, Unapologetic Projects, Sphere Media, Little Walnut, Telefilm Canada, NFB, Elevation Pictures, Mongrel Media, as well as Photon, Parallax Films, Shut Up & Colour, GLAAD and more.
“When the Forum was founded 10 years ago, our goal was to help LGBTQ filmmakers navigate the international sales and distribution landscape, where many faced systemic barriers and discrimination in bringing their projects to market,” said festival director Jenna Dufton. “In the political and economic climate of 2026, we feel it is even more important to demonstrate our commitment to obtaining funding and distribution for independent queer films and providing Toronto with a safe and intentional space for these projects to launch.”
Below is the lineup of all 8 projects.
“Summer in Heat” (Sweden/France/Germany/Denmark, drama)
Director Levan Akin, writer Jordan Tannehill
Producer: Mathilde Dedier, Ludwig Andersson, Katja Admait, Ksenia Meingott
Logline: A movie about longing and forbidden desires.
“Suffering is Optional” (Canada, Thriller)
Director Zara Khan
Producer: Karen Harnisch, Anam Abbas, Lindsay Blair Gertner, |Julie Grolleau, Kareem Aftab (EP)
Logline: A young actress wins the lead role in a prestigious drama school’s adaptation of Hamlet while battling the nightmares of climate change catastrophe. There, she meets a relentless director who pushes her to the limits of her will.
“August” (American, comedy thriller)
Director Nick Borenstein
Producer: Sidney Foose, Dan Bucatinsky, Lindsay Blair Goldner, Nick Borenstein
Logline: Jordan, a queer and neurotic young man, has his life turned upside down when his beloved therapist suddenly dies. Unable to accept that her death was a coincidence, Jordan embarks on a full-scale investigation to get to the bottom of her mysterious disappearance.
“Better Left Unsaid” (Canada, drama)
Director Alice Wang
Producer: Kathryn Rose Gardiner, Enrique Banique (EP)
Logline: An estranged daughter attends her cousin’s lesbian wedding, hoping it’s a sign she’ll finally be accepted into the family, but when she discovers that her father has been hiding her terminal illness for months, she must choose to protect her cousin’s happy day or ruin their long-awaited reconciliation.
“Out in the Dunes” (American, youth romance)
Director A. Saida Moreno
Producer: Inuka Bacote-Capiga, Derek Nguyen, Gabrielle Union (EP)
Logline: Summer 1992: On the eve of her 21st birthday, Soledad, a heartbroken romantic, vows to remain single and returns to Provincetown, but a secret affair with butch lesbian artist Jules opens her heart, sending ripples through her close-knit extended Afro-Latinx/Black queer family and reaffirming the strength of her community.
“Little Phnom Penh” (Cambodia/France/USA, drama)
director chen care
Producer: Karen Madar
Logline: Spanning two decades and continents, from post-Khmer Rouge Cambodia to early 2000s California, Danette is burdened throughout her life by a hopeful daughter, a neglected wife, the longing of a single American immigrant mother, and the allure of an untimely first love.
“Joe & Frankie” (Canada, comedy)
Director Tara Thorne
Producer: Jenna McMillan, Melani Wood
Logline: Drawn together by curiosity, desire, and sadness, Joe and Frankie consider their lives in light of the lives they could have together.
“Pickup” (Canada/USA, comedy)
director andy reed
Producer: Lucy McNulty, Alison Almeida, Jason Beekman
Logline: A lonely man seeking validation takes a job as a tap dance teacher and becomes obsessed with the father of his favorite student.
