Gay Films about HIV & AIDS - Gay Films Matter

Boys on Film 3: American Boy

2009 Compilation

Gay short films from the East Coast to the West Coast prove there's more to American boys than meets the eye.

Boys on Film 11: We Are Animals

2014 Compilation

A series of eight short films dealing with the varied experiences of gay men and boys.

I Don’t Know Who You Are

2023 Drama, Thriller

Benjamin, a working class gay man living in Toronto, struggles to obtain expensive health care after being assaulted by a stranger.

Boys on Film 14: Worlds Collide

2016 Compilation

Worlds collide in more ways than one in this stunning collection of award winning short films. Confidence is violated, classes clash and desire is concealed, yet love still triumphs regardless of the consequences.

Boys Briefs 3: Between the Boys

2006 Compilation

Explore the sometimes charming, sometimes sadistic world of hooking up.

SHORT FILM

All Things Fade

2017 Drama

When Nathan tells Bret that he's HIV positive, it doesn't go well for Nathan. But months later, things take a turn for Bret.

Urinal

1988 Drama

Dead gay artists scrutinize Toronto police's handling of washroom intimacy, discovering they are targets of surveillance in a political thriller.

Amazing Grace

1992 Drama

Amidst AIDS, two families navigate relationships and challenges with their gay sons.

Pretty Boy

1993 Drama

A neglected teenager abandons his troubled home, drifting through romantic relationships while living as a hustler and thief among a jealous gang. He longs for belonging.

SHORT FILM

The Grey Zones

2018 Drama

Nicolás, awaiting the results of his first HIV test at 21, navigates uncertainty that strains family relationships and his own sexuality over a transformative weekend, exploring themes of health, identity, and acceptance.

Menmaniacs – The Legacy of Leather

1995 Documentary

Delves into the forgotten era of French gay cinema, featuring interviews with directors and actors from a pioneering time in the genre.

COMING SOON

Elsinore

2026 Drama

Portrays the final months of actor Ian Charleson’s life, focusing on his acclaimed performance as Hamlet at the National Theatre while battling the devastating effects of AIDS.

The Sons of Tennessee Williams

2010 Documentary

Charts the evolution of the gay Mardi Gras krewe scene over the decades, illuminating the ways in which its emergence was a seminal factor in the cause of gay liberation in the South.

SHORT FILM

September

2024 Drama

A man in a boat on Central Park Lake considers what he lost and what he should have held on to in the wake of the AIDS epidemic.

Our Sons

1991 Drama

Donald is a young man dying of AIDS. His lover, James, asks his mother to go to Fayetteville, Arkansas and tell Donald's mother, who has been estranged from her son for years.

SHORT FILM

Stray Dogs Come Out at Night

2020 Drama

In Karachi, migrant sex worker Iqbal struggles to accept his illness. Seeking a brief escape from the weight of his circumstances, he persuades his uncle to join him on a day trip to the beach, where the vast Arabian Sea offers a fleeting sense of freedom.

SHORT FILM

I Bleed

2019 Animation, Documentary

An intimate confession of a person living with HIV.

SHORT FILM

My Neighbor, Miguel

2020 Documentary

An exuberant 72 year-old gay artist named Miguel recalls his life of art and community in San Francisco during the AIDS epidemic.

Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell

2008 Documentary, Musical, Romance

Examines the life and work of Arthur Russell, an influential singer, songwriter, cello player and disco auteur who died tragically in 1992.

SHORT FILM

This Is Not an AIDS Advertisement

1988 Documentary

An impressionistic antidote to the passionless, guilt-ridden AIDS awareness campaign conducted in Great Britain in 1987.

Small Town Gay Bar

2006 Documentary

The story of community in the Deep South that is forced to deal with the struggles of ignorance, hypocrisy and oppression.

SHORT FILM

Now You Know

2013 Comedy

The film "Philadelphia" turns a movie evening into a long confession night for two new male lovers. A sarcastic joke on AIDS triggers one of them to reveal his secret. But is it the only one?

When Ocean Meets Sky

2003 Documentary

Explores Fire Island Pines and its gay community, tracing its evolution from its founding 50 years ago through the milestones of gay liberation, the sexual revolution, the AIDS crisis, and beyond.

Noah’s Arc

2004 Drama

Four friends in L.A. confront issues like boyfriends, AIDS, filmmaking aspirations, and more in their everyday lives.

COMING SOON

Eklipse

2026 Drama

In the summer of 1999, Tomy and his best friend Chris spend their days on an alpine dairy, helping with the milking and exploring the countryside. But when Chris learns that Tomy’s father is in hospital with AIDS, fear and prejudice drive them apart, leaving Tomy to face both rejection and his family’s painful silence.

Hollywood, je t’aime

2009 Comedy, Drama, Romance

A gay Parisian shows up in Hollywood at Christmastime, ready for his close-up.

On These Shoulders We Stand

2009 Documentary

Elder members of the LGBT community in Los Angeles reflect on decades of gay history, unveiling hidden stories of resilience and identity.