Gay Films about HIV & AIDS - Gay Films Matter

My Brother… Nikhil

2005 Drama

Famous swimmer Nikhil Kapoor deals with the repercussions of publicly announcing that he has HIV/AIDS.

Black Stone

2015 Drama

Raised on the outskirts of Seoul, Shon Sun begins his compulsory military service hoping for a fresh start. After enduring a brutal sexual assault by a superior and learning he is HIV positive, his life spirals into despair. Returning home in search of his missing father, Sun embarks on a bleak journey through the forgotten corners of Korea, confronting violence, prejudice, and the weight of his past.

SHORT FILM

Hugo: 6:30

2020 Drama

Hugo improvises a provocative story about intimacy, illness, and emancipation during a casting session.

SHORT FILM

The Gift Giver

2017 Drama

A young man joins an HIV support group with the deliberate aim of contracting the virus.

Berlin Drifters

2017 Drama, Romance

Ryota travels to Berlin seeking a long-term relationship with a man he met online. Rejected, he finds solace with a lonely Japanese man, exploring love amidst cultural and emotional landscapes.

The Fruit Machine

2018 Documentary

The persecution of LGBTQ public servants and military personnel in Canada from the 1950s to the 1990s is explored, highlighting lives disrupted and careers destroyed by systemic discrimination.

SHORT FILM

Last Address

2010 Documentary

The homes of many artists living and working in the New York area who have died of AIDS-related illnesses between 1983 and 2007.

SHORT FILM

The Hunter

2020 Drama

On a hot summer night in 1985 Greenwich Village, a young man, new to the city, leaves a gay bar with a flamboyant performance artist, but his animated story of Antigone is soon rudely interrupted in this period tribute to the wild gay scene of the mid-1980s. What starts as a hot date soon uncovers much deeper layers of race, class, history, and disease. The concept and identity of the hunter is fluid throughout, as it examines the shifting dynamics of power, attraction, and trust.

The Teacher

2019 Drama, Romance

Civics teacher Kevin's advocacy for marriage equality and his love for an HIV-positive man provoke controversy and rumors at his school, forcing him to confront societal prejudices and personal choices.

Men in Love

1990 Drama, Romance

A man travels to a New Age center to cope with the death of his lover.

SHORT FILM

Stay Positive

2014 Drama

A teenage boy comes face to face with his HIV status when pressured into a blood drive by his grandmother and runs the risk of isolating himself and missing out on life.

An Early Frost

1985 Drama

Young attorney Michael Pierson hasn't told his parents Nicholas and Katherine about his homosexuality. Now he must tell them that he has contracted AIDS - at a time when the diagnosis was still a death sentence.

SHORT FILM

The Island

2009 Animation

Trevor contemplates a fan letter with the aid of animation, exploring the impact of unexpected connections.

L.A. A Queer History

2021 Documentary

Traces LGBTQ+ culture in Los Angeles from its origins through triumphs and struggles, highlighting overlooked figures and shaping a dialogue on American history and identity.

We All Lie My Darling

2021 Drama, Romance

A group of five friends in inner Sydney as they deal with new life experiences, exploring their sexuality and finding love.

SHORT FILM

Toe Tag

2023 Drama

After discovering a mysterious toe tag on Fire Island, Sam Foster seeks to find its owner, unlocking a painful history he himself buried away.

SHORT FILM

Oceania

2024 Drama

Sixteen-year-old Najib expects a summer spent playing video games. But when his mother, Asma, learns that their elderly neighbour has died alone, Najib secretly takes the apartment keys and ventures inside, uncovering a world far removed from his own.

Commitment to Life

2023 Documentary

Chronicles the battle against HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles amidst Hollywood glamour. It highlights a courageous community of patients, doctors, celebrities, and activists who reshaped the epidemic's trajectory.

SHORT FILM

At Night I Was Beautiful

2010 Documentary, Drama

A man reflects on his past life in New York City, recounting his experiences with candid introspection.

Raw! Uncut! Video!

2021 Documentary

A gay couple moves from San Francisco to Sonoma, where they establish a unique adult film studio. Amidst the AIDS crisis, they create a safe space for sexual expression, empowering individuals to explore their desires on camera.

Boys Life 7

2010 Compilation

A compilation of four gay short films selected from the Sundance Film Festival.

The Broadcast Tapes of Dr. Peter

1993 Documentary

A young doctor's final two years with AIDS are intimately chronicled.

Punks

2000 Comedy, Musical, Romance

Four gay African-American friends in L.A. navigate life's ups and downs, from photography to drag.

SHORT FILM

1985

2016 Drama

A dying man seeks out a beauty consultant to hide his symptoms.

SHORT FILM

Song from an Angel

1988 Comedy

Filmed two weeks before his death from AIDS, San Francisco performer Rodney Price sings and tap dances a darkly humorous song about his own death.

AKA

2002 Drama, Romance

Dean, seeking a new identity in 1970s Britain, enters high society while navigating love and deception, questioning the sacrifices needed to maintain his charade.

SHORT FILM

Cognitive

2019 Drama

Young David interprets something heard from a homophobic preacher that changes his outlook on life, playing out into adulthood.