Australian cinema has always had a certain raw honesty, and that extends beautifully into its queer storytelling. Watching Australian gay movies over the years, I’ve noticed they rarely rely on glossy romance or exaggerated tropes. Instead, they dig into identity, family, intimacy, and sometimes the political battles that shaped LGBTQ+ rights in the country. Films like Holding the Man and Of an Age don’t just tell love stories—they reflect a culture negotiating change, resilience, and tenderness.
On the other side, Australian gay short films have carved out their own space. Works like The Wilding or The Language of Love show how just a few minutes of screen time can capture the uncertainty of youth, the intensity of first love, or the claustrophobia of being closeted. Short films here often feel like experiments in emotion: small, precise, and piercing.
For me, revisiting these films is not just about queer cinema history—it’s about understanding how Australia told stories of love, loss, and pride across decades, and how those stories continue to resonate today.
Australian Gay Movies 🎬
🇦🇺 Australia | 📅 2022 | 🎬 Romance / Drama / LGBTQ+
Set in 1999 Melbourne, the story follows Kol, a Serbian-born ballroom dancer, who shares an unexpected and intense 24-hour romance with Adam, the brother of his best friend. Their fleeting encounter is tender, transformative, and unforgettable, leaving behind an indelible mark on both of their lives. Years later, Kol returns to Australia for Ebony’s wedding, but deep down, his true reason for coming back is to see Adam again.
Of an Age is a quiet yet piercingly emotional film. It avoids melodrama, instead unfolding with delicate pacing and emotional precision. The movie captures how a single day can shape a lifetime of memory—those moments of joy, security, and intimacy that never fade. For me, it was heartbreaking and beautiful: meeting someone who becomes your “beautiful boy,” and realizing that even years later, every memory is still alive in the present.
🇦🇺 Australia | 📅 2015 | 🎬 Romance / Drama / LGBTQ+
Based on Timothy Conigrave’s memoir, the film tells the story of Tim, a theater student, and John, the handsome captain of the high school football team. Their relationship spans 15 years, enduring societal disapproval, prejudice, temptation, and jealousy. As they navigate adulthood, love remains constant, but they eventually face challenges that even the strongest devotion cannot overcome.
This is not just one of the best gay films of the year—it’s one of the best gay films ever made. The casting is phenomenal, and the acting carries raw emotional weight. Every glance and gesture feels authentic, with chemistry that explodes on screen. The film doesn’t shy away from painful truths: love can withstand social pressure, but monogamy, fidelity, and the realities of life present their own heartbreaking struggles. Its impact lingers long after the credits roll.
🇦🇺 Australia | 📅 2015 | 🎬 Documentary / LGBTQ+ / Family
This documentary follows four children—Gus, Ebony, Matt, and Graham—who are growing up in same-sex households in Australia. Each child faces unique challenges, from wrestling with religion and dyslexia to pursuing artistic dreams and fitting in at school. Their personal stories are set against the backdrop of Australia’s national debate on marriage equality, offering an intimate look at LGBTQ+ families through the eyes of children.
The brilliance of Gayby Baby lies in its perspective: it’s not about the parents, but about the kids themselves. These children are not defined by having gay parents—they’re simply kids with their own dreams, fears, and struggles. The film doesn’t forcefully argue its case but instead lets the lived experiences speak for themselves. By the end, it achieves a powerful universality: family is family, and love is love.
🇦🇺 Australia | 📅 2014 | 🎬 Crime / Drama / LGBTQ+
Set in 1970s Brisbane, the film follows Merv (nicknamed “Pommie”), an ex-con who reconnects with his younger former cellmate, Sparra. Now out of prison, Sparra has tried to build a stable life with his fiancée. But when Pommie resurfaces, their shared past—and their intense bond—threatens to drag Sparra back into a world of crime and destructive passion.
Cut Snake is a gritty, heartbreaking thriller disguised as a crime drama. Beneath the heist plot lies a love story between two men bound by intimacy and loyalty but pulled apart by circumstance. Pommie’s devotion is as fierce as it is destructive, while Sparra’s struggle between past and future hits hard. It’s a tragic story of toxic love and longing, where tenderness collides with violence.
🇦🇺 Australia | 📅 2018 | 🎬 Historical Drama / LGBTQ+
Based on true events, Riot dramatizes Australia’s LGBTQ+ rights movement in the 1970s and 80s, leading up to the country’s first Mardi Gras parade. It centers on activist Lance Gowland, who juggles personal relationships, family responsibilities, and his unshakable dedication to equality in the face of police brutality and public hostility.
With echoes of films like 120 BPM and Pride, Riot is both political and deeply human. It portrays the courage of a community fighting for survival and recognition, blending idealism with personal struggle. The final montage, paired with David Bowie’s “Heroes,” is an emotional gut-punch that ties history to lived reality. It’s a stirring reminder that every step forward in LGBTQ+ rights was won through sacrifice.
🇦🇺 Australia | 📅 1994 | 🎬 Comedy / Drama / LGBTQ+
Harry, a widowed father, lives with his openly gay son Jeff in suburban Sydney. While both are searching for love, their close bond often complicates their romantic prospects—Harry’s new girlfriend feels threatened by their relationship, while Jeff’s dates are scared off by Harry’s overbearing involvement. Yet, beneath the comedic tension lies a heartfelt portrait of acceptance and unconditional love.
The Sum of Us is a touching, often humorous exploration of family and sexuality. What makes it groundbreaking is Harry’s unwavering acceptance of his son, shaped by his own mother’s experience as a lesbian. The narrative blends light-hearted banter with serious reflections on love and support. The use of direct-to-camera monologues adds intimacy, making the father-son relationship both unique and universal.
Australian Gay Short Films
🇦🇺 Australia | 📅 2004 | 🎬 Short Film / LGBTQ+ / Coming-of-Age
After a minor bicycle accident, two boys begin talking. The older boy brags about his experience with girls, though his confidence may just be a front. In their innocent curiosity, the boys stumble into a first kiss that tastes unexpectedly of oranges.
A short film that captures the fleeting, tender awkwardness of first love. With just a simple encounter, it conveys the curiosity, hesitation, and sweetness of two boys discovering something new. The “orange-flavored kiss” lingers as a perfect metaphor for innocence—fresh, subtle, and unforgettable.
🇦🇺 Australia | 📅 2013 | 🎬 Short Film / LGBTQ+ / Youth
During a French exam, Charlie (Kim Ho) drifts off, unable to concentrate. His best friend Sam has grown distant, and the exam’s essay prompt—“Write a letter to your best friend”—forces him to confront his feelings. Through imagined words, Charlie pens a love letter he may never have the courage to say aloud: “Dear Samuel, I love you…”
Written and performed by 17-year-old Kim Ho, this monologue-driven short is heartfelt and universal. It isn’t about Sam being a boy; it’s about the overwhelming feeling of love itself. Every small detail—glances, longing, the fear of rejection—is captured with aching honesty. The simplicity of a classroom transforms into a deeply intimate confession of queer teenage love.
🇦🇺 Australia | 📅 2012 | 🎬 Short Film / LGBTQ+ / Drama
Inside a juvenile detention center, a fragile romance develops between Malcolm (Reef Ireland) and his cellmate Tye (Shannon Glowacki). When Malcolm is offered parole, he faces a painful choice: seize his freedom or stay behind to protect the boy he loves.
Winner of the Iris Prize and screened at Berlinale, The Wilding is both raw and poetic. It portrays love as dangerous yet irresistible, especially within a harsh environment. The film’s pacing and cinematography create a flow that feels both turbulent and tender, echoing the restless energy of youth. It’s short but powerful, capturing how even in confinement, love can still bloom.
🇦🇺 Australia | 📅 2018 | 🎬 Short Film / LGBTQ+ / Drama
Two closeted actors sit in the backseat of a car on their way to their first major awards ceremony. As the pressure of the night mounts, so does the tension between them. In a single confined setting, insecurities, affection, and unspoken truths clash.
Winner of over 40 international awards, Papercut proves that a single scene can hold immense dramatic weight. It portrays the suffocating reality of being closeted in the entertainment industry, where public image demands denial and lovers become strangers. The result is intimate, claustrophobic, and devastatingly real.
Also explore: