OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival Celebrates 31 Years at the Carolina Theatre, August 13

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DURHAM, N.C. — July 27, 2026— OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival returns to the Carolina Theatre of Durham for its 31st year, running August 13–16, 2026. Tickets are now on sale at the venue’s box office and online at carolinatheatre.org.

OUTSOUTH offers a worldwide glimpse of today’s LGBTQ+ life through an extraordinary lineup of 145 films — 14 feature films and 20 shorts programs — representing diverse queer experiences from around the globe. This year’s festival takes place during a milestone year for the Carolina Theatre, which celebrates its Centennial in 2026, marking 100 years of bringing people together through arts and culture.

Beginning in 1995 as “A Salute to Pride” and running from 1996–2019 as the North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (NCGLFF), the festival was renamed OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival to reflect the breadth of its programming and its role in championing local and regional filmmakers across the Southeast. Since its inception, OUTSOUTH has been a tentpole event bringing the community together and has been named a Signature Event for Durham by Discover Durham, the highest honor the organization bestows on a cultural event or attraction. OUTSOUTH is recognized as the second-largest LGBTQ+ film festival in the Southeast and has consistently ranked among the “Top 10 Queer Film Festivals in the U.S.,” with Moviemaker Magazine naming it one of “20 Fantastic LGBTQ+ Film Festivals Around the Globe” in 2021.

Beyond the screenings, OUTSOUTH connects audiences with filmmakers and fellow film lovers through special events, discussions, and community gatherings that make the festival much more than a lineup of movies. This year’s program includes film premieres and screenings, pre-film introductions and post-film Q&As with visiting artists, receptions and afterparties, and free community events.

Individual tickets are $15 (plus taxes and fees) and 5-Passes are $60 (plus taxes and fees). Individual tickets may be purchased online at carolinatheatre.org or in person at the theater’s box office..

OUTSOUTH is sponsored by The Forest at Duke and The City Of Durham, among other local and national businesses.

About The Carolina Theatre of Durham:

Carolina Theatre of Durham is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that manages the city-owned Carolina Theatre at 309 W. Morgan Street, Durham, NC 27701. The Carolina Theatre of Durham is dedicated to presenting vibrant, thought-provoking film and live performances that contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of downtown Durham and the Triangle Region. Visit carolinatheatre.org for more information.

Contact: Hanna Mercer Senior Director of Marketing, Carolina Theatre of Durham (919) 560-3040 | hanna@carolinatheatre.org