Queer Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Annette Hess will receive the first-ever Deadline German TV Disruptor Award at Seriencamp next month. Hess has created some of the most memorable German drama series of recent years with work including Weisensee and the Ku’damm series, to Disney+ show The Interpreter of Silence, based on Hess’ novel Deutsches Haus. Ku’damm fans are currently waiting on a new series, Ku’damm 77, which Hess is in the process of writing with production set for early 2026.

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and Events Cynthia Erivo may not be a green witch but that doesn’t mean she can’t relate to Elphaba, the sorcerer she plays in the upcoming “Wicked” movies. “As I stand here in front of you: Black, bald-headed, pierced, and queer, I can say I know a thing or two about being the other,” the Tony winner said Saturday night at the Los Angeles LGBT Center Gala, where she was presented with the Schrader Award by Jada Pinkett-Smith. “Elphaba’s story is… about how a colorful, powerful, magical woman—despite being disparaged, demonized, and discriminated against—becomes a hero.” “Wicked is a reclamation and a reimagining of the labels used against her.

Ben Croll Premiering out of Critics’ Week in Cannes, Alexis Langlois’ debut feature “Queens of Drama” is a musical blast of queer culture euphoria, telling a decades-spanning, impossible love story between a pair of pop idols who begin as fans and then become lovers, who climb the charts and permeate the culture as enemies, and who end up forgotten, as time moves forward and a new generation of teenage fans claim new idols for themselves. The film’s familiar rise-and-fall rhythms struck a chord with filmmaker Alexis Langlois, who cites Vincente Minnelli and George Cukor as inspiration.

Siddhant Adlakha A radical vision of Indian womanhood collides with scattered storytelling in director Konstantin Bojanov‘s “The Shameless,” a provocative queer drama laid low by its oblique narrative. Following two women destined for a life of sex work, the drama is lucid in its politics, but often opaque in its drama — a dynamic embodied by two wildly different lead performances. Anasuya Sengupta is remarkable as “Renuka,” a Muslim woman who dons the moniker of a Hindu goddess while on the run from police.

Jamie Lang Catalan titles will be in no short supply at this year’s Cannes Festival and Marché du Film. Below, a near dozen titles that hope to impress at this year’s event. “Blue Sun Palace,” (Constance Tsang) Tsang’s debut feature, shot in New York, world premieres at this year’s Critics’ Week.

Alison Herman TV Critic The premise of the drag makeover show “We’re Here” is that queer liberation hasn’t extended as far as it could. For three seasons, a group of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alumni have traveled to small towns throughout the country, helping members of the local LGBTQ community assert their identity and visibility through gender-bending performances.

After 13 years away from the smash-hit British sci-fi series Doctor Who, showrunner and executive producer Russell T. Davies is back and ready to (slightly) reintroduce the Doctor in a way that’s a bit more nuanced and bolder than ever before.

Olly Alexander, Britain's Eurovision Song Contest entrant for this year, has shared his thoughts following the nightmarish event in Sweden.

The Eurovision Song Contest was certainly dramatic with calls for the competition to be boycotted and one act disqualified the day of the Grand Final. But despite the drama, the Contest went ahead on Saturday night in Malmo and reigning champion Loreen handed over the trophy to a new winner. Let's take a look at the final result.

Alison Herman TV Critic Maya Rudolph opened the Mother’s Day episode of “Saturday Night Live” with a tribute to mothers — in every sense of the term. Hosting the sketch show’s penultimate episode of the season, Rudolph began her monologue by noting she’s a four-time mom herself. “You’re not just a mom,” cast member Bowen Yang reminded her.

Eurovision's Bambie Thug was moved to tears after learning that Israel had secured a spot in the grand finale of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Olly Alexander, the former Years and Years singer, has been urged by fans to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest just hours before he is due to represent the UK on stage.

Doctor Who’s” Ncuti Gatwa just faced off against the franchise’s wackiest, most over-the-top villain yet. And that was before they started singing.Enter “RuPaul’s Drag Race” superstar Jinkx Monsoon as Maestro. Those familiar with Monsoon’s game wouldn’t expect anything else from her: the beloved two-time “Drag Race” winner is currently taking Broadway by storm, wowing audiences as Audrey in “Little Shop of Horrors” opposite Corbin Bleu.

In Jane Schoenbrun’s films, ecstasy and annihilation coexist on the other side of a screen. Their 2021 debut We’re All Going To The World’s Fair took the chokehold of internet addiction and turned it into a horror movie; their new film I Saw The TV Glow returns to the genre and expands on the contemporary themes.

EXCLUSIVE: London-based sales outfit Rapt Films International has acquired worldwide sales rights to Benjamin Howard’s debut US film Riley and will launch sales at the upcoming Cannes Market. 

Prime Video confirmed plans to develop a sequel to their popular queer rom-com Red, White & Royal Blue!

Nicholas Galitzine, who has played several gay or queer characters both on TV and in films, says he has felt “somewhat guilty” over the possibility that he, as a straight man, is “taking up someone’s space.”

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Nicholas Galitzine recently told British GQ that he felt somewhat guilty when deciding whether or not to play a gay character as a straight man because he does not want to take up anyone else’s space or opportunities. Galitzine starred opposite Taylor Zakhar Perez last year in Prime Video’s popular gay romance film “Red White and Royal Blue,” and he’s currently a co-lead opposite Julianne Moore in the Starz drama “George & Mary.” Galitzine’s character in the series is queer. “I identify as a straight man, but I have been a part of some incredible queer stories,” Galitzine told the publication.

Anna Marie de la Fuente U.K.-French film company Alief has boarded Cinélatino winner Victoria Linares Villegas’ upcoming horror debut “No salgas” (“Stay Quiet”) as its world sales agent and co-producer, teaming up with El Perro de Argento, the Dominican Republic-based production company founded by Linares Villegas and Carlos Marranzini. Alief partners Brett Walker and Miguel Angel Govea are heading to Cannes with a sizzle reel to meet with potential buyers and post-production partners at the Marché du Film.

Alexander Skarsgard and Harry Melling are joining forces in a forthcoming queer romance called Pillion.

Nicholas Galitzine opened up about his sexuality after playing several prominent queer characters, sex scenes and more in a revealing interview with British GQ.

Alex Ritman Alexander Skarsgard (“The Northman,” “Succession”) and Harry Melling (“The Pale Blue Eye,” “The Queen’s Gambit”) are set to lead the cast of “Pillion,” described as a “fun and filthy romance with heart” and being produced by multi-Oscar-winning powerhouse Element Pictures. The film — to be launched in Cannes by Cornerstone, which is handling worldwide sales — marks the feature debut of Harry Lighton, whose short “Wren Boys” was nominated for best British short at the 2018 BAFTAs, was nominated for a BIFA and had its U.S. premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

Annika Pham In its second collaboration with the Marché du Film’s Goes to Cannes showcase strand, Australia’s Queer Screen Mardi Gras Film Festival will unveil four projects and a finished film, all looking for global sales, distribution, top-up financing and festival selection. The five projects to be pitched May 18, will vie for the first €10,000 ($10,700) Goes to Cannes Award.“We set out to curate a selection that embraces a rich tapestry of stories and identities, while also giving prominence to Australian talent,” says festival director Lisa Rose about her program, which “showcases narratives spanning the spectrum of gay, lesbian, pansexual, bisexual, and transgender experience.” For instance, “From All Sides” fearlessly tackles queer sexuality, “a rarity in cinema originating from Western Sydney, says Rose, who also cites “Strange Creatures” and its story about two brothers, one of whom identifies as pansexual, as “a perspective rarely centered in film.”As fresh in its take, the third Australian pic, “Heart of the Man,” “delves into the intersection of First Nations and queer identities, a theme seldom explored in Australian narrative cinema,” says the festival honcho.In a fine example of a queer perspective from another part of the world, the ambitious Indian-U.K./French co-production “Arms of a Man” (“Sabar Bonda”) tells of a city-dweller who falls for a young farmer while grieving his father in rural India.

When I was in seminary, I worked at my home church, the same church where I grew up. One spring Sunday, our young, dynamic, community-focused pastor shared that she would be departing from our church – and entering the business world as an entrepreneur. It was a shock, but we are United Methodist, and from time to time, pastors move. But this pastor was particularly beloved, incredibly gifted, talented, and creative. So our hearts were heavy that day as we pondered life without her in our church. The choir sang a gospel standard as she finished her message: “The Storm is Passing Over.” For me, there was a squall of grief, tears, and then, following some deep breaths, a sense of acceptance. 

Aramide Tinubu As the new Doctor at the helm of the Tardis, the police box-shaped time-traveling ship, Ncuti Gatwa takes “Doctor Who” on a thrilling ride that doesn’t disappoint. The ancient alien and his latest companion, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), embark on a vibrant season jammed with all the magical elements that have made the show a British television staple for 60 years. Russell T Davies first spearheaded “Doctor Who” from 2005 to 2010.

Adopting the iconography of DC comics, Vera Drew’s subversive and kitschy “The People’s Joker” often feels like a revelation. Transfiguring a genre that, recently, has been oversaturated with rote storytelling and narratives, Drew’s film is something remarkable in the age of constant IP.

J. Kim Murphy “I’d direct an Agent Smith origin story,” Jane Schoenbrun tossed out on X, formerly known as Twitter, on the morning of April 3. The shout-out to the AI antagonist of “The Matrix” was posted in the hours after Warner Bros.

Travel blog by Travels of Adam (Hipster Blog) – Travels of Adam (Hipster Blog) - Travel & Lifestyle Hipster Blog Queer destinations typically refers to places known for being particularly welcoming, inclusive, and supportive of LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual orientations and gender identities) individuals. In recent years, the concept of queer destinations has emerged as a beacon of inclusivity and acceptance within the travel and tourism industry.

NewFest, a New York LGBTQ+ film and media organization, revealed the full lineup for their fourth annual NewFest Pride summer film series. NewFest’s five-day festival kicks off LGBTQ+ Pride Month from May 30 – June 3, 2024, in-person in New York and streaming throughout the United States, and will feature a mix of premieres and conversations, virtual screenings, and social events. The announcement came today from NewFest’s Executive Director David Hatkoff and Director of Programming Nick McCarthy.“It’s no accident that this year’s NewFest Pride starts on May 30; it’s part of our not-so-secret mission to celebrate Pride 365 days a year,” said NewFest Executive Director David Hatkoff. “We can’t wait to provide a space for the community to come together for bold new films and series, thought-provoking conversations, and joyful social gatherings. This moment calls for celebration and resistance, and we intend to offer opportunities for both in equal measure.”

Inside Out Toronto 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival has revealed the full program lineup for its 34th edition. The festival champions 2SLGBTQ+ filmmakers from across the globe, and will showcase 106 films from 25 countries, including 30 feature films and 5 world premieres. The festival will take place May 24th to June 1st in Toronto, Canada at TIFF Lightbox as well as online. Inside Out’s Co-Head & Executive Director, Elie Chivi, and Co-Head & Artistic Director, Andrew Murphy, made today’s announcement. ​​ 

I Kissed a Girl presenter Dannii Minogue has opened up about her love life, revealing that she "identifies as queer" ahead of the new show's launch. Dannii - the 52-year-old sister of Kylie Minogue - spoke about her new BBC Three show I Kissed a Girl on Thursday.The series sees 10 single women attempt to find love in an luxury Italian villa by kissing one another before they speak. Speaking at the show's launch, Dannii said that the show is "so important" for representation.

Eurovision entry Bambie Thug has spoken to NME about navigating the controversy surrounding the competition this year, along with the key inspirations behind their metal-infused “ouija-pop” sound and representing their nation as a queer, non-binary contestant.The Irish singer-songwriter (real name Bambie Ray Robinson) won RTÉ’s Eurosong contest in January with their song ‘Doomsday Blues’. Robinson penned the track with Cassyette, Wargasm’s Sam Matlock and songwriter Tylr Rydr.They currently rank in the top 10 favourites to win the competition this year, of which they said: “Ireland has only qualified once for the final in the last 10 years – the fact that we are there even in the top 10 is incredible.

Darren Criss has played queer roles over the years and is now explaining why he says he’s “culturally gay.”

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Darren Criss made headlines out of this year’s Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) for saying he’s “culturally queer” (via Entertainment Weekly). The 37-year-old actor gained fame for starring as Blaine Anderson on five seasons of the Fox musical comedy series “Glee.” Blaine was an openly gay character. Criss, who identifies as a straight, had no qualms about taking on the role and said it was “fucking awesome.” “I have been so culturally queer my whole life,” Criss added.

EXCLUSIVE: The new docuseries Not Part of the Plan exploring the lives of four queer Mormon teens from executive producers Wilson Cruz (Visible: Out on Television), Amy Redford (The Lincoln Project), Xan Parker (Ron Howard’s Rebuilding Paradise) and Hadleigh Arnst, is currently being shopped. The six-episode project (plus one bonus episode) was directed by Stephen Frandsen (Duck Beach to Eternity).

A cheeky councillor bidding to be re-elected in the Gay Village has launched an innovative campaign strategy — advertising on Grindr.