It's so freaking hard to see documentaries in a theater, queer or otherwise. However, in a world so cold, QDoc—Portland Queer Documentary Film Festival—is a hot little campfire. In fact, QDoc is the only festival in the US devoted exclusively to queer documentaries. 

Founded in 2007 by filmmaker David Weissman and his partner, Russ Gage, both were recent Portland transplants who had been part of organizing San Francisco's LGBTQ+ film festival Frameline. They saw an opportunity to create a fest focused specifically on queer documentaries, viewing the form as an integral way of recording queer history. After a decade of stewarding QDoc, the pair turned it over to another couple who'd become passionate supporters: Co-directors Molly King and Deb Kemp have run the fest since 2017, continuing its legacy as a place for people to gather and learn about a great diversity of queer experience.

At Cinema 21, from October 24-26, the festival offers a full-on smorgasbord of cool/cute messes, heartwarming triumphs, and a rare chance to learn more about the origins of house music. 

It's worth noting that youth, aged 23 and under, attend for free—as do elders 75 and better. General admission is $12, with $10 tickets for seniors and students. Or grip the festival pass for $80.

Boy George & Culture Club

Say yes to the hot mess between Boy George and John Moss, the band’s never-dated-a-guy-before-drummer. As George wrote in his memoirs, “Our love, however diseased, was the creative force behind Culture Club.'' Directed by Alison Ellwood (Laurel Canyon, The Go-Go's), this 96-minute music doc is the perfect date choice for all your current and future exes. Kicking off the festival and the feature's West Coast premiere, QDoc invited human wonders Isaiah Esquire and Johnny Nuriel—whose couple and performing name is Izohnny—to model healthy relationship goals before the screening itself. (Fri Oct 24, 7 pm)

Between Goodbyes

A story of Korean diaspora, Between Goodbyes follows a queer adoptee who travels from the Netherlands to visit her birth family in Seoul—accompanied her extremely Dutch fiancee. Get ready to cryyyyyyyyy. (Sat Oct 25, noon)

Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter

All the rage in nonfiction right now, the team behind Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter—including executive producer Jamie Lee Curtis—went all in on tracking down a niche '90s celebrity and asking what the heck happened to them. With this thematic subgenre, finding out who wellness infomercial queen Susan Powter is might be even more fun than exploring her downfall. Plus, they not only found Susan Powter, but she’ll participate in a Q&A following the 90-minute screening. A 14-minute short film Thanks, Babs also screens. (Sat Oct 25, 2 pm)

Wicket

In the '90s San Francisco breakdancing scene, Gabriel Joachico became a legendary Bboy—all the while hiding a secret. You can probably figure out what the secret is, but if you can’t... Joachico will appear in a Q&A with the doc's director and  producer, after the show. (Sat Oct 25, 4:30 pm)

The Pitch

Earnest, muscular Canadians try to launch Canada’s first women’s professional soccer league. Earnest, muscular Canadian (and Olympic medalist) Diana Matheson will be in attendance. Viewing advice: See this with your entire muscular girl gang. If you don’t have muscles, you will soon. (Sat Oct 25, 6:15 pm)

Move Ya Body: The Birth of House

Forget the Louvre; the true cultural heist you should be obsessed with is that of house music from its Black, queer, Midwestern roots by European oontz oontz oontz. Director Elegance Bratton (The Inspection, Pier Kids) was brought onto this project by Roger Ross Williams—who was, in turn, one of over 40 producers working to bring this history to light. THIS is how I find out Hilary Clinton is a house head? (Sat Oct 25, 8:45 pm)

Q Shorts

They’re here, they’re queer; if you don’t like one, just go get a snack and come back in a few minutes. This year's shorts program includes the heartwarming story of TRUK United, a trans football club in the United Kingdom, the history of Seattle's first disco, Shelly's Leg, and a look at the '70s Land Dykes movement. (Sun Oct 26, noon)

The Last Guest of the Hollway Motel

A short about a closing motel in West Hollywood spirals into a feature about said motel’s enigmatic manager. All the tears you failed to shed earlier will be shed here. (Sun Oct 26, 2:15 pm)

Night in West Texas

A night of romance turns into a decades-long nightmare for a young gay man. Get ready to cry so much that the very rain will feel threatened. (Sun Oct 26, 4:30 pm)

Row of Life

A former marine, paralyzed from the waist down, decides to row—all alone—from Los Angeles to Hawaii. As she departs, the little rainbow flag on her kayak flutters in the breeze. (Sun Oct26, 6:30 pm)

Portland Queer Documentary Film Festival is at Cinema 21,  616 NW 21st,  Oct 24-26, $12 w/ a variety of discounted rates, showtimes and tickets at qdocfilmfest.org and cinema21.com/qdoc—-2025, all ages