37th Hamburg International Queer Film Festival Opens with German Premiere of 'Miss Carbón – Queen of Coal'

The 37th Hamburg International Queer Film Festival (HIQFF) runs from October 13 to 18, 2025, in Hamburg, Germany. Organized by and for queer people, it is the largest queer film festival in Germany, presenting a diverse international program of feature, documentary, and short films. The festival opens with the German premiere of 'Miss Carbón – Queen of Coal' (Spain/Argentina 2025), which follows Carla 'Carlita' Rodríguez as she asserts herself among men in coal mining while undergoing a gender transition, finding new friends and a chosen family. Other film highlights include 'London' and 'Barbara Forever'. Under the motto 'Remember & Resist', the festival responds to global political developments and the increasing hostility and displacement of queerness from public space. It draws strength from the memory of queer activists such as Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, aiming to foster connection, activism, and hope. The HIQFF school program offers a way to educate about growing queer hostility and encourage young people to be themselves. A festival gay bar, Die Kante, serves as a central meeting point for networking late into the night. Additional events include workshops, lectures, and parties. The festival traces its origins to a 1989 seminar at the University of Hamburg on the rarely discussed topic 'Homosexuality in Film'. More information and tickets are available online.