By Valerie Milano
Palm Springs, CA (The Hollywood Times) 9/1/25 – The desert is about to get even more colorful. The 29 Queer Film Festival returns for its second year September 19–21, bringing together a vibrant mix of film, art, and community in 29 Palms. Co-directed by Jonathan Andre Culliton and his husband, Graham, the festival is carving out a unique space that bridges local roots with global connections while celebrating queer voices in cinema.
Culliton explained how the festival was born out of a simple but urgent need: “We had been living in 29 Palms for a few years and making short films, especially using the beautiful desert landscapes that exist out there. And we realized there weren’t really many opportunities for screenings of queer film in the desert.”
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That gap became the spark. “The town of 29 Palms doesn’t have its own movie theater,” he said, “so we decided to collaborate with the local stage theater, Theater 29. And we wrote a grant proposal for the local tourism board, and we were lucky to receive support from Visit 29 Palms.”
Graham added that the lessons of the first year helped shape their second: “The second edition is going to double down on some of the things that worked, like local desert filmmaking, and it’s also expanding the international offerings. We’re just trying to create a connection between 29 Palms and global audiences.”
The festival’s mission is deeply tied to its desert roots. “29 Palms is pretty much a military town, but it also has your funky desert queer artistry group,” said Graham. “So, it’s important for us to bring programming to both those groups. There are gay people in the military, as we know… it’s really important for us to offer something for people who might want to come from the base, and also to entertain the lovely community that we spent basically three to five years without in the desert.”
While the timing overlaps with Cinema Diverse, the organizers see the weekend as an opportunity to serve their own region. “We love Cinema Diverse,” Graham shared. “They’re actually showing one of the films that we made this year. But we understand that it’s over an hour away for the residents of 29 Palms. We’re trying to create something more local.”
This year’s programming extends beyond film screenings. “There’s a robust contingency of filmmakers coming, so we have a mixer where a lot of people are going to be able to meet different people from LA and around the world,” Jonathan said. “We’re also doing an amazing drag show—it’s an after-party we’re collaborating on with Horse Girl at The Tiny Pony. It’s cinema-themed, with five drag queens at that show, plus another three drag kings and queens in the program. So, in total, with this festival, we’re bringing you about eight different drag acts over the course of three days.”
The lineup also includes a gala screening of Showgirls on its 30th anniversary, along with raffles, valuable prizes, and food and drink sponsors. “We’ve got studio sessions with a sound engineer, really good liquor, and epic programming,” Jonathan added with a grin.
For the couple, the festival is not just about movies—it’s also about love and activism. “We submit our films to festivals all year round, so we’re kind of on the other side of the table a lot of the time in our creative work,” Jonathan reflected. “Now that we’re in the second year of organizing 29 Queer Film Festival, we’re starting to understand the pressures programmers face. We try to reward people who are making really creative choices on a shoestring budget… voices that have real heart.”
Graham described it on an even more personal level: “We fell in love over film, so this is like a real celebration of that. It kind of feels like an additional anniversary that creeps in every September of us doing this big thing.”
Despite the rewards, challenges remain. “At this moment, there’s just so much to do—so many small tasks that live on spreadsheets,” Jonathan admitted. Graham added, “There are a lot of moving parts, but it’s so rewarding when it pays off with a really fun and engaging festival.”
Looking ahead, the pair envision expansion. “I’d like to see it expand into multiple venues,” Jonathan said. “We’ve talked about doing workshops and making programming available for youth and adults who want to learn filmmaking.” Graham agreed: “Parents are actively calling for it. There’s virtually no queer youth programming in the area, and it’s worth hunting all over the world for films that can fill that gap.”
Their message to aspiring queer filmmakers is clear: just start creating. “It’s a little corny, but just do it. Just go out there and make the films,” Jonathan urged. “We have a great short from an 18-year-old filmmaker this year. We’re always looking out for the next generation of talent.”
Graham added: “It’s really hard, so prepare to not be great at it in the beginning. You have to stick with it and be really proud of your work, even when it isn’t perfect.”
The 29 Queer Film Festival runs September 19–21 in 29 Palms. Audiences can attend in person or virtually, with three-day passes available for $75 at 29QFF.com. “Follow us on Instagram, @29Qerfilm,” Jonathan encouraged.
When asked to describe the spirit of the festival in three words, Graham didn’t hesitate: “Courage, creativity… and gay.”
With The Hollywood Times and Aspiring Magazine serving as media partners, the festival is poised to amplify even more queer voices this year—proving that the desert has never been more alive with pride, artistry, and community.
