Two men sit together on a couch, laughing and smiling. One wears a navy striped T-shirt and jeans, while the other wears a light blue T-shirt and a bracelet, resting his hand on his face as he laughs. The setting is a cozy living room with pillows and wall décor in the background.
A production still from “Masc,” which screens at AMC Westshore 14 in Tampa, Florida on Sept. 14, 2025. Credit: Production still / mascthefilm.com

In a lot of ways, the world’s attitude towards queer folks has sadly entered the wayback machine, but that’s not stopping the Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (TIGLFF).

Founded in 1990, the nonprofit spends the entire year showcasing “compelling films and videos by, for, or about the LGBTQ+ community that Entertains, Empowers, and Enlightens…”

After crossing the bridge last year, organizers are back in Tampa for a “Summer Fest” at AMC Westshore 14 that includes five films about closeted single dads (“To The Moon,” pictured) and cops (“Plainclothes”), divorced lesbians (“Lakeview”), non-toxic masculinity (“Masc”), and addiction (“Sugar Beach”). Each movie is preceded by a short, and there are even two separate blocks of shorts scheduled, too.

Tickets to the 2025 Tampa Bay Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival “Summer Fest” happening Friday-Sunday, Sept. 12-14 at AMC Westshore 14 in Tampa are still available and start at $15.

Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival: Summer Fest

Time Fri., Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m., Sat., Sept. 13, 2, 4:40 & 7:30 p.m. and Sun., Sept. 14, 2, 4:30 & 7:30 p.m. 2025

Location AMC West Shore 14, 210 Westshore Plaza, Tampa

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This article appears in Sept. 4-10, 2025.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...