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Pink Screens turns 25: Brussels’ queer film festival celebrates with screenings and parties

by Timothy••4

Brussels’ long-running queer film platform Genres d’à côté is marking the 25th anniversary of its Pink Screens initiative this April, celebrating a quarter-century of alternative cinema that challenges gender and sexual norms.

Founded in 2001, the volunteer-run collective has spent decades carving out space for queer, feminist and trans storytelling, both through its monthly cine-club and its annual Pink Screens Film Festival. Known for its bold, non-conformist programming, Pink Screens has become a cornerstone of Brussels’ LGBTQIA+ cultural scene.

A monthly ritual of queer cinema

At the heart of the project is a monthly cine-club held at Cinéma Aventure, where audiences gather on the first Thursday of each month to discover recent queer films, often premieres or titles rarely screened in Belgium. The programming favours experimentation, surprise and new voices, deliberately moving beyond the established canon.

Over time, the initiative expanded beyond a single screening into a broader cultural platform, including debates, community events and the annual festival hosted at Cinéma Nova, a key hub for independent cinema in the Belgian capital.

Anniversary programme in april

To mark its 25th anniversary, Genres d’à côté is organising a series of special events in early April 2026, combining film screenings with festive gatherings across the city. The programme opens on 2 April at Cinéma Aventure with ‘El Fin de las Primeras Veces‘, followed on 7 April by ‘La Misteriosa Mirada del Flamenco‘ at Cinéma Galeries. On 8 April, ‘A Voix Basse‘ screens at Cinéma Palace, before returning to Cinéma Aventure on 9 April for ‘Maspalomas‘.

The celebrations continue beyond the cinema screen. On 10 April, a birthday drink with DJ sets takes place at Grands Carmes, while the night of 11 April sees a special anniversary edition of the Kiekebiche party at LaVallée, running from late evening into the early hours.

From cinema to community

More than just a film programme, Pink Screens has evolved into a wider community project. The collective regularly hosts open ‘gueulantes‘ – informal, participant-driven debates – as well as a monthly bar night at RainbowHouse Brussels, extending discussions around gender, identity and representation beyond the screen.

The anniversary celebrations reflect that same spirit: a mix of cinema, nightlife and collective exchange. The 11 April party at LaVallée will feature DJ sets spanning disco, house, trance and pop, alongside performances inspired by drag, cabaret and ballroom culture.

A living queer platform

After 25 years, Pink Screens remains defined by its grassroots energy. Entirely run by volunteers from diverse backgrounds, the project continues to blur boundaries- between genres, identities and audiences – while maintaining its founding mission: to challenge dominant narratives and create space for stories that exist outside the mainstream.

As the organisers put it, “25 years, that’s something to celebrate”.

The latest on LGBTQIA+ events such as prides in Belgium

🇧🇪 Blogger, keen vexillologist, train conductor NMBS/SNCB, traveller, F1 follower, friend of Dorothy.

4 thoughts on “Pink Screens turns 25: Brussels’ queer film festival celebrates with screenings and parties”

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