When The Rocky Horror Picture Show first opened in London in 1973, no one involved could have ever imagined the long-lasting impact and legacy that the subversive rock musical would have on the queer and underground film communities.

As the movie adaptation turns 50 this year, the original cast, creatives, and other pop culture figures — including creator Richard O’Brien, stars Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Patricia Quinn, and modern-day icons like Trixie Mattel — reminisce about bringing the strange journey of Brad, Janet, and Dr. Frank-N-Furter to life… not to mention examining the ways in which it has shaped not only their own personal journeys, but culture at large.

Directed by Linus O’Brien (son of the show’s creator), Strange Journey is a love letter to a project that for decades has provided a safe space for outcasts, and has kept audiences around the world doing the time warp again and again and again.

A Film Festival Virgin’s Guide to Frameline49

If you’re considering attending Frameline for the first time, don’t sweat it — we’ve all been there! Thanks to social media, getting peaks into film festivals like Sundance and Cannes has become more commonplace. Still, from the other side of a phone screen, a film festival can seem like all red carpets, standing ovations, and industry insider events.

While the festival circuit can be crucial to the lifespan of a film, these multi-day movie marathons are also a chance for anyone to be among the first to see the year’s best movies — ones that could go on to become serious awards contenders, pop culture talking points, or the genesis for viral TikTok trends. Best of all, you’ll get to be in the room with many of the filmmakers behind the festival’s lineup.

Film Festival 101: Tips for Virgins Who Can’t Fest

Cher (Alicia Silverstone) tries to be a virgin who can drive in “Clueless.”

1. Plan Your Day(s)

As an 11-day film festival, Frameline49 is serving up nearly 150 films from 40 countries. While there’s no possible way to see every Festival film in person, you can make a successful game plan in advance.

• Browse the Frameline49 Program: Sort by collections, genres, and various interests to find the films that appeal most to you!
• Make a List: Whether you’re curating a watchlist on Letterboxd or jotting down notes on our Festival newspaper, it’s important to keep track of your must-see films — and when and where they’re screening. 
• Check Out Queer Premieres: There’s nothing quite like seeing a queer film in a room full of folks who get it, especially if that film hasn’t played at an LGBTQ+ film festival yet!

Not sure what to choose? All of our film pages stay up to date with expected guests from the film teams, so, when in doubt, pick a screening that features a one-of-a-kind post-screening Q&A session.

2. Get Acquainted with At-Rush Screenings

The term “At Rush” may sound like film festival jargon, but it’s not all that different from flying standby. When a screening is “sold out,” at-rush tickets can be purchased by folks who join the Rush Line. If ticket holders don’t show up 15 minutes before the screening’s start time, the onsite Box Office will sell empty seats on a first-come, first-served basis to the Rush Line. So, if something you really want to see is already marked as “At Rush,” don’t despair. We always try to get the rush line in — and Festival staff, who are fighting the good fight for you, usually succeed!

Helpful Hint: If standing in the Rush Line doesn’t appeal, keep your eyes peeled for our daily ticket drops! At noon on every day of the Festival, we’ll release tickets for in-demand, “At Rush” screenings.

3. Bring Questions to the Q&As

Although it can feel a bit intimidating to ask a question during a post-screening Q&A, we encourage you to try it out! The best tip we can give? Make sure you have a question. While a little praise is nice, we want to keep the focus on the film team and move the conversation along, so we ask that you reserve personal anecdotes and commentary for post-film discussions in the lobby. If you do have something you want to share with the attending guests, look for them outside the theater after the Q&A and tell them how much you enjoyed their work!

Frameline49 Films for First-Time Festival-goers

Laura Harring and Naomi Watts in “Mulholland Drive” — a movie that might scare first-time festival-goers (complimentary).

Film festivals can offer a deeper range of titles and content than your average multiplex, providing a platform for films that live outside the margins or ones that come from parts of the world that aren’t represented at your typical multi-screen theater. At Frameline, we love to showcase the entire LGBTQ+ spectrum through a wide array of forms, from big-name crowd pleasers and biographical documentaries to DIY indies and international gems… and don’t forget about our diverse collections of short films!

If you want to ease into the Frameline49 program, we have some great films for Festival virgins! For those looking for a feel-good experience that’ll inspire both laughter and tears, the Irish dramedy Four Mothershas been winning over festival audiences across the globe. Our opening night film Jimpa will also bring the funny with the sentimental — not to mention the star power of Oscar winner Olivia Colman! Both films will delight audiences young and old.

A still from teen comedy “She’s the He” — one of Frameline49’s films.

But if you’d prefer to skip the tears and keep the laughs, fans of teen comedies like Bottoms, Clueless, and She’s the Man shouldn’t miss the hilarious hijinks of She’s the He, a clever spin on gender-swap farces from a decidedly trans/queer perspective. Or gather your best girlfriends up for a funny, messy weekend getaway in Lakeview. And you really can’t go wrong with our ever-popular annual program of funny queer short films, Fun in Shorts.

For nonfiction lovers, we suggest catching Sally, an enlightening portrait of lesbian trailblazer Sally Ride, who was the first American woman to fly in space. And filled with interviews of stars like Susan Sarandon, Tim Curry, and Trixie Mattel, Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror will delight both die-hard fans and curious newbies who have yet to learn the “Time Warp.”