Diego Aparicio on Queer Wave: Cinema, Community, and a Tribute to David Lynch
In a video interview, Queer Wave Film Festival Director Diego Armando Aparicio discusses the importance of a queer festival in Cyprus, his curatorial process, this year’s tribute to David Lynch, and the films still to come.
When Diego Armando Aparicio founded the Queer Wave Film Festival, his goal was clear: to carve out space in Cyprus for queer cinema, stories, and voices that too often remain unseen. Five years later, the festival has become a vital cultural event, blending powerful film selections with conversations that challenge and inspire.
In our conversation, Aparicio reflected on the importance of hosting a queer festival in Cyprus, highlighting how a dedicated platform allows audiences to engage with LGBTQ+ experiences both local and global. For many, Queer Wave has become more than a film festival. It has become a space where the LGBTQ+ community can connect, explore, and find joy.
Behind the scenes, the curation process is as demanding as it is rewarding. Aparicio described long months of watching films, discussing themes with his team, and carefully balancing the programme. Every film has to contribute to the festival’s narrative. It’s not just about screening good cinema - it’s about creating dialogue.
This year’s edition carries an added layer of meaning with a tribute to the late David Lynch. Though not typically thought of as a queer filmmaker, Aparicio argues that Lynch’s body of work can be considered “technically queer,” unsettling norms, bending genres, and revealing the hidden desires and contradictions of human experience.
The programme itself offers a diverse mix of features and shorts that celebrate the breadth of queer storytelling. From intimate documentaries to experimental narratives, Queer Wave 2025 invites audiences to see the world through different lenses. (You can explore the full programme of features and shorts). Additionally, the festival hosts workshops with filmmakers, discussions and ever parties.
If you haven’t attended yet, there’s still time to step inside this unique festival, immerse yourself in its films, and join the conversation. And if you can, consider supporting the work behind it. Festivals like Queer Wave thrive on community, and this one, in particular, is worth sustaining.
