The Annual Tampa Bay Transgender Film Festival began in 2020 in Partnership with St Pete Pride as a fully virtual event hosted by TIGLFF around Transgender Day of Remembrance. This festival emerged as a space for visibility, reflection, and connection during an especially isolating time. 

From its start, the festival has been curated each year by a rotating committee made up entirely of transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming community members, ensuring that every event and program remains grounded in authentic trans voices and experiences. The early years of the festival featured national film screenings, online social and support events, and a digital resource hub highlighting local organizations serving the trans and gender diverse community.

After a breif pause in 2022, the festival shifted its focus to align with Transgender Day of Visibility beginning in March 2023, adopting a more celebratory and community-driven approach. That year introduced in-person gatherings, including an opening reception and a community picnic featuring a clothing and art swap. The 2023 festival also marked a creative milestone, partnering with Humanity Rising to produce and premiere You’re Loved (2023), a documentary by Carys Mullins featuring the stories of three young transgender and nonbinary people in Florida and Texas, alongside mental health providers and allies.

The 2024 and 2025 festivals continued to grow this model, combining film screenings, community events, and social gatherings such as the annual picnic and closing party. Together, these moments celebrate not only transgender storytelling but also the resilience, creativity, and joy of our community across Tampa Bay and beyond.