The 50th San Francisco Frameline Festival concluded with an unusual tie at its highest honor. "Leviticus" and "Test" both claimed the outstanding first narrative feature award after jury deliberations ended in a deadlock. The festival, one of the nation's largest LGBTQ film events, split its top prize between the two debut features rather than force a decision.
Jane Schoenbrun's "Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma" captured the audience award, reflecting viewer preference over critical consensus. Schoenbrun, known for the body-horror film "We're All Going to the World's Fair," brought her distinctive sensibility to this horror-comedy hybrid set at a summer camp.
The dual winners represent different approaches to debut filmmaking. "Leviticus," directed by Hal Goldstein, explores faith and sexuality through a personal lens. "Test," helmed by Chris Mason Johnson, examines the early years of the AIDS crisis in San Francisco with historical rigor and emotional depth.
Frameline's decision to award both films reflects the festival's commitment to recognizing excellence without compromise. The move sidesteps the forced hierarchy often inherent in single-winner competitions, acknowledging that merit sometimes resists clear ranking. This approach has precedent in film festivals worldwide, though it remains unusual for a festival's most prestigious award.
The San Francisco Frameline Festival remains a crucial pipeline for LGBTQ cinema. Established in 1977, it has long served as a launching pad for queer filmmakers and stories that major multiplexes overlook. By celebrating debut features with this level of institutional support, the festival reinforces its mission to champion emerging voices in LGBTQ storytelling.
Schoenbrun's audience win confirms her status as a filmmaker drawing crossover appeal beyond festival circuits. Her work attracts both dedicated cinephiles and younger audiences discovering experimental cinema through alternative platforms. The split verdict at Frameline 50 signals a rich cohort of new queer cinema gaining recognition from both juries and general audiences.