Terribly Good Cinema are again thrilled to be partnering with Ballarat Frolic Festival to present the best of queer cinema to audiences at the 2024 summer festival.

But I’m a Cheerleader has been on our wishlist forever, so when the screening rights became available again we jumped at the chance to present this candy-coloured fever dream on the big screen at Trades Hall.

Roger Ebert describes the film as ‘awkward, heartfelt and sweet’ - if that sums you up, don’t miss out on this meeting of like-minded lovelies at Ballarat’s only not-for-profit, volunteer run celebration of queer artists, arts and culture - frolicfestival.org.

Film synopsis

✰✰✰✰✰ This film is hilarious. A brilliant critique of the idea that you can ‘cure’ someone of their sexuality” - Amazon

Megan Bloomfield (Natasha Lyonne) has it all. She’s a blonde high-school cheerleader who gets good grades and is dating a footballer. Megan doesn’t realise she is a lesbian. Her friends and family do, and after an awkward intervention Megan is sent to True Directions, a gay conversion centre, to undergo a five-step program to cure her gayness. Here she meets Graham (Clea Duvall) and romance blooms amongst the bigotry.

A cult classic of queer cinema, But I’m a Cheerleader explodes on the big screen in a burst of bright colour and campy fun. Suitable for tweens and teens, this black comedy takes a lighter look at gender roles, conversion therapy and young lesbian romance.

Also stars: Michelle Williams, Mink Stole, Ru Paul

1h 32min | USA | English | 1999
Director | Jamie Babbit
Writers | Brian Peterson and Jamie Babbit

What the critics say…

“A smug little comedy that tries to mock other people’s self-righteousness while ignoring it’s own.” | Paul Tatara, CNN.com

“I couldn’t agree more with the point of view of But I’m a Cheerleader, but I couldn’t like the movie less.” | David Edelstein, Slate

“A grotesque burlesque of a gay chick-flick.” | Barry Paris, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette