Outburst: Lesbian Lines

BBFC Ratingf-rated FilmOutburst: Lesbian Lines

Showing: 13 November 2026 , 15 November 2026 until 18 November 2026

Show Times

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Fri 13 Nov 2026
Sun 15 Nov 2026
Mon 16 Nov 2026
Tue 17 Nov 2026
Wed 18 Nov 2026

CertificateNot Rated
Year2026
GenreDocumentary
Director(s)Cara Holmes
LanguageEnglish
CountryIreland
Running Time1HR 16MINS
Season Main Programme, Outburst Queer Arts Festival

Winner of Docs Ireland Best Irish Feature Documentary, Lesbian Lines reveals a hidden history through an underground network of telephone helplines in Ireland that changed the lives of thousands of callers and built a community that was as politically catalytic as it was unashamedly playful.

The helpline calls, recorded in handwritten notes, were preserved during a time of profound constitutional change, when women north and south of the border were fighting for their rights in a restrictive and conservative society. Through an ensemble of original helpline volunteers and actors, this little-known history is brought vividly to life in Cara Holmes’ beautifully rendered love letter to an older generation, becoming a moving, joyful, and powerful archive built from collective memory.

The 2.30pm screening on Sun 15 Nov will be introduced by Outburst’s Artistic Director, Ruth McCarthy, one of the original helpline volunteers in the film. Followed by a panel discussion on archiving queer histories.

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