After much deliberation, the lgbt Awareness project has picked our top ten favorite films featuring gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered characters and issues. These films represent some of the highest achievements in Queer Cinema amongst many excellent contenders.

Be sure to check out our comprehensive list of lgbt films.

10. Formula 17

SYNOPSIS: A Taiwanese romantic gay comedy about 17-year-old Tien (Tony Yang) who arrives in Taipei determined to save his heart (and his virginity) for someone special, but finds himself conflicted when he meets Bai (Duncan Lai), a notorious heartbreaker. Directed by D.J. Chen. Not rated

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Gay friendly

9. Brokeback Mountain

SYNOPSIS: This adaptation of E. Annie Proulx's story 'Brokeback Mountain' stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger as hired cowboys whose working relationship explodes into a romance that is destined for tragedy. Directed by Ang Lee. Rated R

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Gay friendly

8. But I'm a Cheerleader

SYNOPSIS:A kitschy, teen comedy about Megan (Natasha Lyonne), a cheerleader who is shipped off to a gay rehabilitation camp where she meets a sexy tomboy (Clra DuVall) who stirs feelings Megan never realized she had. Directed by Jamie Babbit. Rated R

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Lesbian friendly, Gay friendly

7. The Times of Harvey Milk

SYNOPSIS: This documentary portrait of San Francisco's first openly gay politician, city supervisor Harvey Milk, details his rise on the local political scene to his tragic downfall as a homosexual martyr. Directed by Robert Epstein. Rated PG

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Gay friendly, Lesbian friendly

6. The Celluloid Closet

SYNOPSIS: Based on Vito Russo's groundbreaking 1981 work of film history, The Celluloid Closet gathers clips from dozens of mainstream Hollywood films to illustrate how the movies have dealt explicitly and implicitly with gay and lesbian themes. Directed by Robert Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman. Rated R

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Gay friendly, Lesbian friendly

5. The Crying Game

SYNOPSIS: A psychological thriller that follows reluctant agent Fergus (Stephen Rea) of the Irish Republican Army who discovers that some people aren't who you expect them to be, especially when he falls for the lovely hairdresser named Dil (Jaye Davidson). Directed by Neil Jordan. Rated R

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Transgender friendly

4. Happy Together

SYNOPSIS: Ho (Leslie Cheung) and Lai (Tony Leung) are lovers from Hong Kong who run away to Buenas Aires, Argentina, and try desperately to rekindle their spark as their relationship slowly unravels. Directed by Wong Kar-Wai. Not Rated

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Gay friendly

3. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

SYNOPSIS: Terence Stamp stars as Bernadette, an aging transsexual who tours the outback of Australia with her stage partners, Mitzi (Hugo Weaving) and Adam/Felicia (Guy Pearce) and finds love in the remotest of places. Directed by Stephan Elliot. Rated R

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Transsexual friendly, Gay friendly

2. My Summer of Love

SYNOPSIS: 16 year-old Mona (Natalie Press) finds herself increasingly alienated from her born-again Christian brother when she meets the darkly seductive Tamsin (Emily Blunt) and the two enter into an erotic relationship. Directed by Pawel Pawlikowski. Rated R

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Lesbian friendly

1. My Beautiful Laundrette

SYNOPSIS: Omar (Gordon Warnecke), an ambitious Pakastani Briton and his white lover Johnny (Daniel Day Lewis) strive for success and hope, when they open up a glamorous laundromat. Directed by Stephen Frears. Rated R

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Gay friendly