Official Selections: 8th LA Queer Film Festival
Congratulations to our accepted filmmakers!
Films are listed in alphabetical order, index to the left.
Scroll Down to learn more about each film.
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Short
World Premiere
A woman with memory loss attends her 10 year high school reunion to see if it sparks her memory. She begins having flashbacks but can't tell if it's a memory she wants to remember.
Director: Alexandra Swarens
Producer: Alexandra Swarens
Writer: Alexandra Swarens
Cast: May Daniels, Alexandra Swarens
Cinematographer: Allen Chen
Editor: Alexandra Swarens
Making Up
Short
Making Up is set in the late 1980s, framed within the gritty drag scene of London's East End. The short film stars BIFA award-winning Dave Johns, Jessica Ellerby and Carey Thring and follows Ted who is diagnosed with a hereditary illness. Ted must therefore reconcile with estranged daughter, Cassandra. However, being a celebrated drag queen, paired with the bitter feelings Cassandra harbours over their past, presents a larger obstacle for Ted to overcome. Making Up explores how much, and how little, has changed in terms of attitudes towards the LGBTQIA+ community since that era, and the resulting friction that impacts those of that community.
Director: Ryan Paige
Producer: Daniel Pemberton, Ryan Paige, Amy Ajeto, Poppy O'Hagan
Writer: Ryan Paige
Cast: Dave Johns, Jessica Ellerby, Carey Thring, Evie Millward, Luke Lonergan-Smith
Cinematographer: Edmund Curtis
Editor: Ryan Paige
Awards & accolades: Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ Film Festival, USA - Honourable Mention: Dave Johns - AARP Silver Image Award - Sept 2023 / Overcome Film Festival, USA - Winner: Dave Johns - Best Actor in a Short Film - Sept 2023 / Tees Valley International Film Festival, UK - Winner: Best LGBTQ+ Film - Oct 2023 / East London LGBTQ+ Film Festival, UK - Nov 2023 - Winner: Best Short Film & Winner: Best Performance - Jessica Ellerby / Novella Film Festival, UK - Winner: LGBTQIA+ Narrative - Dec 2023 / One Fluid Night, UK - Winner: Best Fluid Story & Winner: Best Cinematography - Dec 2023 / Soho London Independent Film Festival, UK - Winner: Best Drama - Jan 2024 / Fishnets & Film, USA - Winner: Best Director & Winner: Best Performance - Jessica Ellerby & Winner: Best Screenplay - Jan 2024 / London Director Awards, UK - Winner: Best Director LGBTQ - Feb 2024 / Berlin Short Film Festival, Germany - Winner: Best Narrative Short - Feb 2024 / Liverpool Indie Awards, UK - Winner: BEST LGBTQ Film - March 2024 / City of Angels Women’s Film Festival, USA – Winner: Best LGBTQ Themed Film – Oct 2024
Website: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27385350/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/making_up_short_film
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/makingupshortfilm
Moonbeaming
Short
After the death of his fiancée, a man attempts to navigate his grief. His would-be brother-in-law struggles to connect with him.
Director: Charlie & Tavish Gudgeon
Producer: Luke VandenBerg, Stephanie Joan
Writer: Charlie & Tavish Gudgeon
Cast: Ryan Pugsley, Jonathan Neil Alexander, Alix Lane, Brittania McCauley
Cinematographer: J. Connor Bjornson
Editor: Gabriel Najera Gonzalez
Moonbeaming Festival Selections and Nominations:
Seattle Queer Film Festival - Seattle, USA
Silicon Beach Film Festival - Los Angeles, USA
One Fluid Night (OFN) Film Festival - London, England. Moonbeaming was nominated for both Best Director and Best Lead Performance at this year's OFN festival.
Indie Film Fest - Los Angeles, USA. Moonbeaming was awarded best LGBTQ2+ Short film.
man enough
Short Film
Los Angeles Premiere
In the midst of a familial conflict sparked by transphobia, Caleb navigates the complexities of social prejudices, acceptance and unconditional love.
Director: Beru Tessema
Producer: Pamela Jikiemi
Writer: Beru Tessema, Alfie Jallow
Cast: Alfie Jallow, Bella Aubin, Jack Ambrose, Joanie Diamond, Shakeel Haakim, Charles Entsie
Cinematographer: Damian Paul Daniel
Editor: Craig Coole
Awards
The Black Panther International Short Film Festival - Finalist: Best LGBTQ Short 2025
Internacional Queer Film Festival Playa del Carmen - Official Selection 2024
San Francisco Transgender Film Festival - Official Selection 2024
My Name is Jonas
Short
Los Angeles Premiere
On his first day in rehab, a young gay songwriter struggling with meth addiction reveals a shocking truth: he's a prophet destined to save New York City from Judgment Day.
Director: Cory David Bortnicker
Producer: Cory David Bortnicker, Melanie Speck
Writer: Cory David Bortnicker
Cast: Cory David Bortnicker, Eduardo Andujar, Dwayne Banks, Khalif Cotton, Stephanie Guyton, Laurel Kornfeld, William Mayer, Brenda Michelle Rios
Cinematographer: Emily Marquet
Editor: Ben McGinely
Awards: Best Performance, Global Drama Project Short Film Festival, NYC 2024
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mynameisjonasfilm
My Only Dream Is To Be Loved - Chrissy Chlapecka
Music Video
World Premiere festival
A waitress stuck singing at the bar before her shift dreams of being a full-blown pop star, then actualizes that dream. Carried by a powerhouse track by Artist, Chrissy Chlapecka and regular collaborators (Diamond Certified) Songwriters and Producers, Alexandra Veltri and Dallas Caton—"My Only Dream Is To Be Loved" is an homage to classic pop video archetypes complete with hard hitting choreography wrapped in a lesbian biker love story.
Directed and Produced by Mikey Harmon
Cinematographer Zach Fritz
Choreographed by Alec Cohen
Edited by Macy Atkinson
Gaffer Jeff Caroli
Cast: Chrissy Chlapecka, Rocky, Ally Waller, Aimee Smyke, Jomo Lee, Jeffery Koch, Christopher Aguirre, Lyle Oberman
Instagram: @chrissychlapecka