Official Selections: 1st-7th 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.
Not Walter Jenkins!
Los Angeles Premiere
Short (Narrative)
Two men in crisis rendez-vous in the john; one’s The President. In the original ‘October Surprise’, three weeks before Election Day 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson learns that police arrested his top aide, Walter Jenkins, in a public bathroom sex sting. Worse, the media uncover that it’s not Walter’s first arrest. After Johnson orders an FBI investigation to establish how Walter passed his White House background check, the two can no longer be observed interacting. “Not Walter Jenkins!” imagines the circumstances under which President Johnson and Walter might have spoken, and how that conversation might have unfurled.
Director: AP Hello
Producer: AJ Mattioli
Writer: AP Hello
Cast: Steve Schroko, Brian O’Hara, Jedidiah Matthews, Jr., Jaime Lamchick
Cinematographer: Cory Green
Editor: Wayne Kumingo
Original Poster Illustration: Dimitris Gavalas
Production funded in part by The Black List & Warby Parker Writer’s Vision Grant ($20K)
Websites: AP Hello, youtube.com
Instagram: Instagram, instagram.com
Facebook: Not Walter Jenkins, fb.com
SONG: The film has a theme, AMERICA, launching 8/25:
http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1699612484?ls=1&app=itunes
Particular Friendships
Susan entered the convent as a naive young woman. There she established a “particular friendship” that would send her on a path of self discovery. Religion, transgression, sexuality, censorship, love and happiness, become intertwined in this short biographical documentary film. Through Susan, we revisit the importance of being unafraid, at all stages of our lives.
Directors: Mark Padilla and Nelson Varas-Díaz
Executive Producer: Sheilla Rodríguez-Madera
Editor: Nelson Varas-Díaz
Facebook: fb.com/particularfriendships
Prince
Music Video
We wake up like after a death in the family, "Oh. it's raining and the world still has this piece cut out of it in the shape of him."
How will we go on. Why did I take this guy for granted without telling him everyday I loved him. Why am I just now asking the moon to bless him.
Where did my Prince collection go. It was carted away when I fucked up in the 80s and my shit got thrown in the street by annoyed girlfriends and never replaced cuz he was always there, on the radio, his fine arms around me.
Director: Daniel Foerste
Producer: The Living Earth Show, COMMANDO
Writer: Lynnee Breedlove, COMMANDO
Cast: Lynnee Breedlove, Honey Mahogany, Juba Kalamka, Andy Meyerson, Jackson Van Weaver, Travis Andrews
Editor: Daniel Foerste
Prince is also being screened at the SF Transgender Film Festival on November 11th, 2022
Instagram: @commandosucks
Twitter: @commandosucks
Facebook: fb.com/c0mmand0thebando
Psyched! - Pilot
Los Angeles Premiere
TV Pilot
‘Psyched!’ is a medical drama focused on mental health topics. It creates an accurate portrayal of people with mental health problems as it is written by a consultant psychiatrist with more than 10 years experience working in the National Health Service in England.
Director, Producer, Writer: Anca Vaida
Assistant Producer, Set Designer: Alice Catanzaro
Cast: Anca Vaida, Saj Hussain, Harriet Leitch, Rosie Jane, Anais Jessica Berinde, Wendy Fisher, Daisy Porter, Gearoid Kavanagh, Jo Sutherland, Alyx Nazie, Aysha Shakil, Gary Cain, Alice Poli, Andrew Phipps, Sarah Warren, Lil Warren, Susan Hoffman, Sheila McCabe, Marcus Kinsella
Cinematographer, Editor: Petros Gioumpasis
Make up and hair: Shana Michala de Freitas
"Psyched!-Pilot" has received over 50 awards and official selections at international film festivals all over the world, for Best Series, Best Pilot, Best Director, Best Lead Actress, Best Lead Actor, Best Script, Best Cast, Best Supporting Actor, Best Young Actor.
Website: imdb.com/title/tt14312348
Instagram: @psyched_drama , @anca_nana_vaida
Queer Constellations
West Coast Premiere
Inspired by the stories and experiences of 80-year-old Andy Torres, Queer Constellations creates a kaleidoscope of images, people and places to ask: what stories are held in our minds, hearts and bodies? And how do we pass those on? Part documentary, part dance film, this docudance reflects on intergenerational queer community building and touches on the importance and necessity of connections between LGBTQ+ people of different ages.
Co-Directors: Matthew Cumbie (choreography) & Jessica Hale (film direction)
Cast: Kat Bell, Tiffany Bierly, Matthew Cumbie, Abby Farina, Tyler French, Jessica Hale, Mollie Miller, Atiah Ozturk, Bikem Ozturk, Darryl Pilate, Juliana Ponguta, Melissa Sanderson, Robert Sacheli, Andy Torres, and Sam Trombly
Editor: Jessica Hale with Asiyah Martin
Music: Andy Torres, Michael Wall with Jordan Chiolis
This work was created with support from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
Website: matthewcumbie.com
Instagram: @matthewhcumbie, @jlynhale
Facebook: fb.com/matthewhcumbie
fbcom/jessica.hale.7359
Rose Colors
A newly broken-up couple shares custody of their beloved dog. But when their dog gets loose, the couple will have to work together to find him...and perhaps find their way back to each other in the process.
Director: Jasmine Sorensen
Producer: Christopher Sorensen
Writer: Christopher Sorensen
Cast: Ripley the Dog, Christopher Sorensen, Kahlo De Jesus-Buffington
Cinematographer: Jason Chun
Editors: Jasmine and Christopher Sorensen
Award winner in Accord Cinefest and the Best Shorts Competition
Website: youtube.com/christopherryanvideo
Instagram: @christopherryansorensen
Twitter: @cr_sorensen
Facebook:@ChristopherRyanSorensen
Noxious
Short
On the eve of the apocalypse in 2047, a wealthy designer baby attempts to reunite with her bitter ex-lover with hopes that they can spend the end of the world together.
Director: Jordan Pfeifer
Producer: Billy Gould
Writer: James Oxyer
Cast: Lizzie Keller, Brittany Franke, Steve Chivers, Kennedy Porter
Cinematographer: Emma Forthofer
Editor: Jeremy Owens
While preparing for our most ambitious project yet, a global pandemic shut down our worlds and seriously questioned the project’s future. But through the chaos, we continued to rigorously develop the script and keep pre-production momentum going. Now, after a year and a half of dreaming about this project and facing every production difficulty you could imagine, we are proud to premiere Noxious at the LA Queer Film Festival.
Website: onyx-films.com/noxious
Instagram: @onyx.films @noxiousshortfilm
Facebook: fb.com/noxiousshortfilm
PASSAGES
West Coast Premiere
Short Film
Passages /ˈpasijs/ verb: the act of moving past something on the way from one place to another. This non-linear, character-connected story explores themes of trust, friendship, love and loss in one brief, life-changing moment.
Director: Jenna Ricker
Producer: Jenna Ricker
Writer: Jenna Ricker
Cast: Benjamin J Young, Isabel Chen, Jurel Kirkland, Augie Murphy, Michael Owens, Tatiana Cruz
Cinematographer (if applicable): Alexandra Bock
Editor: Jenna Ricker
Winner - Best Cinematography LGBTQ+ Los Angeles Film Festival
Instagram: @rickster5000
Twitter: @rickernyc
Pearl Next Door
West Coast Premiere
Pearl, the well-loved character from the Boys' Love series Gameboys, gets to tell her own story. In this eight-episode web series, Pearl goes on a search for her one true love. She thinks she has found it in her best friend Karleen, but when the latter turns her down, Pearl is thrown oof course. Then, Pearl's long-lost childhood friend, Alex, who has harbored a crush on her, reappears. Suddenly, Pearl's dream of finding love can become a reality. But is that what she really wants?
Director: Ivan Andrew Payawal
Producer: The IdeaFirst Company
Writer: Keavy Eunice Vicente
Cast: Adrianna So, Iana Bernardez, Rachel Coates, Phillip Hernandez, Ron Macapagal, Cedrick Juan, Kych Minemoto
Cinematographer: Owen Berico, Raymond Aquino
Editor: Benjamin Tolentino
Official Selection, Seattle Film Festival 2021
Nominated - Seattle Film Festival 2021 TV/Web series Best Actress: Adrianna So
Nominated - Seattle Film Festival 2021 Comedy or Drama Best TV/Web Series
Official Selection, Best Web Series, 2021 London Int. Web and Short Film Festival
Official Selection, Montreal Independent Film Festival 2021
Website: theideafirstcompany.com
Instagram: @theideafirstcompany
Twitter: @theideafirst_co
Facebook: The IdeaFirst Company
Princess Perfect
This film has been a labor of hard work and love made entirely during COVID-19 from the original conception to the final render. Princess Perfect is a very personal film for me because it explores my relationship with Korean beauty standards and the way that all of my life my mother (although I love her a lot) has always compared me to them. Being gay on top of never matching up to her beauty standards has also been an ongoing conversation that we've had since I've come out but I hope that my film will open the way for more people like me feeling accepted in this world.
Director: Amy Chang
Producer: Ringling College of Art & Design
Writer: Amy Chang
Cast: Erika Moret, Miriam Milikin
Cinematographer: Amy Chang
Editor: Amy Chang
LA Asian Film Festival, Imagine This Women's International Film Festival, Best Animation winner of the Oniros Film Awards New York, and draft selected in The Rookies 2021
Website: amychang.net
Instagram: @amymation
Twitter: @amymation
Remora: A Modern Folktale
World Premiere
Some people's fairy godmothers have a magic wand. Dylan's has a metal detector.
Director: Cassie Ahiers
Producers: Cassie Ahiers, Grace Palmer, Anthony Lombard
Writers: Cassie Ahiers, Grace Palmer
Cast: Kevin Kantor, Grace Palmer, Ian Owens, Ryan Barton
Cinematographer: Ben Fout
Editors: Cassie Ahiers, Grace Palmer
Instagram: @Cassie_Ahiers (Director)
Onyx
Short
Bruno lives a psychological drama arising from a strange affective connection with his grandfather, a former political prisoner in the 70's. Near his house, he meets Caio, a troubled man who doesn't accept his own essence. The encounter becomes intense and sensitive as both expose their weaknesses, memories and melancholy.
Director: Aguinaldo Flor
Producer: Aguinaldo Flor
Writer: Aguinaldo Flor
Cast: Guilherme Griz, Carlos Bruno
Cinematographer: Leonardo Martins, Aguinaldo Flor
Editor: Lúcia Lemos, Aguinaldo Flor
Original Music: Sá Gabriel, Flávio Danza
Sound Design: Marcelo Rossas
Onyx has attended 58 festivals, awarded 48 times in 25 countries around the world.
Website: sagasama.com/en/onix
Instagram: @sagasamafilmes/
Opportunity Knocks
World Premiere
Shot on iPhone during COVID lockdown, Opportunity Knocks is a dark comedy about an industry that labels itself as progressive in the most superficial ways.
Director: Grace Hanna
Producer: Grace Hanna, Derek Manansala
Writer: Derek Manansala
Cast: Simone Warrick, Derek Manansala
Cinematographer: Grace Hanna
Editor: Derek Manansala
This film was shot with no crew and no equipment except an iPhone and used non-actors as stars in order to focus on the storytelling and the lack of proper funding for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ creators.
Website: thatsjustgrace.com
Instagram: @_gracehanna
Over Her
Web Series, 8 episodes:
When 24-year old Line gets dumped by her girlfriend Julia, she turns to her best friend Elin for comfort and advice on how to get the love of her life back. Elin, however, has a somewhat unconventional remedy for Line's heartbreak: to start and maintain a Tinder account in Line's name, helping her friend find her way back to happiness through sleeping around. One new hook up every week for two months will definitely be the winning recipe for curing Line's heartbreak.
Director: Lina Åström
Producer: Elin Falck
Writer: Lina Åström
Cast: Ulrikke Falch, Clara Henry
Cinematographer (if applicable): Malin Gutke
Editor: Lisa Krantz, Michel Jonasson
Pink & Blue
After a surprise first-time pregnancy, a Trans couple of color wrestles with how the new baby will affect their relationship and how to raise their child in a binary world.
Director: Carmen LoBue
Producer: Kaydx, Silas Howard, Carmen LoBue
Writer: Kaydx
Cast: Kaydx, Jojo Brown, Aury Krebs, Aida Basco, Darius Basco
Cinematographer: April Maxey
Editor: Nina Sacharow
Translations: Seattle Transgender Film Festival - BEST NARRATIVE SHORT
Wicked Queer: Boston’s LGBTQ+ Film Festival - BEST IN SHOW/AUDIENCE FAVORITE
LGBTQ+ Toronto Film Festival - BEST SHORT SCREENPLAY
KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, India - BEST INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORT (NOMINEE)
Website: pinkandbluefilm.com
Instagram: @pinkandblueshort
Twitter:@DagbasiP
Facebook: fb.com/dagbasiproductions
Purple Tiger
USA Premiere
Can non-binary athlete Rach McBride show that everyone belongs at the start line?
Director: Jon Chiang
Producer: Joanna Wong
Writer: Jon Chiang
Cinematographer: Avery Holiday
Editor: Alexander Farah
Website: purpletiger.ca
Retribution
Short
A queer, Latinx Army Airborne officer returns from deployment to marry her girlfriend but an accident on the eve of their engagement changes their lives forever. When the court system fails them, the officer must decide how far she is willing to go to make things right.
Director: Mel Orpen
Producer: Cassandra Jones, Alexandra Reinnoldt, and Laurie Gardiner
Writer: Mel Orpen
Cast: Diana Romo, Mo Beatty, Jah Shams, Jay Willick, Alexandre Chen, Ben Turner Dixon, Alyssa Jackson, Westley Ricker, and Marvin Gay.
Cinematographer: Alyssa Renzi
Editor: Mel Orpen
- International Premiere at the Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase; winner of 25 awards.
Website: melorpen.com
Instagram: @aikimuse
Twitter: @MelOrpen
Facebook: fb.com/mel.orpen