Official Selections: 1st- 7th LA Queer Film Festivals
Congratulations to our accepted filmmakers!
Films are listed in alphabetical order, index to the left.
Scroll Down to learn more about each film.
Untie
West Coast Premiere
Leah has a strong desire to try blindfolding for the first time, but her partner is not so sure.
Director: Lane Michael Stanley
Producer: David Estes, Libby Car
Writer: Lane michael Stanley
Cast: Sarah Jack, Adrian Lancaster, Rachel Aston Warren
Cinematographer: Tori McCarthy
Editor: Prakshi Malik
"Untie" has shown at the Big Apple Film Festival, the Lesflicks Queer Film Festival, and the Los Angeles Queer Film Festival.
Vivian & Valerie
Official music video for "Vivian & Valerie" by Gabe Lopez. The video features our two leading queens getting into drag for a night out on the town. Gabe Lopez is a singer/songwriter and producer and has written/produced for Belinda Carlisle, RuPaul's Drag Race, New Kids On The Block, TWICE, KPOP artists and TV/film.
Director: Patrick Broderick and Jordan Service
Producer: Gabe Lopez
Writer: Patrick Broderick and Austin Burk
Cast: Austin Burk and Patrick Broderick
Cinematographer: Jordan Service
Editor: Austin Burk
Makeup: Miss Benny
Costumes: Jordan Service
PA: Monica Wicklund
Instagram: @gabelopez
Music: linktr.ee/gabelopez
Wanna Go Camping?
Corey takes his new boyfriend Luis on a cute little camping trip -- but something feels off that they can't quite place.
Director: Zach Siegel
Producer: Cookie Walukas
Writer: Zach Siegel
Cast: Ricky Abilez, Will Tranfo
Cinematographer: Dennis Noack
Editor: Zach Siegel
Website: wannagocampingwith.me
Instagram: @wannagocampingwithme
We're Here
West Coast Premiere
Music Video
When societal "norms" tell you you're not enough, when your existence is the resistance, it's time to band together to let the world know, "We're Here and we're not going anywhere!"
Director: Talia Keys
Producers: Talia Keys, Melahn Atkinson
Writer: Talia Keys
Cast: Madazon Can-Can, Talia Keys, Zaza Historia VanDyke, M'Lady Wood, Kay Bye, Lilia Maughn
Cinematographer: Melahn Atkinson
Editor: Melahn Atkinson
Pride Film Fest - Award-Winning Short
V.i.Z. Film Fest - Best Music Video
Zepstone Film Awards - Best Music Video
Best Wardrobe Design, Social Impact Award 2023
Instagram: @taliakeys
Facebook: fb.com/TaliaKeysMusic
You’re Alright Hun
USA Premiere
Short
Orla is on the brink caring for her terminally ill Dad, Darragh. While waiting in the pharmacy for his pain medicine, all hell breaks loose when Orla's ex-girlfriend shows up to return a potted succulent.
Director: Katie-Ann McDonough
Producer: Leigh Douglas
Writer: Leigh Douglas
Cast: (comma separated, i.e. John Leguizamo, Viola Davis, Bowen Yang) Leigh Douglas, Raymond Keane, Temi Wilkey, Scarlett Carter
Cinematographer (if applicable): Aurelia Bergs
Editor: Lesley Posso
Instagram: @lovleighdouglas
Twitter: @lovleighdouglas
Facebook: leigh.douglas.754
Un Chantier d'Amour
(A Scaffolding of Love )
Los Angeles Premiere
The days merge into one another for a single gay man locked down in his Mumbai apartment, as the pandemic wears on. Some masons work on scaffolding around the apartment. He contemplates the seemingly insurmountable space between himself and them and imagines freedom. All he can do is complete his chores one by one… until he comes to the last one. The title is a play of words on 'Un Chant d'Amour', a 1959 film by Jean Genet. ‘Un Chantier d’Amour’ - A Scaffolding of Love' (2021) is a non-verbal experimental short. It was filmed over several days in a Mumbai apartment on a mobile phone.
Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer: Sachin Jain
Editor: Makarand Dambhare
Awards:
1. Best Experimental Short Film | South Film and Arts Academy FF | Rancagua, Chile | 16.9.2021
2. Best Mobile Short Film | Indo-French IFF | Pondicherry, India | 30.9.2021
3. Outstanding Achievement - Mobile Film | Druk IFF | Paro, Bhutan | 30.10.2021
4. Best Experimental Short Film | Port Blair IFF | Port Blair, India | 2.11.2021
5. Best Indie Short Film | Five Continents IFF | Anzoategui, Venezuela | 3.11.2021
6. Outstanding Achievement - Mobile Film | Tagore IFF | Birbhum, India | 6.11.2021
7. Best Performances | LGBTQ+ Toronto FF | Toronto, Canada | 18.12.2021
8. Best Debut Director - 2nd Place - Lockdown Film | Reels IFF | Aurangabad, India | 27.2.2022
Finalist:
1. Best Black & White Short Film | Bratislava International Film Awards | Bratislava, Slovakia | 27.10.2021
Semi Finalist:
1. Best Short Film | High Tatras Video and Film Festival | Vysoké Tatry, Slovakia | 24.11.2021
Honorable Mention:
1. Best Director - Runner Up | Shunyatam IFF | Mumbai, India | 18.12.2021
Official Selection:
1. Rome Outcast Independent Film Award | Rome, Italy | 4.10.2021
2. Chicago Indie Film Awards | Chicago, USA | 4.10.2021
3. Golden Sparrow IFF | Sirkali, India | 5.11.2021
4. Cinematic European FF | Craiova, Romania | 7.11.2021
5. Rangkarmi International Short FF | Mumbai, India | 10.11.2021
6. Alvsbynn FF | Norrbotten, Sweden | 21.11.2021
7. IFF of Ahmednagar India | Ahmednagar, India | 24.2.2022
8. Alibag Short FF | Alibag, India | 30.1.2022
9. Los Angeles Queer Film Festival | Los Angeles, USA | 7.4.2022
Facebook: @anekantproductions
Why you have to be Black and gay
Documentary Short
"If you are Black and gay in South Africa, then it really is all the same closet…inside is darkness and oppression. Outside is freedom.” – Simon Tseko Nkoli
This documentary follows internationally renowned drag queen Odidi Odidiva from his formative years to the shaping of his drag persona in the shadow of South African apartheid.
Director: Holly Lehren
Cast: Odidi Odidiva
Cinematographer (if applicable): Anton Kleynscheldt
Editor: Holly Lehren
Any awards, accolades or additional details about the process you would like to mention: "Best LGBTQ Short" - Independent Shorts Awards
Velvet's House Party
World Premiere
In the comedy, Velvet's House Party, former trailer park maven, Velvet Hiney, has escaped the trailer park and set up new digs in the suburbs. She aspires to host weekly soirees to dispense Martha Stewart-like party tips to the neighborhood's social elite. Unfortunately, Velvet is not Martha Stewart and this ain't a normal neighborhood.
Director: Stacey Bean
Producer: Clayton Guiltner
Writer: Stacey Bean
Cast: Brooks, Braselman, Wyatt Hinz, Andrew Biernat, Michelle Way, Carrie Gibson
Cinematographer: Clayton Guiltner, Director of Photography
Editors: Jeremy Johnson and Clayton Guiltner
Website: VelvetsHouseParty.com
Instagram: instagram.com/VelvetHiney
Twitter: twitter.com/VelvetHiney
Wake Up
Short
Wake Up is a stunning musical adventure of self realization and discovery. It highlights the emotional ups and downs of health, gender, sexuality, heartache, and ultimately self love. All six musical acts are written, directed, and performed by Chanel Samson (they/them) of the band “Praise Kink.” Wake Up is a tribute to the individual spirit, the heart and soul of who we are and who we can be. An exhilarating tribute to being yourself, celebrating your community, and making your place in the world.
Director: Chanel Samson
Producer: Chanel Samson
Writer: Chanel Samson
Cast: Chanel Samson, Kirby La Brea, Jo Sturdivant, Chris Schuchert, Dustin Hackworth, Cory Batchler
Cinematographer: Jeeraya W. Moranon
Editor: Chanel Samson
Winner - Best Musical Short - Merced Queer Film Festival
Instagram: @praisekinkband
Twitter: chanelsamson
Facebook: fb.com/PraiseKinkBand
Worst Date, Best Date
Short
Amy and Charlie are set up on a blind date by their grandmothers. From the beginning, the date seems to be going horribly wrong, with both Amy and Charlie trying to find ways to get out of the situation. However, as they continue to talk, they discover that they share something in common.
Worst Date, Best Date is a raw & heartwarming comedy about unexpected connections.
Director: Cameron Thrower
Producer: Heather Turman & Cameron Thrower
Writer: Cameron Thrower & Heather Turman
Cast: Patrick Hilgart, Kim Perrin, Tony Moore
Cinematographer (if applicable): Jesse Aragon
Editor: Cameron Thrower
Composer: Ian Schaid
IFS Audience Award - Best Comedy Short
Website: cameronthrower.com
Instagram: @camthrow
Yes I Am - The Ric Weiland Story
Los Angeles Premiere
The story of Ric Weiland’s life and legacy can be measured in incredible milestones.
Narrated by Zachary Quinto and starring Bill Gates, Yes I Am - The Ric Weiland Story chronicles a queer pioneer and one of the first employees at Microsoft. Ric helped focus and organize their early successes. It made him wealthy and influential at an early age. He never felt overly comfortable with his wealth - he didn’t feel that he deserved it. Other people had worked harder for what they had, he thought. So to quiet the nagging doubt, he turned to philanthropy.
Director: Aaron Bear
Producer: Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbato
Writer: Aaron Bear
Cast: Zachary Quinto, Bill Gates, Gil Bar-Sela
Cinematographer: Brian Liepe
Editor: Stephen Michael Simon & Matty Brown
Best Biopic - Cannes International Independent Film Festival
Website: ricweiland.com
Instagram: @yesiam_doc
Twitter: @yesiamfilm
Facebook: fb.com/YesIAm2021