Shorts Variety Reviews

A love story of what is, is not, and a reflection of the past – 2018 – Germany 

This poignant short film substantially shows what is and was at the same time. A young man’s world, Theo (Julian Mannebach), comes crashing down when a clumsy mistake allows other to bully him and subsequently forces a confrontation with his love, Julian (Lennart Hillman),  who cannot cope with the aftermath. Life seems over. But to the rescue comes a teacher, Mr. Kruger (Andreas Klinger), who is worn down by life and a lost connection with someone deeply ineffaceable to him. In this brief exchange between student and teacher, their lives become intertwined and to some degree more understood. Perhaps the stuffed animal represents how we all cope with passions we have lost from the past and hold onto the memory.  Always pensive and ruminative.

A wistful story of two brothers – 2021 – Taiwan

This is a brilliant short video of two brothers with a rather distant father emotionally. The two brothers are very close to one another. The older son, Feng (Huang Chun Chih) looks after his much younger brother and is a studious and obedient son. His younger brother Yu (Ryan Lin) is a bit precocious but deeply close to his older brother. One day, the older brother tells his father he is going to school to study. Yu sneaks out of the house to tag his brother. What he sees shakes Yu to his core. He sees his brother Feng kissing another boy in the classroom. Yu withdraws and says nothing to either his father or Feng. But when they move into their new place and are in their own rooms, he reflects, quietly and softly, and goes back to sleeping with his brother once again as he always has. While the little boy has a look of not fully comprehending, his overriding look of content is one of ‘he is my brother’. This short will take your breath away with its quietness and pensive reflectiveness. Ryan Lin as Yu is just outstanding.  Saying so little but conveying volumes in conveying his emotions and feeling in his face and body. Simply astonishing. It is a remarkable story of the power of brotherly love overriding any feelings of discomfort, fear, or judgement. (You will need to have a Gagaoolala account to watch this video however.)

A melancholic repose of life with reflections of the here and now and regret – 2019 – United States

An incredibly moving melancholic journey of sadness and love as an old man (Ron Rifkin) reminisces about the loss of his wife with a male escort named Paul (Dylan Sprouce). The complexities of this expose about grief are extraordinary and gets into the depth of what life is catagorized for older people, especially if they have been hiding a secret all of their lives. Paul is both a comfort and a reminder. And understands the sensitivity and beauty of the stages of life this man is going through. Perhaps, this incredible slice of life panorama will only ever occur once in his existence and maybe that is all that was required. This is a breathtaking and eye-opening look into the window of someone’s pain who gets just enough relief as his money can buy. What to take away from this? This could be many of us as the years roll on by, living in regret and realizing, agonizingly too late, the shortness of life. Watch this one. It will make you lament.

A comedy about discovery with benefits – 2022 – Spain

This is Part 2 of Aliron where the discovery becomes a reality and the clumsiness of finding out is just a prelude of things to come. The sister tries to interfere in the most naïve way. The whole thing is just cute, adorable, and very funny. Rather interesting way to come out of the closet for sure.

A comedy about discovery – 2019 – Spain

This is a very funny short film about ‘discovery’. Through a series of misunderstandings, something begins to happen to two best friends, simply getting together to watch a football game. It is charming and very amusing.   

What starts out as being a ‘No’ turns into a ‘well’ or a ‘maybe’ , or I don’t know or ‘I never thought about it’. Let’s see what happens in Aliron 2.

A deeply pensive film about gay life in the rural countryside – 2022 – France

When Cesar brings home a friend of his, awakening his own sexual desires, his mother has her own agenda. This is a brilliant story full of sadness and pain with astonishing acting. It reaches a depth of depravity to obtain self-pleasures at the expense of killing  a young man’s dream of romance with the same effect as destroying his worth. One of the best shorts I have ever seen. A brilliant piece of art.  A mini-masterpiece.

A beautiful story of connection through awkwardness – 2023 – Thailand

What a joy ride this is. It is a simple basic story of ‘first times’. The first time that YouTube influencer Sud-Yod (Klong Chindanai) goes to get a massage for his back. But unfortunately, all the masseurs are busy except for the receptionist Num Un (Night Yodsakorn) who is training and wants to be a masseur. Since no one is available, his boss asks him to give Sud-Yod a message. Since this is Num Un’s first massage, he is nervous but excited as he wants to provide Sud-Yod an experience where he shows his compete devotion to him and to make Su-Yod’s experience one of total comfort and pleasure. There is something so astonishing so endearing about Num-Un’s mannerisms, personality, and intense character that you are completely drawn to him. His sweetness, gentleness, honesty, integrity, and complete devotion to making this experience good simply draws you to him. Sud-Yod is indeed beguiled to him as well and indeed Num Un is excited and drawn to Sud-Yod. This is an astonishing and brilliant look at how serendipitous, random, and interesting life can be with the possibility of a total stranger completely enveloping your world with more than perhaps you were expecting. All of it is so subtle yet profoundly directional. An exceptional and brilliant short. A stunning and beautiful slice of life story where two people by sheer randomness comes into each other’s lives, influences them, and maybe, just maybe, connects them in ways neither one dreamt would or could happen when they woke up that morning. 

A boy is seeking  a simple but charming wish for his 18th birthday – 2000 – United States

For sure, this is ‘old’ but still holds up today. It is a cute story of Christopher (Cory Grant) who wants to be kissed before his 18th birthday by somebody. He is so desperate that he goes into a gay bar and tries to get an older man, Tom (Simon Wolly), a married but closeted older man. Christopher fails to get his kiss even there. In an ironic twist, his mother has to leave town for a few days and asks a married friend of hers to watch him. It turns out to be Tom from the bar. Can Christopher use his powers of persuasion and youthful wiliness to get his kiss? We do not know for sure, but on the morning of his 18th birthday, Christopher appears relaxed and a faint smile comes over a rather content face. You judge.

A romantic LGBTQ film about high school crushes – 2020 – United States

This is a stunningly sensitive journey to courage for a young kid, already admitting that he is gay. He has a major crush on a soccer player but does not know his inclinations. He wants to ask him to the dance but is terrified to do so. In comes the mother, who is by all standards a saint, to encourage him to take the chance. He does and what happens next is how fairy tales are born. I loved this short snippet.

The Story is a Love Letter to Gay Friendship and Chosen Family  – 2023 – Singapore

This is an excellent example of what you can do when you have a robust focus on a story to tell even within a short time frame. This gay short film is all of 22+ minutes long and has a powerful message. What is that message? Determination and Acceptance. There is a profound message here. The perception of gayness is not the reality. Our image is one of inclusion, yet we too have streaks of discrimination almost inherent in us. We define for us what is ‘beautiful’ and tend to reject what is not. This short snippet jolts us back to a reality that we, a chosen minority and more importantly a ‘family’, must learn to bring anyone into our circle if we truly want to be and feel accepted. If we cannot accept the minorities within our own forced minority status, then we are no better than the majority who tries to define us. Surely our tent is large enough. Surely our acceptance is deep enough to extend to those who want to join us. To those who are more like us than unlike us – let us say and intimate with sincerity - ‘Welcome’. This short gay video does exactly that. Simply beautiful and worthy of your time.

“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” – 2020 – United States

A very short with no dialogue. It is a visual presentation of a boy’s whose sexual awakening is with another boy in a church camp. He witnesses  bullying by his love interest of another gay boy. Nonetheless, he musters up enough courage and strength to convey his feelings to his friend. Terrified, what will his friend’s reaction be?

“Finally, all of you, be like minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” Peter 3:8 

Two minutes of beauty and what religion should be.

A touching and heartbreaking story – 2022 – Mexico

When Cesar brings home a friend of his, awakening his own sexual desires, his mother has her own agenda. This is a brilliant story full of sadness and pain with astonishing acting. It reaches a depth of depravity to obtain self-pleasures at the expense of killing  a young man’s dream of romance with the same effect as destroying his worth. One of the best shorts I have ever seen. A brilliant piece of art.  A mini-masterpiece.

A bittersweet New York City love story – 2022 – United States

This is a brilliant expose of a lonely man walking the streets of New York City thinking his life is fulfilling but someone points out to him that what he is missing is love. This is a story of love analogous to two ships passing in the night. They do see one other yet still must remain apart only able to enjoy waving to each other as they part. Just a stunning story in a sort 17-minute window period.  

A gay musical parody – 2022 – United States

This is a hysterical parody of the song “All I Want For Christmas”. It is just so gay and so much fun. Yet, behind the facade, I think there are a lot of guys feeling what this guy is singing about. You decide and judge. I loved this and it will make you smile and maybe even sing along. It is quite short - only about 4 minutes.  So, enjoy!

A personal log of homophobia – 2017 – England

An astonishing short film about the terror and anxiety of being a teenage gay in a working-class neighborhood. The sense of isolation and loneliness is overwhelming until you find your own aquamarine stone that helps you see the world through someone else’s eyes. Although now five years old, this ‘gem’ is still relevant today. A brilliant piece of presenting the pain of coming out and coming to terms with it.

(Please be warned that the female character is a bit hard to understand and I would recommend you watch with closed captions).

A gay Asian short film about building courage – 2022 – United States

A brilliant film about the anxiety and fears of John (Ivan Mok) to desperately try and share his feelings for his soon to be moving across country close friend, Henry, (Andrew Ge).The fulfillment of which becomes empty and crushing. Later, although still not comforting, you realize what you thought you wanted is not necessarily what you needed. An accomplished piece of work. Watch the interview with the director and writer as well. 

Finding Yourself – 2022 – Canada

A simple story of escaping with your supposed ‘girlfriend’ to the West Coast of a big city to essentially define who you are. We each find that out in our own way. This is one way. 

Gabe (Morgan Clarke) is trying to define who he is, what is he doing here, and what is he looking for?

A Film About Male Sexual Abuse – 2022 – Germany

There is an adage that says Silence is Golden. And this nearly 9-minute film is an astonishing and brilliant example of how powerful that saying is. And gives it new meaning. Nothing is said until the end when the 'why' of this video is shown, and then we understand its impact. It is a subject dare not spoken or even mentioned. Because we know it never happens, right? This is a profoundly moving illustration almost done in silence  that shows, without words, its effect on a deeply personal level.  Shame. Guilt. Pain. Humiliation. Sadness. Vulnerability, but mostly - isolation and loneliness.

Your first formal date - 2020 - United States

What a gem this 8-minute film is. It is laconic yet speaks volumes. It is the coming-out story of a young Black boy named Carey (London Curtis). It is a ‘big’ day for this 14-year-old, and he seems pensive. His parents reminisce about the first time they saw each other and the thrill of that moment. The mother wants to make sure the father captures that moment as she must go off to work. But as Carey runs off without a picture of him and his ‘date’, the father looks out and sees a car pull up and a beaming white boy dressed in a blue suit hurries up to Carey and places a red flower in his lapel. He smiles with affection. They walk back to the car holding hands. The father’s expression through the window is one that speaks volumes. Yet, he runs out, and says he wants a picture of the two of them. He asks the adorable young white boy his name. “Hunter” (Owen D. Stone), he says and whispers something to Carey that makes him smile. The father gets his picture - for posterity. This is a brilliant and moving short that sums up where the journey of acceptance begins. I cried. 

A beautifully titled story symbolizing the time between a crush and love - 2017 - Taiwan

It will take almost as long to write this review as it will to watch this short video. It is a coming-of-age story between a student and his tutor. It reminds us of our first crush and how excited and sweet that moment was. That feeling perhaps will remain with you for the rest of your life There is not much you can say about this gem except that it is over almost as quick as it begins. It is only 6 minutes long. It hits the highlights of our emotions in our first crush. Desire, lust, frustration, anger, and finally bliss. It will make you feel good, and you can revel in reminiscing about your first crush. And for me that was a long time ago. You might realize that you needed this more than you imagine.

A gay short film in the black male culture - 2019 - United States

This is like nothing you have ever seen in either the BL or gay world of cinema. It is a world most of us do not fully understand or are able to relate to, unless you are Black. So real. So genuine. So honest. Glimpses at the complexities of trying to come out as gay in worlds not accepting of either being gay and/or black. If there is such a thing as a mini-masterpiece, this is it. It is impressive in the simplicity of its presentation. Feel it. 

Warning: Shocking language and raw content. This is, however, part of the real America.

A coming-out story for a teenage boy - 2017 - Netherlands

Bram (Valentijn Ave), a 15-year-old, meets Florian (Tonko Bossen) at a house party, he is immediately smitten. It beautifully shows the awkwardness of trying to meet him, talk to him and be with him without being clumsy about it, which of course is impossible. But in the end, his hormones take over and he thrusts a big kiss on Florian before the party breaks up with all his friends looking on and he says, “I forgot to tell you guys something.” Just adorable.

A coming-out story with the most unusual premise - 2022 - United States

This is a solid and provocative coming out story. Mathew Florence (Jack Bozick) meets Justin (Luan Schmitz) online and their romance begins. It blossoms into love. But there is such a fascinating twist as to why they met that, while noble, almost derailed their relationship. That twist however, lends credence to the motto ‘trying to do the right thing for the wrong reason’ can be troublesome. Sometimes it is best to let nature takes its course with timing and coming out. Otherwise, there could be unintended consequences. Their ‘reconciliation’ scene is simply magical and endearing. Pay attention to the beginning, as it will lead to a full circle at its end in a most beautiful way!

This is a very well-acted and well directed short movie.

There are also some beautiful shots of San Francisco!

An innocent and romantic gay short story of high school love - 2022 - United States

This is a heartwarming short film about both coming out and coming-of-age. While Jayden (Ty Newcomb) is rumored to be gay, he is indeed and has to deal with the usual whispers about someone being gay in high school. Connor (Christian Barba) is a high school jock but is sidelined because of a broken leg and must make take a course for credit. And takes Cooking and is paired with the only other guy in the class, which is Jayden. Being the most popular kid in school, Jayden looks at Connor as unattainable but surprisingly Connor makes the first move. And this cute and adorable romp of adolescent love begins with the culmination of both going to the Senior Prom. It is a ‘feel good’ and positive short movie of a teenage budding romance that is only experienced in the infancy of a person’s growing-up years. Well-acted and well directed. 

A LGBTQ short story of love - 2021 - India

A  profoundly moving short video of two guys who found each other while in high school but come to a crossroads when one of has an opportunity to study in London. Ugly things were said to each other not to hurt but as a result of the pain of having to leave and not having the tools of maturity to do so with grace. Also, the burning question of what would have happened if that opportunity was not taken and later the wish that it had been taken. Four years later, when he returns and comes to visit, will they be able to rekindle, or pick up where they left off so painfully. As the final scenes fade, we see them hugging, embracing, and laughing………. 

A short film of discovery - 2015 - Sweden

An ordinary story of a young boy, Fliip, growing up in an ordinary family consisting of his mother and older brother. He is very close to his older brother and looks up to him. His brother has a close friend. One evening, Filip wakes up and sees his brother and his best friend embracing and kissing. Perplexed, confused, and not making sense, he looks as if he is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He becomes sensitive to hearing the term ‘faggot’ now with way more awareness and intrinsic importance.  He says nothing; just absorbs. But in the end, crawls into bed with his brother as if to signal, ‘while I do not fully understand, you are my brother and my best friend, and I am here’. A profoundly simple message beautifully pictured. 

A surreal gay short film - 2016 - United States Americana! 

If you ever want to feel what America is really like, then watch this short film. It shows what gay life was and is like for individuals who are ‘country’, meaning rural in America. This is a brilliant story that you might surmise early on it is allegorical or you just might think that America is made up of a lot of misfits and odd persons. And you would be correct on both counts.

This is a pensive, deeply reflective gay story that encapsulates everything about being two-spirited in a world that neither understands nor affirms the gay fabric of its makeup. Yet somehow makes your feel – hopeful.

Just when I thought that the United States had lost its edge in telling a truly artistic story using cinema, this eidolon shows us who we have been all along. Always waiting. Always trusting that it will get better. Transcending.

A young coming-out story - 2020 - United States (Redondo Beach, CA)

This is a short 15-minute film that is breathtaking. It breaks down and breaks up every conceivable stereotypical definition of what a gay person is. It assumes nothing and presumes everything. It shows the world from the perspective of a 9-year-old boy how intrinsic our sexuality is and how meaningful it becomes at an early age. In a twist of irony, it shows love from a multi-angled perspective and forces us to see its beauty beginning at an early age. A phenomenal and brilliant cinematic short story. It will leave you nourished by its innocence and child-like transcendence.

A slice of life - 2019 - Thailand

This is a 2019 short that moved me deeply. A bit confusing at times in direction but its underlying  message is clear. Two guys fall in love despite both feeling like 'losers'. 

There is also a courageous stand by one of them against his mother. Only two episodes. 

This is a short musical video by Lucas Garcia, a contestant in Idol Philippines, who is a talented singer and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. It is a beautiful story of unrequited love but finds it right in front of you.