SHORTS

Titanic Gay Love Story

A gay fantasy version of the saga of the sinking of the Titanic- 2024 – India

If you are familiar with the mythos of the sinking of the Titanic, then this film is for you. Dive into the fascinating world of Artificial Intelligence through a unique LGBTQ+ perspective. It is a creative version of the story of the movie “Titanic” from a gay perspective. Being AI generated, it allowed for greater expansion of who might have been on the ship and their relationships. So simply sit back and enjoy a 3-minute gay story. Just for the fun of it!

Memory Of An Afternoon On the Rooftop

The haunting memory of two friends revisited on a rooftop – 2024 – Mexico

This is an homage to the young writer/director, Tavo Ruiz to all the people whom we have lost but remain in our hearts. It is an esoteric reflection at two handsome young men and how they met. Or perhaps it is just the perception of how just one of them thought they met. It is a lonely, longing musing of what will never be. Sometimes we see things that are just not there or perhaps where, but we never act on them. I think it is called missed opportunities. Or worse yet, regrets. Perhaps this is a way of expressing good-bye to those possibilities lost. This is an evocative, not quite erotic, yet well-thought out and well executed short film, that is so full of interpretations. You must decide.

Far From Water

Two friends share an unexpected moment of intimacy – 2024 – United States

This is a very short film of about 5 minutes, done mostly silently. It is between two friends who find a secluded beach and with one thing leading to another, end up kissing. We are not sure if more was done but we can only assume that more than kissing was involved. As they leave, one asks him to look at him as there is nothing but silence. “Do you regret it?” He responds, with a firm conviction but stilly, “No.” Filmed with dark undertones and in a twilight type atmosphere, we do not know what to expect. All we can do as observers is question and wonder.

Both seemed to have entered into a life changing phase in their short lives perhaps neither was prepared for yet seemingly wanted it to happen. Two handsome young men who were obviously attracted to each other. But was this the best time?

This is a deeply pensive and reflective short film that tells more in in its silence than it does with its words. Those who have never had to struggle with who they were, are lucky; you never had to face the continuum of pain and delight in a matter of minutes. This is just brilliant! Keep it up! I understood it completely. It was filmed to reflect the tone of what these two young men were going through. Coming to grips with acceptance is still one of the bumpiest roads to travel in one’s life.

Query

Roommates and best friends discover more about each other- 2020 – Canada 

Jay (Justice Smith) and Alex (Graham Patrick Martin) have been best friends since grade school and roommates forever. One day, they get into this intense query about what is the meaning of sex particularly between men. All, of course, highly intellectual and philosophical. Although Alex has a girlfriend and both seem to be straight, they are both tirading on and on about the intensity of relationships between men, as they continue to engage in a game of backgammon. Now half drunk, Jay asks Alex to kiss him to prove that while men can be ‘handsome’ to one another, it does not mean they are attracted to one another. Awkwardly, they kiss, but in that brief exchange, something happens. Something neither one was expecting nor planning. Although their moment was interrupted by a call from Alex’s girlfriend, about an inane point, he brushes her off quickly. When he comes back, he asks Jay, “Do you want to go again?” Interpretation as the film ends: you decide.

This is a well-acted short film that that while cryptic is full of exegesis. It does appear to be obvious that both have been struggling with an underlying attraction to each other. The naturalness and chemistry between these two guys tell you all you need to know. I am sure they will next find a rational but intellectually secure reason to jump in bed to prove more points until they suddenly realize they are deeply and profoundly in love with each other and have been for a long time. This seems to be a relationship that starts from an intellectual level and works into an emotional one. Have fun!

White Rock

Older brother discoveries a secret about his younger brother – 2024 – Canada 

David, who appears to be a rather reserved, shy, and maybe withdrawn young man, comes home to find his older brother in his room. He begins to tease him and asks if he came home to get ready for a ‘date’. Finally. He wants to know who she is. David mumbles something that sounds like Joe.

Uncomfortable, he asks his brother to get out of his room. David is reluctant to clearly identify who the date is. He makes it sound like perhaps it could be a female. His brother, while talking to his friend, says maybe David is really gay. So, his brother follows him. He sees that he indeed meets a young Asian man who seems very much interested in David and both are very comfortable with one other. David does spot his brother in the car, observing. He rolls down the window and with a smile gives David a big thumbs up! He simply wants his brother to be happy, no matter who he is with. We see David and Joe walking towards the beach in the sunset light for dinner.

This is a genuinely warm and sensitive short film about the love between two brothers that simply accomplishes what it set out to do in just under 8 minutes. It made us all feel good about living again and the strength and bond that families have. What a wonderful and warm slice-of-life. David now has support. An astonishing positive message.

Scheduled Meeting

A day that begins the rest of your life – 2024 – Brazil

This is a story that everyone can relate to, in which everything went wrong but, in the end, it became the most memorable day in the lives of two guys who were just starting to date. Lucca (Ariel Moraes) is the more serious of the two. Gabriel (Pedro Zurawski) with his most beautiful eyes, talks his budding boyfriend into skipping school to go up to the mountains to his grandfather’s house. Along the way, Lucca becomes anxious, not really knowing Gabriel all that well. Gabriel, on the other hand, simply wanted to have the perfect day. Unfortunately, the car breaks down. And here is where the magic begins to happen. They spend more time together seeing the joy of being in each other’s company even though it was not under the most ideal conditions. In addition, they both break out of character and in a rash and brash action, bond perhaps more strongly than if they had had the most perfect and ideal day. However, if one thought about it, a few choice words, a snap emotion, or a misperceived action and the whole thing could have gone in a totally different direction.

This is such a joyous and romantic story that we see looking down on them. Certainly, memories last a life time and no doubt, they will remember this date for the rest of their lives. Not only is it the day that they become official, but it is also the day they both realize they belong together. It is a beautiful and moving slice-of-life moment captured for us to see. It is the beginning of love.

Out

A journey of a young man trying to reach his anguished father – 2024 – England
This is only a 9-minute video but tells the pain of a lifetime. A father (Jamie Lee-Hill), still reeling from the death of his wife, is angry, bitter and takes it out on is children. Joshua (Nick Bankiyan-Monfard) is also in a lot of pain. He is gay and walks around the house terrified to be himself. By accident, the father finds out where and with whom Joshua has spent last night. When he angrily confronts him, Joshua runs out – alone. Afraid. Scared. But realizes that if he is ever going to grow-up, he must face his reality. Meanwhile his sister, Zoe (Gina Holloway), mediates between the dad and her brother, as she knows what is happening. She tells his father that the only thing that matters, as the mother would be saying now, is Joshua’s health and happiness. When Joshua returns, both father and son reconcile. It is the way that they do that makes this short video a masterpiece. They do so, not just with fine acting, but with a simple basic understanding that the bond of love is stronger than any wedge that might have developed between the two. While the father needs time to process all of this, he will never be ashamed of his son. “I love you.” Enough said. Tears stream down my face simply as I write this because I recall that astonishingly touching moment between two men who are trying to understand each other.

The ending is symbolically brilliant. As the father replaces the picture of him and his son on the coffee table, in the background it covers another picture, just making visible the portion of the mother, smiling. As Joshua throws away the trashes, he texts his partner and asks him to come over to meet his family – it is time, symbolling the destruction of the old thinking for a new path ahead. Just brilliant.

Nos Sens (Our Senses)

A gay short film about self-acceptance and its struggles – 2024 – France

This is a poignant and moving film that is so much more than self-acceptance. It is a journey and an exploration of self-discovery. It goes from only seeing the negative side of being gay to seeing that the journey, while bumpy, can still be a beautiful road to traverse. The pleasures along that road are worth it. Take it from someone who has traveled down its path and is closer to its end than to its beginning, you will remember the joys more than the sorrows. And they, hopefully, will outnumber and outshine them. It is a story about Arthur (Jean-Baptiste Lamour) struggling with accepting his gayness and divulging that to his family, who are also struggling with its acceptance. To compound the issue, he knows and finally recognizes that his love is his best friend, Tony (Morgan Malet). While all his friends encourage him to be honest with confessing his love, he is reluctant to do so because he is not sure how Tony would react. To compound the problem, Tony is leaving for a year to study and will be gone. When he does confess, initially Tony seems to accept it with understanding – on an intellectual basis. When it finally hits him that he too is in love with Arthur and impulsively kisses him, he retreats and then gets angry, rejecting Arthur in the worst possible way. Yet, before he leaves, he comes over and, in a heart-to-heart, laying it on the line dialogue, they both know how difficult it will be. But the foundation of a relationship has been sewn and we can hope for the best. And in a sea change, we also see at the end, Arthur calling his father. Opening the lines of communication.

This is a brilliant, well-acted, and totally moving short film of the fear, anxiety, and trepidations of ‘coming out’. As Arthur says, to Tony, “What is complicated is feeling different from others. Having to hide. Admitting to yourself and telling yourself your gay. And what’s worse, the fear never goes away.” That completely sums up the feeling of coming out to anyone  who does not understand.

This is one of the finest films I have seen that defines the journey of coming out.

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

A gay romance story destined from the first meet– 2022 – Spain

This is a fascinating longitudinal story of a young boy falling in love with someone and never forgetting about that love. Arnau (Pablo  Royo) met Javier (Jamie Anton) when they were teenagers as Anton’s mother worked for Arnau’s family. So, years later, when they are now older, they have a chance to meet up at a party. One thing led to another and the feelings that they had for each other as children have not diminished. If anything, they have intensified. For one night, they are able to share romantic gestures with one another and promise to keep in touch. When several days pass by, Arnau begins to realize that he likely has been ghosted. Ironically, as he accompanies his mother back to Arnau’s house, he gets a phone call. It is from Arnau. He left his phone in the cab the night they went home together, and he had to go to Paris and was only now able to get a new phone. Yes, he still wants to see him. Anton is beside himself with joy.

Fairlane

A touching story of two guys finding each other briefly – 2023 – United States

This is a story of a young man, Brandon (Jordon Doww) and his mother who because of economic necessities had to move to a more rural part of Georgia. Brandon gets a job at a local auto mechanic shop and there he meets Evan (Benjamin Esqueda), another young mechanic. The two strike up conversations and a quick friendship. They hang out at the local dive bar until one night when the right moment comes and they are alone, they kiss. We see them in the car on a moonlit night. Embracing. While they smile at each other at work, they take great care not to be seen too close to one another. Until one day, Brandon’s boss tells him that Evan’s last day is tomorrow. They say nothing to each other. Their looks tell it all. For whatever reason, Brandon, because of a myriad of reasons known only to him, is unable to face Evan, comes to work late.  Only to find that Evan is gone – for good. As he cleans up the shop late at night, he sees in the recorder a tape of songs that Evan left for him in it. The expression on Brandon’s face is all you need to know. As he closes the shop all alone, withdrawn and expressionless, with a profoundly bittersweet look on his face.

Countless times in countless various different ways this same story is being repeated all over the place. The sadness and resignation of life is almost overwhelming and is being recast over and over again because we cannot be who we are. This is their reality. It is a slice of life of gay people who live in place where gayness is simply not yet accepted. This is an amazing and brilliant short film! Good job!

Distances (Bortom)

A complicated mother-son relationship story – 2024 – Sweden

This indeed is a complicated story between a mother, Eva (Monica Albornoz) and her deaf son, David (Gabriel Nal). They are of Hispanic descent, growing up in Sweden but still speaking their native language of Spanish. While we do not know anything about their histories, we do know that Eva left him alone some time ago to return to her home country. Leaving him feeling bitter, lonely, and obviously confused. To make matters worse, Eva never fully grasped David’s ‘language’. So, her sign language skills are quite limited. When she comes back for a visit, obviously the relationship is definitely strained and tense. To compound the issues, David is gay and has a lover, who is very supportive of him and is proficient in sign language. Simon (Robert Ingvarsson) acts as go-between sometimes between David and his mother. Although Eva does not appear to be surprised that her son is gay, she was taken aback that he had a lover. She did not know he had a life partner. Perhaps she thought him incapable of having one. Neither Eve nor David knows how to straightforwardly communicate with each other, and I am not sure either could at this point. Eva continues to rationalize her behavior by always hiding behind the trite and overused catchphrase ‘she did the best she could’. Whatever that means. In addition to never fully learning sign language, she has and continues to use as her defense of  an attitude of ‘pity me, please’ thus maintaining an artificial wall separating herself from him. Yet it all comes across feebly and a bit insincere.

This is an all-too-familiar scenario between family members who flatly refuse to see each other for who they are. To be sure, the major burden is on Eva, who by even the kindest of standards seems to only be a marginal parent that lacks the basic aspects of caring or compassion. On the other hand, David, despite life’s extraordinary strikes against him, must learn to become an adult and put aside his anger and hurt towards his mother, if he is ever grow into adulthood and ‘let-go’. I am not convinced she is a ‘bad’ mother; she simply is a biological mother. While she will never be a mother in the classic sense of the word, he needs to let all that go and accept her only at the level she is willing to give. There is no resolution to this story. At the end, all we can speculate is that Eve seems to be happy that someone is in her son’s life so she in essence does not need to be. That is, I think, their reality and both will need to learn to be content with that.

Gay And Lonely

You are not alone in feeling alone – 2024 – United States

A personal reflection, beautifully monologued, by Thomas Mathew May.  Its centerpiece is the uncomfortable topic of being alone and loneliness. He reflects in a rather hypnotic voice the thoughts we all have had about being alone and being gay at the same time. He ponders the philosophical premise of being surrounded by people yet still feeling utterly alone. He tells us to take time to listen to our own thoughts. Loneliness, especially for gay people may be normal for us but gives us an opportunity to reflect on who we are. Yet, we cannot let loneliness define us or identify us. Loneliness may be permitting us to make a path to finding an inner peace to being by ourselves and being ok about it. It can be a longing for a relationship either with others or even with ourselves. This soliloquy is done within a backdrop of nature with just a hint of civilization peaking in the rearguard. Its artistry is rapturing and hypnotic.

Enjoy its almost magical poetry about its presentation. Its conclusion is prophetic as well “…In the end, you are the one person, you will live with the rest of your life – yourself.”