ANGRY INDIAN GODDESSES
Dir. Pan Nalin I 2015 I India I 105 min. I Texas Premiere I Comedy
Saturday, September 10 at 10:15 a.m.
 
Frieda gathers her closest girlfriends from all over India for a surprise announcement: she’s getting married! What follows is a riotous week-long bachelorette celebration filled with friendships, breakups, make ups, fuck ups, passion, devastation, hesitation, terrorization, and self-realization. Even as things take a more serious turn, these firebrand women are determined to seize the day as secrets tumble out, tensions emerge, bonds are formed, and emotions run high. A cinematic sugar rush.
 
HEARTLAND
Dir. Maura Anderson I 2016 I U.S.A. I 96 min. I Texas Premiere I Romance
Friday, September 9 at 2:35 p.m.
 
Lauren, struggling over a recent death, returns home to Oklahoma where she finds solace in an erotic affair with her brother’s girlfriend, Carrie. Played by the hauntingly beautiful Laura Spencer (Big Bang Theory), Carrie is as impossible to take your eyes off of as the expansive, brooding landscape of the Oklahoma prairie. Tense, sexy, and foreboding, this is a film that will get under your skin and take your breath away. See why After Ellen named it “the next big lesbian indie film.”
 
I LOVE YOU BOTH
Dir. Doug Archibald I 2016 I U.S.A. I 90 min. I Texas Premiere I Comedy
Saturday, September 10 at 1:00 p.m.
 
Krystal and Doug are twins living in an incredibly dysfunctional relationship, yet are in denial about their co-dependency. That is, until they both start dating the same guy. Uh oh! Suddenly the siblings find themselves at odds, waiting for their shared boyfriend to choose one of them. This quirky comedy is the debut film of real life siblings Doug and Kristin Archibald and was an official selection of OutFest and Cinequest.
 
LAZY EYE
Dir. Tim Kirkman I 2016 I U.S.A. I 87 min. I Austin Premiere I Romance
Saturday, September 10 at 5:00 p.m.
Writer/Director Tim Kirkman will be in attendance
 
Soon after Dean learns that he’s losing his eyesight, he is unexpectedly contacted by an ex-lover from 15 years ago. Passions rise and the two can’t resist rekindling their steamy affair at Dean’s vacation home. But sooner or later they must face the heartache of their past lives and the pain of roads not taken. A touching story about vision, aging, and the way we see one another.
 
RETAKE
Dir. Nick Corporon I 2016 I U.S.A. I 98 min. I Southwest Premiere I Drama
Thursday, September 8 at 9:50 p.m.
Writer/Director Nick Corporon will be in attendance
 
A man, seeking some comfort, hires a male prostitute to role play a road trip he once took with his ex-lover. But the further they go, the greater lengths are taken to turn the young hustler into someone else. Is it comfort, love, or dangerous obsession? Tuc Watson (Desperate Housewives) gives a chilling performance in this Hitchcockian drama.

CHECK IT
Dir. Dana Flor & Toby Oppenheimer I 2016 I U.S.A. I 91 min. I Texas Premiere
Saturday, September 10 at 5:30 p.m.
 
The everyday threat of being beaten and possibly being killed is all too real for LGBTQ youth in D.C., so when a group of gay and transgender teens of color in the streets become fed up with being bullied and pushed around, they push back. This documentary tells the story of the infamous Check It gang - the only known LGBTQ street gang. They feel like violence is the only way out - but their love of fashion could be what truly saves them. If you’re tired of seeing wonderbread teen romance, Check It is the gritty doc you’re looking for.
 
FREE CECE!
Dir. Jacqueline Gares I 2016 I U.S.A. I 85 min. I Southwest Premiere
Saturday, September 10 at 12:00 p.m.
Director Jacqueline Gares will be in attendance
 
On her way to the grocery store, transgender woman Cece MacDonald was brutally attacked, and in the course of saving her own life a man was killed. Now, Cece is incarcerated in a men’s prison. In this film, critically acclaimed actress Laverne Cox goes to the men’s prison in Minnesota to interview MacDonald, and to lead the campaign to set Cece free. Find out about the true-life story of the person who inspired Cox’s Emmy-nominated performance on Orange is the New Black.
 
GROWING UP COY
Dir. Eric Juhola I 2016 I U.S.A. I 83 min. I Texas Premiere
Saturday, September 10 at 2:30 p.m.
Director/Producer Eric Juhola & Producer/Editor Jeremy Stulberg will be in attendance.
 
A six-year old from Colorado is at the center of a media frenzy - and a lawsuit for being transgender. The parents of Coy Mathis choose to publicly fight to defend their daughter against an unfriendly school board and opponents who claim that Coy is too young to decide who she is. But where do they draw the line between fighting for their daughter’s rights and protecting her from the public spotlight?
 
MEMORIES OF A PENITENT HEART
Dir. Cecilia Aldarondo I 2016 I USA/Puerto Rico I 74 min. I Texas Premiere
Saturday, September 10 at 10:00 a.m.
 
Have you ever had that family member who you wondered about? For filmmaker Cecilia Aldarondo that family member was her uncle Miguel, whose death was shrouded in family conflict. Twenty five years later, Aldarondo discovers her uncle Miguel’s secret lover, Robert, and reaches out to him. Nominated for a Jury Award at the Tribeca Film Festival, this is a gripping story about grief, pain, secrets, and shame, and yet it is a cathartic release to anyone who knows the drama of family secrets.
 
TWO SOFT THINGS, TWO HARD THINGS
Dir. Mark Kenneth Woods & Michael Yerxa | 2016 I Canada I 71 min. I Texas Premiere
Saturday, September 10 at 3:20 p.m.
Director Mark Kenneth Woods will be in attendance.
 
What are the words for lesbian and gay in the Inuit language? And what happens to those words when the Native American culture starts to vanish? Part history lesson and part travel documentary, Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things takes us on a journey to the beautiful and isolated arctic region of Nunavut, where an unlikely Pride celebration is being prepared by a new generation of Inuit who are working to unearth their culture’s forgotten celebration of LGBTQ people.

ARIANNA
Dir. Carlo Lavagna I 2015 I Italy, In Italian w/English subtitles I 84 min. I Austin Premiere I Drama
Friday, September 9 at 12:25 p.m.
 
Arianna (Ondina Quadri) is nineteen when she goes with her family to the lake house and discovers the shocking secret of her birth. She has still not had her period, and her body looks different from that of her cousin. Amid her mother’s growing discomfort, she slowly unravels the mysteries of her past, finds out about her XY chromosome pair, her childhood surgery, and is born again into a new identity. Featuring a stunning debut performance from Quadri, Arianna is a gem not to be missed.
 
BEING 17 (Quand on a 17 ans)
Dir. Andre Techine I 2016 | France, In French w/English subtitles I 116 min. I Texas Premiere I Drama
Sunday, September 11 at 3:15 p.m.
 
Damien, a gay teenager, is being harassed at school by a fellow student, Tom, whose mother has fallen ill. The tension and violence become worse when Damien’s mother takes Tom in to live with them and insists that the boys get along. A dark and provocative drama from award winning filmmaker André Téchiné (“Wild Reeds”) that will keep you glued to the edge of your seat.
 
CLOSET MONSTER
Dir. Stephen Dunn I 2015 I Canada I 90 min. I Texas Premiere I Coming of Age
Thursday, September 8 at 7:30 p.m.
 
After he meets a mysterious and attractive new co-worker, handsome teen Oscar follows the guidance of his pet hamster, Buffy (voiced by Isabella Rossellini), and faces his demons to find the life he wants. Visually and aurally stunning, this multiple award winning film (Best Feature, Melbourne Queer Film Festival; Jury Award, Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival; Best Feature, Film Out San Diego; et. al.) is an evocative, sensual, and violent masterpiece by emerging filmmaker Stephen Dunn.
 
FIRST GIRL I LOVED
Dir. Kerem Sanga I 2016 I U.S.A. I 91 min. I Austin Premiere I Coming of Age
Sunday, September 11 at 10:00 a..m.
 
Seventeen-year-old Anne just fell in love with Sasha, the most popular girl at her LA public high school. But when Anne tells her best friend Clifton - who has always harbored a secret crush - he does his best to get in the way. The romance between Sasha and Anne is sweet and genuine without falling into common tropes, earning writer/director Kerem Sanga the NEXT Audience Award at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.
 
GIRLS LOST (Porkarna)
Dir. Alexandra-Therese Keining I 2015 I Sweden & Finland, In Swedish w/English subtitles I 106 min. I Austin Premiere I Fantasy
Sunday, September 11 at 6:00 p..m.
 
Three outcast girls perform a magic ritual that turns their lives upside down, transforming them from girls into boys. Suddenly, they’re able to see their lives, their school, and their peers from a completely new perspective, but will their friendship stay strong? One of the most unusual films at the festival this year, this haunting supernatural drama explores the fluidity of gender and sexuality and defies our expectations of human relationships.
 
 
JONATHAN
Dir. Piotr J. Lewandowski I 2016 I Germany, In German w/English subtitles I 99 min. I Southwest Premiere I Drama.
Sunday, September 11 at 12:40 p..m.
 
Burghart is dying, and he’s not being very nice about it. Least of all to his son, Jonathan, who is trying his best to keep his dad comfortable and give him a dignified end. But turns out that the best cure isn’t family - it’s love. Burghart’s pain is relieved upon the arrival of his secret, long-lost lover, Ron, and Jonathan must deal with his own emotions about his dying father’s coming out. Winner of the Jury Prize for Best First Feature at the 2016 Frameline, San Francisco’s LGBTQ Film Festival.
 
PARIS 05:59: THEO & HUGO (Theo et Hugo le meme bateau)
Dir. Olivier Ducastel & Jacques Martineau I 2016 I France, In French w/English subtitles I 97 min. I Austin Premiere I Drama/Erotic
Saturday, September 10 at 11:15 p..m.
 
Theo and Hugo encounter each other in a sex club. In the club, they are two bodies in deep and intimate connection. Then, meeting again outside the club, they realize that they are both people, and that their momentary connection could have far reaching consequences. This X-rated film won the Teddy Audience Award at the Berlin International Film Festival. NO ONE UNDER 18 ADMITTED!
 
SLASH
Dir. Clay Liford I 2016 I U.S.A. I 100 min. I Comedy/Coming of Age
Sunday, September 11 at 12:45 p..m.
Writer/Director Clay Liford will be in attendance.
 
Neil is obsessed with reading ‘Slash’ fanfiction - reimaginings of popular fiction characters in homoerotic relationships. Life changes when he is encouraged to publish his own Slash and gains notoriety through it. A warp-speed ride through a world of imagination and nerdom by writer/director Clay Liford (Gayby) and filmed entirely in Austin, TX.
 
SPA NIGHT
Dir. Andrew Ahn I 2016 I U.S.A. In English & Korean w/English subtitles I 93 min. I Austin Premiere I Drama/Erotic
Friday, September 9 at 11:59 p..m.
 
A closeted Korean-American teenager takes a job at a Korean spa to help his struggling family, only to discover an underground world of gay sex that both scares and excites him. Actor Joe Seo “whose quiet and intimate performance is deeply moving” won a special Jury Prize at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival for this movie. Give in to the erotic nature of the spa with this steamy drama.
 
SUMMERTIME
Dir. Catherine Corsini I 2015 I France & Belgium, In French w/English subtitles I 105 min. I Texas Premiere I Romance
Sunday, September 11 at 12:30 p.m.
 
Sexy, elegant, and tender, this love story set in the French countryside will make your heart ache. Set against the backdrop of the early feminist movement in 1971, Delphine falls in love with Carole while in Paris but must choose between love and duty when she returns to the family farm in the country. There may be drama, but is there any better place for sex and romance than Southern France?
 
WOMEN WHO KILL
Dir. Ingrid Jungermann I 2016 I U.S.A. I 93 min. I Southwest Premiere I Dark Comedy
Friday, September 9 at 9:35 p.m.
 
Winning Best Screenplay at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival, ex-girlfriends Morgan and Jean are true-crime podcasters obsessed with female serial killers. The two gumshoe reporters might be at odds when Jean reveals some suspicious evidence about Morgan’s new crush, a girl at the local Co-op. Things get a little crazy when they start to uncover some dark clues - a death, a missing friend, and a murder weapon. Co-starring Annette O’Toole (Smallville), whose sharp and sassy performance as serial murderess Lila steals the show.
 
DOCUMENTARY FILMS
 
THE BIG RAINCHECK
Dir. Walter Reuben I 2015 I U.S.A. I 83 min. I World Premiere
Saturday, September 10 at 12:45 p.m.
Director/Producer Walter Reuben & special guests will be in attendance.
 
In 1981 a young amateur filmmaker in Austin, TX begins working with his friends on a hilarious movie about a crazed heiress, zombies, and communist spies. The film, however, is abandoned and the original script is lost as the actors and crew begin dying during the early years of the AIDS epidemic. Over thirty years later the strange and delightful footage is re-discovered and the director decides that he wants to finish the project. A hilarious and tragic depiction of the Texas arts community and the devastating effect of the AIDS crisis.
 
BRIGHT SHADOW
Dir. Jesse Lyda I 2015 I U.S.A. I 74 min. I Austin Premiere
Sunday, September 11 at 3:10 p.m.
Director Jesse Luda, Producer Jason Wehling & subject/musician Ana Egge will be in attendance.
 
“Bright Shadow” is a documentary film from director Jesse Lyda that offers an intimate window into the artistic journey of singer/songwriter Ana Egge.
 
FILM HAWK
Dir. JJ Garvine & Tai Parquet I 2016 I U.S.A. I 75 min. I Texas Premiere
Friday, September 9 at 7:15 p.m.
Subject Bob Hawk will be in attendance.
 
Behind many great movies is one man: Bob Hawk. Hawk launched the careers of many indie filmmakers like Kevin Smith and Edward Burns, and has produced or consulted on some of the best known indie gay movies including “Trick,” “The Celluloid Closet,” “Small Town Gay Bar” and “Interior. Leather Bar.” However, the most unique story this man brings to us may be his own. Truly an underground presence, Bob Hawk is a deep root in the film community. A film for film aficionados.
 
THE FREEDOM TO MARRY
Dir. Eddie Rosenstein | 2016 I U.S.A. I 87 min. I Austin Premiere
Friday, September 9 at 5:30 p.m.
Director Eddie Rosenstein will be in attendance.
 
Perhaps the most defining moment in the history of gay rights was the Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage. Now, the whole story of this momentous legal battle is being told, from the early grassroots movement to the final frenetic months of the case in the courtroom. This authoritative documentary demonstrates the heart and the passion of the people behind the case. Even though you know how this one ends, the journey is the reward.
 
GENDER TROUBLES: THE BUTCHES
Dir. Lisa Plourde I 2016 I U.S.A. I 54 min. I U.S. Premiere
Friday, September 9 at 10:00 a.m. (screens w/ THE TRANS LIST)
 
What is it like being a butch woman? We’re not talking about the clothes, the hair, the aesthetic - we’re talking about how it shapes relationships, opportunities, and one’s place in the world. The women portrayed in this film thoughtfully examine and challenge the way society sees masculinity and femininity, and are examples of the victories we can achieve when we truly accept ourselves. This is the film to celebrate butch women, who too often disappear into obscurity, and loudly proclaims, “we are here!”
 
STRIKE A POSE
Dir. Ester Gould & Reijer Zwaan I 2016 I Netherlands & Belgium, In English & Spanish w/English subtitles I Austin Premiere
Saturday, September 10 at 10:15 p.m.
 
In 1990 seven young men joined Madonna on stage for the Blonde Ambition Tour, daring the world to overcome shame and to be who you are with the seminal song “Vogue.” Now, these men tell the true story about life during and after the tour, with never before seen backstage footage of Madonna and the dancers. So what are you waiting for? Don’t just stand there - let’s get to it!
 
THE TRANS LIST
Dir. Timothy Greenfield-Sanders I 2016 I U.S.A. I 50 min. I Southwest Premiere
Friday, September 9 at 10:00 a.m. (screens w/ GENDER TROUBLES: THE BUTCHES)
 
Though the lives and issues of trans people have entered the public spotlight, rarely do we get to hear the stories and experiences of these people first hand. In this film we see individuals such as Janet Mock, Caroline Cossey, Buck Angel, Laverne Cox, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, and many others tell their truth in their terms. Their stories extend beyond surface explanations of identity to deeper realities of politics and pleasure, telling captivating tales of love, desire, family, prejudice, and rebellion—from Cossey’s difficult days as an outed “James Bond Girl” to Griffin-Gracy’s striking memories of the Stonewall Riots.
 
UNCLE HOWARD
Dir. Aaron Brookner | 2016 I U.S.A. I 96 min. I Austin Premiere
Sunday, September 11 at 10:15 a.m.
 
Handsome and enigmatic, Howard Brookner was a filmmaker whose work captured the cultural revolution of the 70’s and 80’s with the help of fellow students and young filmmakers like Jim Jarmusch and Tom DiCillo. He died of AIDS in 1989 at age 35. Today, Brookner’s nephew discovers evidence of his uncle’s life as a gay man, bohemian artist, rising Hollywood star, seedy lover, and honest and devoted friend.

Arrival: Short Film by Alex Myung - *
Dir. Alex Myyng I 2016 I U.S.A. I 22 min. I Southwest Premiere
Animated by Alex Myung, this 2D-animated film explores one boy's struggle to face the truth of his life and love, and reveal it to the person he cares about most.
 
Confessions of a Breastimator
Dir. Jisu Kim I 2016 I U.S.A. I 4 min. I Texas Premiere
“Confessions of a Breastimator,” is a story of a breast aficionado who reflects back on her life as an animator, confessing her longtime passion for cartoons and animating double D's.
 
Flotsam - *
Dir. Sam Frederich I 2016 I U.S.A. I 12 min. I Texas Premiere
A little girl ekes out an existence on a wrecked aircraft carrier as she drifts alone through a flooded earth. That is, until she is visited by a mysterious, ethereal girl who walks on water.
 
Hanging
Dir. Nick LeDonne I 2016 I U.S.A. I 5 min. I Texas Premiere
Animated from the emotions of years of harassment, and bullying cumulating in a son’s sudden death of his father and families financial crisis.
 
Hi, It’s Your Mom
Dir.Daniel Sterlin-Altman I 2016 I Canada I 4 min. I Southwest Premiere
"Hi, It's Your Mother" is a shocking tragi-comedic stop motion short about a mother's love for her child, and sometimes vice versa.
 
Matchsticks
Dir. Michal Janicki I 2016 I U.S.A. I 6 min. I World Premiere
The final moments of three LGBT icons – a suicidal bride to be, a muse dying of AIDS, and a political activist being assassinated.
 
Moms on Fire
Dir. Joanna Rytel I 2016 I Sweden I 13 min. I Texas Premiere
What's it like to be massively pregnant with only four days until you're due to pop?

 

COMEDY SHORTS
Screening #1: Saturday, September 10 at 3:10 p.m.
Australia, UK & USA TRT: 91 min.
Special Guests will be in attendance.

 
Be Right Back
Dir. Hilda Schmelling I 2016 I U.S.A. I 12 min. I Texas Premiere
The owner of a small vintage shop has more on her mind than selling clothes.
 
The Escape Hatch
Dir. David Willing I 2016 I Australia I 9 min. I Texas Premiere
A girl walks into a restaurant dressed as Wonder Woman and mischief ensues. 
 
Queens
Dir. Lucas Omar I 2016 I U.S.A. I 4 min. I Texas Premiere
After a prom couple spends a romantic night in a hotel, the Southern Belle Prom Queen wakes up to find her boyfriend unusually "dressy."
 
The Radical Fairy Prince: A Love Story
Dir. Bobby Poirier I 2016 I U.S.A. I 9 min. I Texas Premiere
A filmmaker who found a box of fabulous Super8 movie reels in a Venice Beach closet refashions them into a radical-fairy love tale, told in the style of nickelodeon romantic melodrama.
 
Sauna of Dead: A Fairy Tale - *
Dir. Tom Frederic I 2016 I United Kingdom I 20 min. I Texas Premiere
A fable in the vein of A Christmas Carol, set in a gay sauna, with zombies.
 
Seeking: Jake Tripper
Dir. Quinlan Orear I 2016 I U.S.A. I 14 min. I Southwest Premiere
"Seeking: Jack Tripper" is a short romantic comedy about a gay married couple who try to have a threesome in an attempt to reignite the spark in their relationship.
 
Spunkle
Dir. Lisa Donato I 2015 I U.S.A. I 11 min. I Texas Premiere
A brother contemplates fatherhood when his older sister and her free-spirited wife ask him to be their sperm donor.
 
Tradesman’s Exit
Dir. Tom E. Davis I 2015 I U.S.A. I 12 min I Southwest Premiere
A peculiar man goes to great lengths to get closure.

 

DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
Screening #1: Thursday, September 8 at 9:15 p.m.
Australia & U.S.A. TRT: 109 min.
Special Guests will be in attendance.

 
Alzheimer's: A Love Story - *
Dir. Gabe Schimmel, Monica Petruzzelli, Amanda Le and Riani Singgih I 2015 I U.S.A. I 16 min. I Texas Premiere
Michael has loved Greg since the day they met 40 years ago. Gregory began his next adventure, peacefully, on the other side of life as we know it seven months after this documentary was completed.
 
Bear in a Barber Shop
Dir. Albert Koomen I 2016 I Australia I 4 min. I World Premiere
A man goes into a barbershop, gets a haircut and a beard trim and reveals some of what it means to be a gay bear.
 
Bootwmn - *
Dir. Paige Gratland & Sam McWilliams I 2015 I Canada/UK/US I 11 min. I Texas Premiere
When bootmaker, Deana McGuffin is approached by a Canadian artist and a San Franciscan tattooer to create a gay themed cowboy boot, a story unravels of a unique collaboration that takes them to the heart of cowboy country in Northern Texas.
 
Cecil & Carl - *
Dir. Elvis León & Gaston Yvorra I 2015 I U.S.A. I 14 min. I Texas Premiere
To this day, Cecil visits Carl multiple times a week to prep him for the day and to bring him cigarettes and chocolate. Their story is not about grand gestures of love or about being gay - it is about commitment and the duties that come with it.
 
A Doll’s Eye - *
Dir. Jonathan Wysocki I 2016 I U.S.A. I 12 min. I Southwest Premiere
Haunted by the movie 'Jaws' since childhood, a filmmaker discovers why the movie affected him so deeply.
 
One Question
Dir. Badger Antoniou I 2015 I U.S.A. I 3 min. I Texas Premiere
Two queer kids scour the streets of Boston in search of the answer to an unanswerable question.
 
Pink Boy
Dir. Eric Rockey I 2015 I U.S.A. I 15 min. I Texas Premiere
BJ, a butch lesbian, successfully avoided dresses her entire life until she and her partner Sherrie adopted Jeffrey, who starts to dance in gowns and perform for his parents.
 
These Cocksucking Tears - *
Dir. Dan Taberski I 2015 I U.S.A. I 16 min.
The man behind the world's first and only gay-themed country music album, 40 years after its release.
 
A Wig & A Prayer: The Peaches Christ Story - *
Dir. Jeff Schlags I 2015 I U.S.A. I 18 min. I Southwest Premiere
A Wig and a Prayer takes us into the mind and world of Peaches Christ, a.k.a. Joshua Grannell, who has taken drag shows beyond just mere performance: her weekly Midnight Mass pre-movie events have become an immersive audience experience combining song, dance, and joyful debauchery.

 

DRAMATIC SHORTS
Screening #1: Friday, September 9 at 12:30pm
Screening #2: Saturday, September 10 at 10:30am
Canada, India & U.S.A. TRT: 91 min.
Special Guests will be in attendance.

 
1985
Dir. Yen Tan I 2016 I U.S.A. I 8 min.
A dying man seeks out a beauty consultant to hide his symptoms.
 
Any Other Day
Dir. Vikrant Dhote, Srikant A. Krishnan I 2015 I India I 12 min. I Southwest Premiere
Where are we to turn when the ones sworn to protect us are the ones against whom we must be protected?
 
Ecstasy
Dir. Kyle Reaume I 2015 I Canada I 4 min I Southwest Premiere
Sam would do anything to be touched by his former lover once more - even if it means getting violent.
 
Great Escape
Dir. Sal Bardo I 2015 I U.S.A. I 5 min I Southwest Premiere
A 70-year-old woman leaves her husband of 50 years to be with a woman she met in her youth.
 
Indian Summer
Dir. Diana Fraser, Sam Dunnewold I 2016 I U.S.A. I 9 min. I Southwest Premiere
A 20-something leaves her girlfriend at home to catch up with an old college friend, and during their night on the town sparks fly.
 
Lightning Bugs in a Jar - *
Dir. Robert Ian Simpson, Sara Wolkowitz I 2015 I U.S.A. I 19 min. I Texas Premiere
When a mother and son with a caustic history are reunited to pack-up their old house, sparks fly as long-buried secrets are revealed, and it might fall upon the shoulders of the son's boyfriend to help heal old wounds.
 
Talking to My Mother - *
Dir. Leon Le I 2014 I U.S.A. I 17 min. I Texas Premiere
The film explores the complicated relationships between Michael, a second-generation Chinese American man; his mother, Mrs. Yue and; Julianne, his girlfriend of two years, to whom he plans to propose.
 
Walk With Me
Dir. Hazart I 2016 I U.S.A. I 15 min. I World Premiere
Eric and Ryan, in a chance encounter, end up on an impromptu date walking around the city streets. One relationship, six blocks. Featuring Evan Todd (4th Man Out).
 
 

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS
Screening #1: Friday, September 9 at 5:05pm
Belgium, Denmark, Germany & United Kingdom TRT: 78 min.
Special Guests will be in attendance.

 
An Evening
Dir. Soren Green I 2016 I Denmark I 9 min. I Texas Premiere
Friends Frederik and Mathias share a common experience but have very different reactions.
 
The Border
Dir. Lukas Väth I 2015 I Germany I 13 min. I Texas Premiere
A nameless woman can't remember who she is. Lost in the subway she meets Sally who seems to be her girlfriend. But can she trust her without any memory about what happened?
 
Female Masculinity Appreciation Society
Dir. Jackie Nunns, Angie West I 2014 I United Kingdom I 11 min. I Texas Premiere
Documentary about women’s arm wrestling at a UK lesbian bar.
 
Homework
Dir. Annika Pinske I 2016 I Germany I 7 min. I North American Premiere
A young father), his twelve year old daughter, one night club, two secrets and a lie that will solve everything.
 
Mascaras - *
Dir. David San Juan I 2016 I Belgium I 13 min. I Texas Premiere
Lucas, an unlucky romantic is approached by a serial seducer named Victor who promises him the moon. Disappointed and having been cheated on once again, Lucas decides to take revenge...
 
Mukwano - *
Dir. Cecilie McNair I 2016 I Denmark I 20 min. I Southwest Premiere
The day when a lesbian asylum seeker's case is decided, is also the day when she makes a last attempt to find her girlfriend, who disappeared during their joint escape from Uganda.

 

TRANSGENDER SHORTS
Screening #1: Friday, September 9 at 3:00pm
Screening #2: Sunday, September 11 at 3:45pm
France,  UK & USA TRT: 88 min.
Special Guests will be in attendance.
 

Dawn - *
Dir. Jake Graf I 2016 I United Kingdom I 13 min. I Texas Premiere
As dawn creeps across London, two lost outcasts meet in the darkness, more afraid of themselves than each other.
 
Eva - *
Dir. Florent Médina I 2015 I France I 9 min. I Texas Premiere
Gabriel, a shy boy, decides to resort to the services of Eva, a transgender prostitute. Then, their meeting takes an unexpected turn, and becomes an unusual first time.
 
The Friend From Tel Aviv
Dir. Federica Gianni I 2016 I U.S.A. I 11 min. I Texas Premiere
A transman has an awkward exchange with an old lover at a party in an artsy NY loft.
 
Free Gender
Dir. Emma Appel I 2016 I U.S.A. I 19 min. I Texas Premiere
Three people are focused on and discuss their lives. The first is Jacob, a genderqueer writer and advocate, Tish, a female impersonator from the 1950's and Vuk, a transgender filmmaker.
 
Say U Will
Dir. Chris Cruze I 2016 I U.S.A. I 10 min. I Texas Premiere
Two young guys meet at an underground party past midnight on New Year's, and push each other to try something new.
 
Tear Jerker
Dir. Amy Adler I 2016 I U.S.A. I 14 min. I Southwest Premiere
“Tear Jerker” is a portrait of a trans guy faced with difficult life circumstances trying to find new ways to express old and familiar feelings.
 
Viktor
Dir. Ann Prim I 2016 I U.S.A. I 11 min. I Southwest Premiere
An American-Russian family is torn apart by a secret. Their only son (Viktor) grows increasingly close to his beloved Russian grandmother. Only grandmother 'Zoya' knows his secret and is ultimately the one who speaks his truth to the entire family –– even at the cost of her own safety.

Shorts in Front of Features

 
The Garden That You’ve Planted
Dir. Kathleen Mann I 2016 I Canada I 4 min. I Southwest Premiere
A woman who is having a relationship with another woman is distraught as it is ending.
 
Keep the Cumbia Going
Dir. Candy Guinea I 2015 I U.S.A. I 8 min. I Texas Premiere
Short documentary about the Oakland-based dance party, Queer Cumbia, and the importance of queer and trans people of color creating inclusive spaces in a quickly gentrifying region like the San Francisco Bay Area.
 
A Lifetime of Making Change
Dir. Megan Rossman I 2015 I U.S.A. I 3 min. I Southwest Premiere
Maxine Wolfe, 74, reflects on a lifetime of activism and her role as a coordinator at the Lesbian Herstory Archives in Brooklyn, N.Y.
 
Luna
Dir. Tovali Aman I 2016 I Sweden I 7 min. I U.S. Premiere
Luna is now ready to reveal the secret she has kept to herself for many years.
 
Lunch
Dir. Matt Vance I 2015 I U.S.A. I 4 min. I Texas Premiere
A young man plans to relax in the park next to his office, but a zealous street performer has plans of his own.
 
Queen’s Mile
Dir. Martin Delaney I 2016 I United Kingdom I 10 min. I Texas Premiere
Queen’s Mile is a heartwarming story of a young woman’s courage in coping with depression, in her own unique way.
 
Swirl
Dir. Lance McDaniel I 2015 I U.S.A. I 6 min. I Texas Premiere
A short film about acceptance among high school youth as told through dance.
 
White Cube Beat Box
Dir. Oggy Yordanov I 2016 I United Kingdom I 2 min. I Texas Premiere
A trippy music video.
 
Zebra
Dir. Paul Detwiler I 2015 I U.S.A. I 5 min. I Texas Premiere
An exploration of the complex emotional and erotic landscapes navigated by two men, illustrating the multiple dimensions underlying their relations in an aggressive but loving dynamic, when individuality is lost and bodies merge into a totemic figure of animalistic sensuality and desire