QUEER CINEMA is a major element in Queerguru’s content: so as such we try to bring you all the best new movies and coverege of so many of the Best Queer Film Festivals around the Globe. However, if there is one genre that we realize we practically overlook, it’s Short Films. So many of them manage to focus more precisely to tell their stories in a fraction of the time of a feature film. They provide an opportunity to experiment with styles and content, and give such an intensity as they cover a lot of ground in such a limited time.
In queer cinema in particular, they are so many great filmmakers that serve the whole spectrum of LGBTQA+ experience that use this medium as a stepping stone …… a calling card even …….whilst there is a cotiere of writer/directors who will continue to enjoy making more great shorts.
The one (and only) time that Queerguru went behind the cinema was as an Associate Producer of CHERRY POP a short that was the true and quirky story of the world’s most pampered cat, and the people who loved her, and was directed by Miami filmmaker Kareem Tabsch. His second short was the award winning The Dolphin Lover, but then after that he moved on to making features. He explained to Queerguru that 10 years ago there were at least two queer TV Channels (Logo and HERE) that would showcase shorts but they have all but disppeared (Logo shows 24 hours of Will And Grace now). So the crucial exposure for these short films are now even more limited. Today its either YouTube or Film Festivals.
When it comes to the latter, the results are mixed. So full kudos to the Miami International Film Festival (NOT the LGBTQ+ one) who actually have a local gay filmmaker as the Shorts Programmer. Chris Molina‘s paasion for queer films just shines out when you look through the program that he selected for this year. As we are only interested on his picks of queer cinema (there are plenty of non queer ones) here there are FIVE OF OUR TOP PICKS OF MUST SEE QUEER SHORTS.
Miami-based film director Freddy Rodriquez’s Open Dialogues: Gen QueerZ is unquestionably one of the most uplifting queer films we have seen in awhile.The fourth film in the Open Dialogues series, Gen QueerZ gives voice to college and university students who are among the first generation to be “out” while attending high school and living at home. Their stories reflect a diversity of gender identities, cultural backgrounds, and academic studies while exploring allyship, threats, and the dynamics of being out at home with family. Gen QueerZ also deconstructs what is considered “normal” in the gender spectrum and how being out is a form of activism that demarginalizes all queer people. The film features readings of original poems performed by Eric Martinez (“To Know Yourself”) and Ja’na Nelson (“I’m Out”).
Hopefully there will be a time when the whole process of coming out will be unnecessary, but watching this documentary clearly shows how far our LGBTQA+ community has come in the past few decades. We may have not reached complete acceptance, but seeing this new generation be so proud to be openly gay gives us real hope for the future.
Produced by the Art and Culture Center/Hollywood under the Direction of Freddy Rodriguez, Gen QueerZ was developed in association with Safe Schools South Florida, an LGBTQ student and educator advocacy nonprofit.
Don’t Cry For Me All You Drag Queens is a captivating doc that celebrates the life of Joseph “Josie” Cavallucci (aka Mother Cavallucci) a legendary drag queen who was the center of queer life in New Hope in the 70’s and 80’s. These were the days when it was still illegal for men to dress up in women’s clothes in public, but this never stopped Mother who would host annual wedding celebrations that served as fundraisers and a community party. Filmmaker Krystal Sotomeyer merges archival photographs with present-day footage, including other drag queens who memorialized the charismatic Mother, a large-than-life figure in that community. Remarkably, her drag show still goes on, hosted by Phoebe Manntrappe and Miss Pumpkin, and serve as an intergenerational community forum to honor the joy and memories of Mother. A wee gem
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Christian Meola’s NOT TODAY is an fascinating story about four young men/best friends who seem to hang out together most of the time. Except maybe Jaime who sometimes cries off to catch up with his college project. One nght Eric goes back to check up on him but through the wimdow he catches him doing something frightening when he thinks nobody is watching. It just doesn’t make sense as it seem so out of character and as he doesnt want to confornt him direct, he leaves it as a mystery. And one that he would like to solve/resolve.
The beauty of Meola’s script it leaves so much unsaid and piques our imagination to work out for ourselves the underlying story which has very distinct queer overtones. It a perfect example of how when we tread carefully and so often refuse to confront the possibilities ahead. If only we would allow ourselves to be more vulnerable.
As a displaced gay Brit now living Miami, I could so relate to this totally charming comedy about celebratimg Thanksgiving for the first time. ¡Que Colombianada! is by 23 year old Samuel Vargas from Columbia and who is now living and studying filmmaking in Miami (so could this be his true story?). Its the tale of openly gay Hector Octavio who lives at home with his parents and two siblings. The day before Thanksgving he springs on his family that he has invited a potential new American boyfriend who he wants to impress to celebrate holiday with them. And in full American style even though none of the family knows what they entails. Beautifully written and acted, Its a real laugh-out loud that we so need right now.
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