New This Week – 8/16/19

‘The Blue Hour’ is a sexy supernatural love story about a bullied loner, Tam, who finds solace in the arms of Phum, a boy he meets at a haunted swimming pool. Stream it now on Dekkoo!

This documentary chronicles the life and crimes of former gay porn star Luka Magnotta who was convicted of killing and dismembering a man and posting the video online. ‘Sex, Fame and Murder: The Luka Magnotta Story’ is streaming now on Dekkoo!

This edgy drama follows 19-year-old Ari, a gay Greek-Australian whose roiling ethnic- and sexual-identity struggles lead to a wild, 24-hour odyssey. Watch ‘Head On’ on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week:

Breaking up is hard work in 45 Days Away from You

After a recent breakup with “a man who shall not be named,” young bachelor Rafael (Rafael de Bona) finds his romantic life spinning out of control. With a change of scenery in order, he sets out on journey of self-discovery – an adventure that will take him from Brazil to England, Portugal and Argentina.

Rafael de Bona and Fábio Lucindo in 45 Days Away from You

Along the way, he seeks the counsel of his nearest and dearest friends. There’s Julia (Julia Corrêa), an amorous single actress trying to land her breakthrough role; Fabio (Fábio Lucindo), Rafael’s straight-boy buddy, who is trying to maintain a long-distance relationship; and Mayara (Mayara Constantino), a dear friend who gave up a promising career in favor of marriage.

Rafael de Bona and Mayara Constantino in 45 Days Away from You

Over the course of his 45-day trip, Rafael grows closer to the people in his life who really matter and learns that all it takes to mend a broken heart is time… and the support of a few good friends.

Rafael de Bona and Icaro Silva in 45 Days Away from You

Check out the trailer for 45 Days Away from You below. The film is now available on Dekkoo.

New This Week – 8/9/19

Following a recent break up Rafael sets off on a globe-trotting adventure. Along the way, he learns that all it takes to mend a broken heart is time…and some good friends. ’45 Days Away From You’ is a smart, funny, and sexy globe-trotting (and bed-hopping) romantic drama. 

Four unique friends, all only children, rely on each other as a chosen family to get through the everyday ups and downs of adulthood. Watch all episodes of ‘Only Children’ now on Dekkoo!

Harry, a young Chinese man, travels to America in an attempt to reunite with his first lover, Sam, in hopes to relive the love and intimacy they once shared. Watch ‘Goodbye, My Big Cat’ on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: A bullied loner finds solace in another boy’s arms when they meet at a haunted swimming pool.

Short Film Spotlight: Fish Tank

Born and raised in the suburbs outside of Boston, Neal Mulani is a rising writer-director with a proclivity for autobiographical narratives about the queer experience. Raised by a father from Mumbai and a mother from Boston, Neal spent his childhood at the crossroad of two cultures and turned to film to articulate the complexity of his experiences.

Neal’s introduction to storytelling, however, began at an early age with theater, instilling in him a fundamental appreciation for character, story and improvisation. Often characterized by genre experimentation and self-insertion, his work explores themes of shame, self-perception, masculinity and parenthood as they relate to the queer experience.

Tristan McIntyre in Fish Tank

His first short film, the six-minute-long Fish Tank, is a dark, tension-filled study of desire and apprehension and marks the arrival of a deeply skilled filmmaker, especially when it comes to creating tension.

Starring Marcus DeAnda, the 2013 Outfest Jury Prize Winner for Best Actor for his performance in Pit StopFish Tank follows a college student (played by Tristan McIntyre) who goes to his first hook-up with an enigmatic older man. Once there, however, strange things begin to happen. He must decide if his anxieties point to a darker truth about his host for the night. Is his new date a fetishist… or something more sinister? Also, are they really alone in the house? Sexy and scary in equal measure, this short packs an enigmatic punch and leaves it up to the audience to decide what’s really going on.

Original Poster Artwork for Fish Tank

Fish Tank is now available on Dekkoo.

 

 

Acclaimed author Abdellah Taïa adapts his own semi-autobiography Salvation Army

Described by Interview Magazine as a “literary transgressor and cultural paragon,” Abdellah Taïa became the first openly gay Arab writer in 2006 and remains once of the only openly homosexual Moroccan writers or filmmakers. Since his coming-out, he has become an iconic figure throughout the Arab world, and a beacon of hope in a country where homosexuality is still illegal. His 2013 film Salvation Army, now available on Dekkoo,  is widely considered to have given Arab cinema its first gay protagonist.

Still from Salvation Army

Adapted from his own novel, itself based on his own coming-of-age, Taïa’s story concerns Abdellah (played by Said Mrini as a teen and Karim Ait M’Hand as an adult), a young gay man navigating the sexual, racial and political climate of Morocco.

Still from Salvation Army

Growing up in a large family in a working-class neighborhood, Abdellah is caught between a distant father, an authoritarian mother, an older brother whom he adores and a handful of predatory older men all too happy to take advantage of his sexual confusion in a society that denies his homosexuality.

Still from Salvation Army

As a college student, Abdellah moves to Geneva and while faced with the new possibilities of freedom, he grapples with the loss of his homeland. Both chapters in this character’s life inform one another in powerful and moving ways.

Still from Salvation Army

You can watch the trailer for Salvation Army below. The film is now available on Dekkoo.

New This Week – 8/2/19

In a working class neighborhood in Casablanca, Abdellah, a homosexual teen, tries to build his own life within his big family, caught between an authoritarian mother and an older brother, who he adores. Stream ‘Salvation Army’ now on Dekkoo!

When Nathan tells Bret that he’s HIV positive, it doesn’t go well for Nathan. But months later, things take a turn for Bret. ‘All Things Fade’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo!

If you can imagine ‘Lethal Weapon’ with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as younger, hotter ex-boyfriends, you’ll have the basis for ‘Hot Guys With Guns’, a modern take on the old-fashioned detective story. It’s ‘Chinatown’ meets ‘Boystown’. ‘Hot Guys With Guns’ is available now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: Dekkoo Films presents a smart, funny, and sexy globe-trotting (and bed-hopping) romantic drama.

I’m Fine: The Final Season is now available!

A fresh, honest and laugh-out-loud-hilarious exploration of modern gay relationships, friendships and the blurry line between the two, I’m Fine is a positively charming original “pocket series” from Dekkoo. We’re thrilled to let you know that all episodes of Season 3, the official Final Season, are now available!

Still from I'm Fine: Season 3

Created by Brandon Kirby, an up-and-coming filmmaker with strong ties to the world of gay-themed cinema and television, the first season on I’m Fine centers around the recent demise of a gay relationship – finding both humor and poignancy within the related pathos.

Still from I'm Fine: Season 3

The beginning of the series finds Nate (Perry Powell), an attractive 20-something, still hopelessly obsessed with his aloof ex-boyfriend Joey (Shaughn Buchholz). He also ends up blurring the lines between friendship and romance with his best friend Jeff (Lee Doud).

Still from I'm Fine: Season 3

Season Two picked up a few weeks after Season One – with Nate is continuing to move on from his breakup with Joey while simultaneously dealing with the fallout of sleeping with Jeff. There’s also a surplus of lovable supporting characters with their own romantic trials and tribulations – namely Richard Stokes and Ulysses Morazan as the coupled Andy and Brian.

Still from I'm Fine: Season 3

In the third and final season of the Dekkoo-original series, Nate has at last put Joey behind him and moves forward in his career and friendships. That is, until an opportunity presents itself that makes him question everything he knows about L.A. All the while Jeff, Andy, Nicole and Mick navigate what it is they want and need in order to finally feel… fine.

Still from I'm Fine: Season 3

Featuring crisp writing and direction and terrific performances from a culturally diverse cast, the series has garnered near countless clicks from subscribers and earned stellar reviews from Dekkoo users. It’s the gay rom-com gift that keeps on giving.

Still from I'm Fine: Season 3

Check out the trailer for I’m Fine: The Final Season below and start diving into the episodes now on Dekkoo.

New This Week – 7/25/19

In the third and final season of the Dekkoo-original series, Nate has at last put Joey behind him and moves forward in his career and friendships. That is, until an opportunity presents itself that makes him question everything he knows about L.A. All the while Jeff, Andy, Nicole and Mick navigate what it is they want and need in order to finally feel…fine.

The new season of ‘I’m Fine’ is available to binge-watch now!

Two men meet for a passionate sexual encounter that ends up getting far more personal than either had imagined. Tackling issues of self-image, the prescribed sexual roles of gay men and notions of masculinity, this short film shows what happens when two attractive young guys cut through all the sexual tension and really start getting intimate. Dekkoo Films presents ‘Rubber Dolphin’.

The Pink Angels’ is an outlaw-biker movie from 1971 about a gang of gay bikers on their way to a ball to compete as drag queens. B-movie gold and, considering it was released in the early 70’s, treats its LGBTQ+ characters with respect.

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Coming next week: Two hot guys. Two smoking guns. One helluva ride.

New This Week – 7/19/19

When Tyler O’Conner, a young gay author, visits a therapist, he realizes that his intense fear of negative consequences is keeping him from living his life to the fullest. Determined to change his behavior, he decides to bite the bullet and ask his cute neighbor, Shane, out for coffee. But will his deep-seated neurosis threaten their burgeoning romance? ‘Analysis Paralysis’ is a available to stream now on Dekkoo!

Leonardo is a blind teenager searching for independence. His everyday life, the relationship with his best friend, Giovana, and the way he sees the world change completely with the arrival of Gabriel. Watch ‘The Way He Looks’ now on Dekkoo!

‘A Last Farewell’ is both a calm and upsetting portrait of an aging author’s sorrow over the death of his long-term partner.

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Coming next week: The Dekkoo-original series ‘I’m Fine’ returns for its final season!

A “cruise” through the park turns into a nightmare in Devil’s Path

In the early 1990s, two strangers (played by Stephen Twardokus and JD Scalzo) meet in a wilderness park where gay men cruise for sex.

Stephen Twardokus and JD Scalzo in Devil's Path

What seems like an innocent and random meeting quickly descends into a horrific nightmare. With recent disappearances and attacks, the two men soon find themselves in the terrifying position of being the next victims in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Stephen Twardokus and JD Scalzo in Devil's Path

As they flee further into the woods to escape the danger, they begin to understand that the greatest danger of all may be closer than either of them realize.

Steve Callahan, Stephen Twardokus and JD Scalzo in Devil's Path

Will these two strangers be able to work together to defeat the darkness that has settled in on Devil’s Path? Or will their own secrets and lies lead them to be the next two missing persons in this perilous park?

Stephen Twardokus in Devil's Path

This riveting new gay thriller from writer-director Matthew Montgomery will keep you on the edge of your seat. Watch the trailer for Devil’s Path below. The film is now available on Dekkoo.