New This Week – 3/25/22

This new comedy series follows best “Judies,” Preston and Ben (Prescott Seymour and John Wascavage) as they navigate the insane “she-nanigans” life throws at them. From makeup mishaps to medical diagnoses, these queens make lemon drop martinis out of lemons as they untuck the power of a found family. ‘What a Drag’ is available now on Dekkoo!

This seductive short film from French writer-director Julien Glòries is all about desire, following two young men who embellish their love story in front of a social worker in an effort to get what they want most out of life. Watch ‘Je Suis Desire’ now on Dekkoo!

The stunning, semi-autobiographical debut from writer-director-actor Xavier Dolan, ‘I Killed My Mother’ follows 16-year-old Hubert, whose turbulent relationship with his mother unfolds with a compelling combination of savage fury and deep affection. Released in 2009, the film was nominated for dozens of international film festival awards, and quickly became an international sensation – launching Dolan’s prolific career. ‘I Killed My Mother’ is available now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: Winner of the Queer Lion Award at the 2019 Venice Film Festival. 

New This Week – 3/18/22

A gay indie classic and film festival favorite from 1995, Parallel Sons follows a white teen from upstate New York who identifies as black – though he’s never met a black person. His life takes an unexpected turn when he falls in love with Knowledge, a young black man who has been wounded while escaping prison. ‘Parallel Sons’ is streaming now on Dekkoo!

Flavio and Wendel are friends from the same soccer team. For more of their relationship, they have both shared the dream of one day becoming professional players. While Flavio starts entertaining ideas about quitting, Wendel begins to realize that what they feel for one another might be more than just friendship. Watch ‘A Team of Two’ now on Dekkoo!

A confrontation between two swimmers in a locker room ends in tears in this morality tale, which concerns the impudence of “manspreading” in public spaces. Inspired by homoerotic photography, GUO4 is a wildly original stop-motion short film from acclaimed British director Peter Strickland (The Duke of Burgundy, Berberian Sound Studio, In Fabric). ‘GU04’ is available now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: Two best Judies, Preston and Ben, navigate the insane she-nanigans life throws at them.

Now Available: Down in Paris

Antony Hickling wrote, directed and stars in the personal and beautifully evocative Down in Paris, which follows a troubled gay filmmaker at a creative and personal crossroad through one unusually eventful night.

Richard (Hickling) is a gay movie director in his forties who finds himself suddenly overwhelmed with crippling anxiety in the middle of a night shoot for his latest project. Without saying a word to his cast and crew, he walks off the set and wanders through the Paris streets in search of answers and hopefully, the inspiration to continue.

During his long dark night of the soul, Richard bonds with a British woman he meets in a bar, runs into an old boyfriend, visits an eerily profound fortuneteller and has a myriad of other random encounters (including a memorable visit to a gay sex club).

Some of these encounters are warm, some disturbing, others life affirming. None, however, quite provides what Richard is seeking. As dawn approaches, he must confront his fears and question his deepest desires in order to find renewal to continue his life journey.

Watch the trailer for Down in Paris below. The film is now available on Dekkoo.

Short Film Spotlight: Rolling Around

On a family holiday in the mountains, Xavier (Florent Médina) is forced to go hiking with Fred (Thierry Préval), his big sister’s boyfriend, whom he does not seem to like very much.

During their multi-day hike, which Xavier’s sister sat out due to a sprained ankle, the two young men finally get to know each other – and like each other. They’re quickly growing bond becomes quite strong… until Xavier begins to develop feelings for Fred and makes an unexpected move.

Sensing a great tension and desire brewing beneath the surface, Xavier makes his case for why the two of them should take advantage of their alone time and express their true feelings. But does Fred really feel the same way? And is their blissful trip worth a secret family betrayal?

With gorgeous visuals and compelling performances, Thierry Préval – who pulls triple duty as the film’s writer, director and star – ratchets up the tension from the get-go. Rolling Around offers up a rich and deeply contemplative study of gay longing in just 22 minutes.

Watch a short trailer for Rolling Around below. The film is available now on Dekkoo.

Don’t miss this award-winning biopic about one of the past century’s most celebrated gay artists

Award-winning filmmaker Dome Karukoski brings to screen the life and work of one of the most influential and celebrated figures of 20th century LGBTQ life.

Known to the world as Tom of Finland, artist Touko Laaksonen shaped the fantasies of a generation of gay men with his proudly erotic and taboo-shattering drawings of testosterone-filled, muscle-bound men. But who was the man behind the leather?

This stirring biopic follows his life from the trenches of WWII and repressive Finnish society of the 1950s through his struggle to get his work published in California, where he and his art were finally embraced amid the sexual revolution of the 1970s.

Tom’s story is one of love, courage and perseverance, mirroring the gay liberation movement for which his leather-clad studs served as a defiant emblem.

Watch the trailer for Tom of Finland below. The film is available now on Dekkoo.

New This Week – 3/4/22

Richard, a filmmaker in his forties, finds himself suddenly overwhelmed by anxiety during the making of his latest project. He walks off set and wanders through the Paris night in search of answers, comfort and inspiration. During this sleepless night, he meets many people – some friendly, some disturbing. He soon must start confronting his fears and questioning his deepest desires…all before the first light of dawn. ‘Down In Paris’ is available exclusively on Dekkoo!

On a family holiday in the mountains, Xavier is forced to go hiking with Fred, his big sister’s boyfriend, whom he does not seem to like. During this hike, the two boys will get to know each other, until Xavier begins to develop feelings for Fred. Their relationship then oscillates between tension and desire. ‘Rolling Around’ is streaming now on Dekkoo!

Mario, in a trance, danced the night away. Later, his two lovers, Amine and Victor, discover him dead in his bed. In this house lost in the middle of nowhere, where they live with a band of friends, follows a dark drift where all mutations become possible. And on the horizon there is a mysterious leopard. Stream ‘Silence Du Leopard’ now on Dekkoo!

Now Available: Coming Clean

From the heart of the Amazon comes Coming Clean, an amazing compilation of LGBTQ+ short films from emerging Latin American directors from Brazil and Peru. These thought-provoking stories prove that universal social themes have no borders.

In The Last Romantics, two young men share their different points of view on the same sexual encounter in a public space. Savage Fire takes place in the city of Cajamar, where lonely characters deal with the police, rodeos and some mysterious fires.

My Only Earth is the Moon follows Sergio, who answers thirty six questions on order to make his crush Gabriel fall in love. Sandra Calling is an emotional short about a man who is trying to grieve for his lost mother while dealing with all the practical things that need to happen in the wake of a parent’s death.

Finally, Carlito Leaves Forever, directed under the supervision of Werner Herzog, takes place in the heart of the Amazon jungle and follows a silent young man who sets out on an epic canoe trip. An encounter soon reveals a secret he had been hiding from his community.

Watch the trailer for Coming Clean below. The full compilation is now available on Dekkoo.

New To Dekkoo – 2/25/22

Tom of Finland shaped the fantasies of a generation of gay men, influencing art and fashion before crossing over into the wider cultural consciousness. But who was the man behind the leather? This stirring biopic follows his life from the trenches of WWII and the repressive Finnish society of the 1950s through his struggle to get his work published in California, where he and his art were finally embraced amid the sexual revolution of the 1970s. Watch ‘Tom of Finland’ now on Dekkoo!

While his strict father dreams of making him a champion, 16-year-old Amine practices synchronized swimming in secret. Lost between the fear of disappointing his dad and the desire to become the person he really is, the young man slowly finds the courage to accept his choices – and himself. ‘Amine; is available to stream now on Dekkoo!

From the heart of the Amazon comes this amazing compilation of LGBTQ+ short films from emerging Latin American directors from Brazil and Peru. These thought-provoking stories prove that universal social themes have no borders. Includes the short films ‘The Last Romantics’, ‘Savage Fire’, ‘My Only Earth is the Moon’, ‘Sandra Calling’ and ‘Carlito Leaves Forever’. ‘Coming Clean’ is available now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: A beautifully evocative “night-in-the-life” gay fever dream.

Short Film Spotlight: To (10) Centimeters

When Christophe (Otman Salil), a soft-spoken violinist studying at a music conservatory, moves in with Jerome (Thomas Alden), his almost instant attraction to the young and handsome up-and-coming journalist is palpable.

Unfortunately for Christophe, Jerome is seemingly straight. When he also learns that Jerome has a girlfriend (Océane Dailly), any romantic hopes he had are quickly dashed. His infatuation, however, grows deeper. He borrows Jerome’s clothes and even crosses a line while he’s sleeping.

Facing agonizing longing, their new living arrangement seems untenable. But before Christophe leaves for good, he devises an unusual way to tell Jerome how he really feels.

To (10) Centimeters, a new 25-minute short from Paris-based Japanese filmmaker Masaya Matsui, has style to spare and is packed with intriguing mystery. Watching the film, you’re never quite sure where your allegiance should lie. Is there a real simmering connection between the new roommates or is Christophe projecting and creating a gender-flipped Single White Female scenario? You’ll have to watch and decide for yourself.

Watch a short trailer for To (10) Centimeters below. The full film is available now on Dekkoo.

New This Week – 2/18/22

Todd is a hyper-articulate gay twentysomething whose fear of dying alone leads him to a baffling conclusion: he might not be gay after all. When he meets Rory, a whip-smart actress, the two forge a relationship that’s all talk and no sex. Writer-director-star James Sweeney delivers a razor sharp rom-com exploring just how elastic our definitions of love and sexuality can get. ‘Straight Up’ is streaming now on Dekkoo!

When Wally (Patrick Reilly), a lovelorn young man, decides to try getting over his recent break-up, he turns to hook-up apps for help – leading to unusual results in this short comedy from writer-director Mike Roma. Watch ‘The D*ck Appointment’ exclusively on Dekkoo!

Szabi is a young Hungarian on a German soccer team. After a fight with his best friend Bernard, Szabi decides to return to Hungary to fix up a countryside home he inherited. There, he meets Aron and a mutual attraction ensues. But when news of their love affair spreads around their homophobic small town, the boys find themselves in danger. ‘Land of Storms’ is available to watch now on Dekkoo!

When Christophe moves into Jerome’s apartment, he’s not expecting to fall head-over-heels in love. Unfortunately, Jerome has a girlfriend – leading Christophe to agonize over whether or not to tell his new roommate and secret crush the truth about his feelings. Watch ‘To (10) Centimeters’ now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: The called it filth. It became a revolution.