Category: New This Week

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.

Don’t miss the charming and unusual LGBTQ rom-com Straight Up

A major hit at film festivals when it first premiered in 2019, writer-director James Sweeney’s Straight Up is one of the best gay rom-coms of the past several years.

Sweeney himself stars as Todd, a hyper-articulate and obsessive compulsive twentysomething whose frustration over the gay dating scene leads him to a baffling conclusion: maybe he’s actually straight?!

When Todd meets Rory, a witty and equally whip-smart young actress played by Katie Findlay, the two form a strong connection and try to enter into a hetero relationship together – one that turns out to be all talk and no sex.

Can the two get past their hang-ups and make a real go at a loving and committed asexual relationship? Or are they just good friends who are fooling themselves?

Featuring razor-sharp dialog that evokes classic Hollywood, but with distinctly 21st century references, Straight Up is a deeply funny and charming crowd-pleaser that explores just how elastic our definitions of love and sexuality can get.

Watch the trailer for Straight Up below. The film is available now 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.

The short comedy The D*ck Appointment mines the absurdity of dating apps for laughs

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.

The D*ck Appointment is a new short comedy from writer-director Mike Roma. The film literalizes the dating/hook-up app experience by casting actors to play the lead character’s various direct message options and having them interact face-to-face, using their text chains as dialog.

Refreshingly observant, the film shines a spotlight on the inherent absurdity of these interactions – culminating in an in-person meeting that’s a little too whiz-bang for our lead. Anyone who has ever wasted too many hour scrolling through Grindr or cut an unsuccessful encounter short will find plenty to relate to and laugh about here.

Mike Roma previously wrote and directed Danny the Manny, which Indiewire named one of the Best Web Series of 2016. The following year, Roma premiered his debut feature film Dating My Mother at Frameline Film Festival. In 2019, his pilot script F*ckboys was developed at the Screenwriters Colony. The D*ck Appointment is his latest project and was chosen as an official short selection at Outfest 2020.

Watch a short clip from The D*ck Appointment below. The 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.

Short Film Spotlight: Mindf*ck

With the opening line “Drop your trousers,” French writer-director-actor Pierre Scot’s six-minute exercise in suggestive suspense is off to the races.

Mindf*ck is a short psychological comedy-thriller which manages to do a whole lot with a limited running time. The film follows a television journalist who meets a dominant man on a fetish-oriented dating app.

Blindfolded and cuffed to a chair, he’s unexpectedly left alone… and that’s when his mind starts racing. Who is this man he’s only just met and what are his true intentions? If he’s discovered in such a vulnerable state, what will it mean for his career? And, most importantly, what could possibly be inside the deeply mysterious tupperware container his seductive captor has left behind on the kitchen counter?

Without spoiling too much, allow us to offer an important warning to any/all arachnophobes: steer very clear of this short! (And the clip below.)

Watch a short clip from Mindf*ck below. The film is now available on Dekkoo.

A group of people come together to confront their shared lover in the heady drama Don’t Look Down

In a high-rise apartment in Paris, four men and a woman gather to share their experiences of a man that they have all been involved with, fell in love with, and ultimately betrayed by.

In the main room, they talk, drink, and dance, while one by one, each goes next door to confront him for a private moment of truth. But what happens between the monster and them remains their secret.

From co-directors Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau, the pair behind The Adventures of Felix and Paris 05:59: Theo and Hugo, Don’t Look Down is a heady new grown-up comedy-drama about the ways in which we change when we’re in love… and the ways we expect our partners to do the same.

Watch the trailer for Don’t Look Down below. The film is available now on Dekkoo.