Category: Short Film

Straight friends take their relationship to a new level in the 12-minute short ‘I Don’t Know’

Two straight buddies find themselves unexpectedly pushing the boundaries of their sexuality in French writer-director Jérémy Barlozzo’s 12-minute comedy short I Don’t Know.

Best friends William and Clement (William Dentz and Clement Olivieri) both have a romantic interest in a girl named Alice (Noemie Schmidt).

After the trio have dinner together at Clement’s apartment, the buddies try to figure out which one of them she likes more. Soon, however, they discover that Alice is only really interested in going to bed with them if they come as a pair – and express the same level of desire for one another as they do for her.

With their comfort level challenged, the date doesn’t go particularly well. Alice leaves and the boys soon find themselves alone and reflecting on their open-mindedness about sexuality. After doing the dishes and sparking a joint, the prospect of sharing an intimate kiss suddenly doesn’t seem so unusual. William and Clement decide to attempt a passionate kiss and take their relationship to a new – and perhaps more emotionally evolved level.

Featuring terrific performances from all three lead actors, I Don’t Know is a thoughtful, funny and slyly sexy short about two straight boys learning some new tricks.

Watch a short teaser trailer for I Don’t Know below. The film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

Short Film Spotlight: With Thelma

A gay couple gets a crash course in parenting in the charming 14-minute short With Thelma.

When a volcano erupts in Iceland, it strands Vincent’s brother and sister-in-law overseas. Until planes start flying again, someone will need to take care of Thelma, their 2-year-old daughter – who has been staying with a no-longer-available family friend in Paris.

The task falls to Vincent and his partner Jean, who enjoy a pretty typical urban gay lifestyle and worry about their ability to manage a toddler. But when Thelma arrives, they rise to the occasion – learning all about the responsibilities of fatherhood through trial and error.

By the time Thelma’s parents are ready to return, the prospect of breaking up their makeshift family proves far more emotional than either of them expected.

Featuring incredibly funny performances from lead actors Jean La Peltier and Vincent Lecuyer – not to mention Thelma Balboni as the scene-stealing titular 2-year-old – With Thelma is a lovingly-crafted ode to all the joys and pressures of parenthood.

Watch the trailer for With Thelma below. The short film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

Short Film Spotlight: Outside the Aquarium

Artist Alex Mello wrote, directed and stars in Outside the Aquarium, a romantic, funny and thoughtful 25-minute short about the experiences of a Black gay artist living in Germany.

Jonas (Mello) is a painter who is getting ready for a major new exhibition. At the start of the film, we meet him in a state of romantic bliss. He’s deeply in love with Lukas (Julius Dombrink), his partner. During breakfast, Lukas tells Jonas about a strange recurring nightmare that stems from his anxiety over being fetishized by the white gay community over his racial features.

Jonas can relate – maybe more than Lukas even knows. The film unexpectedly flashes back to a time before the pair met, when Jonas was still searching for love in addition to professional success. Following him through the course of one evening, we get to feel what it’s like to walk in his shoes – meeting his self-centered, casually-racist agent and joining him for an exceedingly uncomfortable hook-up with a demented bottom who views interracial sex like the ultimate taboo.

We then get to witness the moment when Jonas and Lukas first met, which gives the beginning of the film and their loving relationship a whole new – and much deeper – perspective.

Directed with heart and inventive visual flair, Outside the Aquarium marks Mello as a unique and playful artist worth keeping an eye on.

Watch the trailer for Outside the Aquarium below. The full short film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

Short Film Spotlight: Jean Fell in Love

A pulse-pounding and ultimately heart-warming 20-minute short from French writer-director Romain Roellet, Jean Fell in Love follows events that take place during the final weeks of a heated rugby tournament.

Jean (Simon Rerolle), the star player of his team, is on the cusp of earning a much-coveted trophy. When he meets Ayoub (Tristan Zanchi), a newcomer from an opposing team, the spark between them is immediately apparent.

The pair make plans to get together for a walk through the park the following day. When Ayoub kisses Jean for the first time, however, they’re inconveniently spotted by Greg (Pierre Louis Laugérias), a less-then-supportive teammate whose over-the-top homophobia betrays a not-so thinly veiled jealousy.

News soon travels to the locker room, where Jean is forced out of the closet before he’s ready. Finally faced with the truth, he decides that it’s time to start winning on his own terms.

With terrific performances, a charming romance at its core and lots of hot athletic flesh on display, Jean Fell in Love is ready to make you swoon and break a sweat.

Watch a short trailer for Jean Fell in Love below. The film is now available to watch on Dekkoo.

Short Film Spotlight: I Am Not Afraid

In today’s political climate, making a gay-themed film in Russia is an incredibly brave act. Writer-director Vladimir Beck has done just that with I Am Not Afraid, a thoughtful coming-of-age short about a young man who is looking to muster up a little bravery of his own.

Illarion Marov stars in I Am Not Afraid as Misha, a quiet high school teen who tries to cover up his sensitivity with an air of aloofness. He’s been exploring his sexuality during sleepovers with Philip, his much more confident best friend played by Mark Eidelshtein.

When it becomes clear that Philip will be moving away to Germany with his family, it stirs up some deep emotions that Misha is not ready to face. Their seemingly strong friendship starts coming apart at the seams once Philip senses Misha’s turmoil, but is unable to get the truth out of him.

At a party where a female classmate starts showing some aggressive interest in Misha, everything comes to a head. Suddenly, Misha is forced to either show his true feelings in front of all of his classmates or openly betray the boy he secretly loves.

Packed with emotion and featuring tender performances from the two male leads, I Am Not Afraid is a heartfelt examination of young love as well as a rare glimpse into the way Russian teenagers feel about – and are affected by – LGBTQ+ issues.

Watch the trailer for I Am Not Afraid below. The short film is now streaming on Dekkoo.