Category: Short Film

Short Film Spotlight: The Act

The Act is a stylish new 18-minute short from Thomas Hescott, a veteran director of the long-running British soap opera “EastEnders.”

The film follows the story of a young gay man named Matthews, played by Samuel Barnett, who believes that love is not, and cannot ever be, for him. That is, until he encounters the alluring Jimmy, played by Simon Lennon.

Set in 1965, just as acts of male homosexuality were about to be decriminalized in the UK, Matthews goes on quite a journey, discovering love, sex and a whole new chosen family in the backstreets and underground bars of Soho.

Speaking about The Act, Thomas Hescott said that the initial premise for the film was simple. Growing up, he never saw queer characters properly portrayed in period dramas. This new film is his attempt to tell a classic Hollywood love story with two gay men – a period drama wherein the characters that usually remain hidden start to emerge from the shadows.

The Act creates a world that juxtaposes the rigid conformity of mid-60s British society with the color and energy of an underground world and the intimacy and immediacy of a passionate relationship that would have been considered illicit at the time. The film also uses language taken directly from the 1965 House of Commons debates to frame the central love story.

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

Enjoy three unique short films from up-and-coming Spanish director Manu Roma

Manu Roma is an up-and-coming filmmaker from Barcelona who uses his work to tell personal queer stories. To give you a strong sense of his burgeoning talent, we have collected his first three short films, all made over the past three years.

First up is Bones, a 9-minute film about Victor, a 20-year-old with two immediate goals: to lose his virginity and, more dangerously, lose as much weight as possible before his 21st birthday.

Shot gorgeously in black and white, Roma’s next short, the 19-minute Anonymous, uses a first-person perspective to tell the stories of three men who go cruising for sex in different locations around Barcelona.

The final film, The Virgins, is a 13-minute slice of meta-fiction about the making of a short film. When the two stars of a new movie drop out at the last minute, the director and his boom operator find themselves taking over the lead roles and going to unexpected romantic lengths to tell their story.

A visionary filmmaker worth keeping your eye on, Dekkoo is proud to bring the work of Manu Roma to American audiences.

Bones, Anonymous and The Virgins are all available now on Dekkoo.

Short Film Spotlight: Jay

From Taiwanese director Szu-Wei Chen, Jay is a darkly funny and casually disturbing 14-minute drama that isn’t afraid to explore a particularly cringe-worthy taboo.

The film follows the titular character, a mysterious 13-year-old boy Jay, played by Nick Wang. Reaching a pivotal moment of sexual awakening, the teen finds himself suddenly fascinated by his toned and attractive older brother. Spying on him at every opportunity, including during a sexual encounter with a girlfriend, Jay’s curiosity morphs into an all-consuming obsession.

Playing out with very little dialog, the film gets its point across mostly through eerie suggestion. The story plays out mostly through visuals and emotions thanks to Wang’s lead performance – which, while somewhat stoic, conveys everything we need to know about this youngster’s misguided affections.

Watch a short teaser trailer for Jay below. The full short film is now available on Dekkoo.

Short Film Spotlight: Freefall

From writer-director Krit Komkrichwarakool, Freefall is an award-winning 18-minute short film which has proved so successful that it’s being adapted into a feature-length film.

Freefall follows Ivan (Andrew Jenkins), a young gay man who is diagnosed with ALS. After receiving this troubling news, he finds his relationship with his boyfriend Lucas (Chris McNally) changed and tested in difficult ways, all while he starts to lose control of his own body.

Deeply emotional and expertly-crafted, the film won the Best Director Award at the Moscow Shorts Film Festival and was nominated for Best Short Film at the 2018 Leo Awards when it first premiered.

Originally from Bangkok, Komkrichwarakool earned a degree in Communication Design, then moved to Canada to pursue a career in film. Integrating his knowledge of design with his approach to filmmaking, he always brings a unique point of view to his storytelling.

In his own words, Komkrichwarakool says “film is a great medium to explore the reflections of our own existence, and the ultimate question of why each of us is here. It is why I do what I do. To speak with my own subconscious. To find a trace of the answers that connect us all.”

Watch the trailer for Freefall below. The film is now available on Dekkoo.