Category: Short Film

Short Film Spotlight: Griffica

A wildly inventive new short horror-comedy from writer-director C.J. Arellano, Griffica tells a story about a man whose new boyfriend may be a little too perfect.

When “The Narrator” (James Dolbeare) injures himself attempting a death drop in his apartment, his stunningly attractive neighbor comes to his rescue and soon becomes “The Boyfriend” (Ulyses Espinoza). The early days of their relationship are exceptional. This new beau attends to our lead’s every whim and need. He’s thoughtful, loving, confident, knowledgeable and, above all else, he makes a mean cup of iced coffee that “smells like lavender and world peace.”

Soon enough, this dream partner’s perfection begins grating on our narrator’s nerves. By contrast, he starts to only see his own inadequacies. A year into their relationship, things come to a dramatic head. When the narrator calls his brother to vent his frustrations, he learns about a demonic deity that bears striking similarities to his lover. Could Mr. Right have secretly been an agent of evil this whole time? And what is his master plan?

With visual flair, whip-smart writing and knowing nods to Rosemary’s Baby, Griffica is a delightfully twisted 11-minute short that marks C.J. Arellano as a director to watch. We could easily see him fleshing this film out into a full-length feature.

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

New This Week – 7/8/22

***A DEKKOO EXCLUSIVE***

A deeply emotional new romance from writer-director David Hastings, ‘You Are My Sunshine’ follows the lifelong relationship between Tom and Joe (played by Steve Salt and Jack Knight as young men and by Ernest Vernon and Charles O’Neill as the characters in their twilight years). The film follows them from their first meeting in the 1970s, when the world refuses to accept their love, through to their heartbreaking final days, decades later. ‘You Are My Sunshine’ is available now, exclusively on Dekkoo!

Roberto, a mature widower, and Félix, a young photographer, explore a complex attraction to each other. In the process, they face anxiety, their fear of abandonment, and the emotional paralysis that drowns them. Stream ‘Amphore’ now on Dekkoo!

Mateo is an intelligent boy who falls in love with Daniel, but when everyone reveals that relationship, Mateo is at a crossroads, and will have to decide between fighting his adversities, or giving up everything, until his life. Watch ‘Green Butterflies’ now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: Two young men – one a needy and lost man-boy, the other a guarded but lonely bartender – embark on a fun, intense relationship… only to see it threatened when one is imprisoned for drug possession.

New This Week – 7/1/22

Fionn O’Shea and Nicholas Galitzine star in this touching comedy about two boys at a strict Irish boarding school who are forced to share a room. Though one is a bullied loner and the other the star athlete of their rugby-obsessed school, they form an unlikely bond – until it’s tested by those around them. ‘Handsome Devil’ is available now on Dekkoo!

Examining a psychological clash between two queer men with differing backstories, writer-director C.J.Arellano’s clever new horror short follows a gay man who suspects that his coffee-loving boyfriend maybe a demon in disguise. Stream the short film ‘Griffica’ now on Dekkoo!

***EPISODES 25, 26, AND 27 NOW AVAILABLE!***

Scott, a mild-mannered gay writer in Los Angeles, gets wrapped up into a world of bad boys and their crime-filled past after being adopted as their “Daddy Scott”, whether he likes it or not. Watch the final episodes of ‘Bad Boy’ now!

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Coming next week: A brand-new release the tells the story of one gay couple’s love as it stands the test of time. 

New This Week – 6/24/22

***SEASON 2 IS HERE!!***

The Dekkoo-original series ‘Here Comes Your Man’ follows Aaron living his own version of the 21st century gay experience. Along for the ride are his friends and lovers who are all exploring their own ambitions, relationships and dreams in modern day Los Angeles. Both seasons are available to stream now!

Fernando is a teenage boy living in the traditional countryside of São Paulo. With the insurmountable peer pressure to lose his virginity, he ends up engaging in a sexual encounter with an older man he met online. The hook up doesn’t go as expected. ‘Self’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo.

During Passover, Reuben, a French-Jewish man living in Finland with his Nordic boyfriend, finds himself back in Paris with his zany family after a lovers’ quarrel. ‘Let My People Go’ celebrates and upends Jewish and gay stereotypes with wit, gusto and style to spare. The result is deeply heartwarming, fabulously kitschy and hysterically funny.

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Coming next week: A film that offers a touching reminder of the importance of loyalty, bravery, standing up for yourself and making sure that your voice, no matter how different, is heard.

New This Week – 6/17/22

From director Adam Salky and writer David Brind, Dare is a celebrated teen drama centered around three high school seniors – an aspiring actress, her misfit best friend and a local loner – who become engaged in an intimate and complicated love triangle. ‘Dare’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo!

Pete has an unfortunate habit of beginning affairs with married men. Typically they end because Pete has commitment issues. He moves on, and the men return to their families. But when he meets Jack, a family man with two kids, their relationship starts heading down a different path. Watch ‘From Zero To I Love You’ now on Dekkoo!

An erotic experimental film from director Leo Bittencourt, Vagalumes observes one night in Rio de Janeiro’s Flamengo Park and captures the location’s sensual atmosphere. ‘Fireflies’ is streaming now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: Here Comes Your Man Season 2!

Short Film Spotlight: Let’s Meet Again at the End of the World

Breaking up is hard to do, but sometimes it’s the right thing to do. The stylish new twelve-minute short film Let’s Meet Again at the End of the World puts that notion on full display. Todd Flaherty, the film’s writer and director, also stars as Adam, a hopeless romantic who is trying to shake off the after-effects of a recently-ended codependent relationship.

Starting fresh, he takes himself on a seaside vacation, but soon runs into his ex-boyfriend Ben, played by Joey Taranto. Finding Ben hard to resist, Adam dives right back into the relationship, entangling himself in a passionate week-long romance. But as old patterns reemerge, Adam must decide whether to keep their flame alive or break free from the tumultuous affair once and for all.

A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Flaherty has worked extensively as a theater actor off-Broadway and regionally. He made his filmmaking debut with the series Undetectable which he created, wrote and co-directed. The show also earned him Indie Series Awards for Best Writing and Best Lead Actor in a Drama. Let’s Meet Again at the End of the World further marks him as a talent to watch.

Unfolding in a non-linear structure, using voiceover to convey deeper emotions through metaphor, the film will resonate with anyone who has had trouble freeing themselves from a relationship that just isn’t working.

Let’s Meet at the End of the World is available now on Dekkoo. You can also find the full first season of Undetectable to dig into Flaherty’s previous work. He’s currently working on his feature-length debut.

New This Week – 6/10/22

Director Oskar Roehler and revelatory star Oliver Masucci bring to the screen the story of prolific German New Wave filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder – following his early days in the theater through to his reign as one of Europe’s most daring and original visionaries. ‘Enfant Terrible’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo!

Mirna and Pablo start a friendship framed in reflections about identity, loneliness and death during the 1990s in Chile. From writer-director Manu Morales Contreras, ‘Eyeshadow’ is a story about fellowship and the HIV/AIDS crisis inspired by the literary works of Pedro Lemebel. Watch ‘Eyeshadow’ now on Dekkoo!

In season 2 of the Dekkoo-original series ‘Here Comes Your Man’ Aaron tries to navigate his causal relationship with Julio somewhere more serious. Meanwhile, Jordan settles into Omaha Nebraska to record his album. Dustin becomes entangled in an online romance while Cassie reignites her romance with Malcolm.

Watch the trailer for Season 2 now!

Watch Here Comes Your Man Season 1 only on Dekkoo!

New This Week – 6/3/22

An exceptional and inspirational documentary, Oriented follows the lives of three gay Palestinian friends confronting their national and sexual identity in Tel Aviv. Determined to change their reality, the three best friends form a non-violent, cultural resistance movement, fighting for gender and national equality. ‘Oriented’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo!

Matt, a stereotypical hetero cis white male, feels he has life figured out. All he has to do is keep following the status quo. This all changes, however, when he meets Ryan and the illusion of his idyllic life begins to crumble. ‘Ticking Boxes’ is a tense new nine-minute short film from director Robert Metson.

The seventh installment of this hit worldwide comedy-mystery series finds our favorite gay bears in more danger than ever when they’re targeted by a mysterious stalker while vacationing in sunny Palm Springs. If that wasn’t enough to deal with, someone is out to sabotage the “Mr. Bear America Pageant” where Reggie is serving as a celebrity judge. Watch ‘Wear The Bears Are 7’ now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: A film that follows the life and impact of iconic German New Wave director Rainer Werner Fassbinder.

Dekkoo Digest: Ross breaks down the films Diamantino, Let’s Meet Again at the End of the World and Socrates

Welcome our new series: Dekkoo Digest! Each week we will be giving you info on Dekkoo’s newest films and television series. Dekkoo releases at least three gay films each and every week!

New This Week – 5/27/22

After his mother’s sudden death, Socrates, a fifteen-year-old living on the margins of São Paulo’s coast, must survive on his own while coming to terms with his grief. Directed by Alexandre Moratto using mostly non-professional actors – and support from UNICEF – Socrates has earned acclaim and awards at film festivals all over the world. ‘Socrates’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo!

One of the craziest and sexiest movies in recent memory, Diamantino is a colorful sci-fi comedy satire from directors Gabriel Abrantes and Daniel Schmidt. The film follows a big-hearted but dimwitted Portuguese soccer hunk (played by hunky international award-winner Carloto Cotta) who gets caught up in a strange conspiracy involving genetic modification. Watch ‘Diamantino’ now on Dekkoo!

After a year apart, hopeless romantic Adam runs into his ex-boyfriend during a seaside vacation. Thoughtlessly entangling himself in a week-long romance, Adam must decide whether to rekindle their flame or break free from the tumultuous relationship once and for all. ‘Let’s Meet Again At The End Of The World’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo.

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Coming next week: Three gay Palestinian friends explore their national and sexual identity.