Category: Short Film

New This Week – 12/24/21

Rural Argentina is not a happy place for Marcos, a gay teen with a fondness for women’s clothing and a mother determined to “set him straight.” Based on shocking true events, Marilyn is a nuanced story of oppression, prejudice, homophobia and a young man who is pushed to his limit and confronted with the impossibility of being true to himself. ‘Marilyn’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo!

A wildly inventive short film romance, ‘Plantonic’ follows the unique relationship that grows (literally) between a young aspiring artist and the incredibly attractive half-man/half-plant that seems to be growing in his garden. Stream ‘Plantonic’ now on Dekkoo!

This wildly popular comedy-mystery web series follows the exploit of three gay bear roommates living together in Los Angeles – as they attempt to solve the murder of a party guest that turns up dead in their bathtub. ‘Where the Bears Are’ is now available on Dekkoo!

During the summer of 2018, a young man goes to visit the place that brought all of his childhood memories to live. Once there, he says goodbye to this place, the person he used to be…and his first lover. ‘X As In Love’ is available now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: A stunningly beautiful documentary that takes you aboard a cruise ship filled with gorgeous gay men.

Short Film Spotlight: Holiday

The new 20-minute short film Holiday follows twenty-something Maurice (Tijmen Govaerts) and his older brother Louis (Oscar Willems), who join the rest of their family for a weekend getaway filled with unexpected tension.

No longer a kid, but not quite an adult, Maurice is having trouble finding his place. He’s also starting to notice how much of a gap has grown between the generations.

Fueled by angst and growing more and more frustrated by his family’s myriad secrets, he starts adding a certain level of tension to each relationship, forcing a breaking point that his well-mannered relatives refuse to cross, no matter how awkward things get.

A sharp, well-observed comedy-drama from Belgian writer-director Michiel Dhont, Holiday teases at deep emotion hidden just under the surface. Watching the short film, it’s easy to imagine it expanded to feature length, delving further into each of the characters. Nonetheless, the game cast lend naturalistic performances that make the family feel authentic and relatable.

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

New This Week – 12/16/21

One of the most important and celebrated works of the early ‘90s New Queer Cinema movement, this landmark queer classic from award-winning director Todd Haynes tells three interwoven short stories, examining the AIDS crisis, the work of Jean Genet and more through allegory and a variety of genres. ‘Poison’ is available to experience now on Dekkoo!

Pawel is positive that their recent separation has completely dampened his feelings for the young man with whom he was in love. But when he finds an unexpected visitor at his home one rainy afternoon, it brings up a whole lot of feelings he thought were behind him. Watch ‘After Dawn’ now on Dekkoo!

Sean Paul Lockhart and writer-director Rob Moretti star in this tense psychological thriller about a young man who becomes dangerously obsessed with his slightly older male lover. As their relationship deepens, dependency takes over and dark secrets are revealed – leading to a violent confrontation. ‘Truth’ is available now to stream on Dekkoo.

Teens Isaac and Adam meet in secret one day after class. At the playground, Adam offers Isaac a joint. As the afternoon stretches into the evening, he also offers him a dance and many meaningful looks. Do these two buddies share a secret attraction…or are they just really high? The short film ‘Just Boys’ is available now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: Here come the bears!

Short Film Spotlight: Nuclear Family

18-year-old Jules (Louka Minnella) has reluctantly returned to the beach-side nudist camp where he spent summers are a child. He’s been dragged there by his mother (Catherine Grosjean), who is constantly testing his boundaries, along with his little brother (Lohen Van Houtte).

While taking a moment to contribute to a boardwalk blood drive, he meets Karim and attractive, flirty young volunteer. Their interaction is brief, but he can feel that there is a spark between them. When he comes back later, the two make plans to spend the evening – Karim’s last in town – together.

Unfortunately, when Jules’ mother makes a spectacle of herself, wandering naked beyond the camp’s perimeter, it throws his romantic plans into jeopardy and forces him to start reckoning with their problematic mother-son dynamic.

A thoughtful, beautifully-shot 19-minute short from Belgian director Faustine Crespy, Nuclear Family upends the typical gay coming-of-age story in interesting ways. It also features a game cast who are not afraid to strip down to sell the drama and pathos.

Nuclear Family is available now on Dekkoo.

New This Week – 12/10/21

When a school bully starts spreading rumors about his sexuality, Umut stands his ground, refusing to deny the allegation, apologize or explain himself. His time at school, however, becomes more fraught with tension. Set in the high testosterone world of teen sports, this powerful drama from Turkey holds a mirror up to what it still means to be young and gay in so much of the world today. ‘Not Knowing’ is available to stream now, exclusively on Dekkoo!

When a young gay man goes to visit his uncle in the hospital, he becomes witness to an awkward, barely-conscious ramble about sexual fantasies, which morph into a vulnerable confession about love and forgiveness. A unique short film from writer-director-star James Patrick Nelson. Watch ‘Waking Up’ now on Dekkoo!

A married poet finds himself becoming increasingly infatuated with – and creatively inspired by – a handsome young donut shop employee. This comedy-drama from South Korean director Kim Yang-hee explores family structures and repressed queer desire. ‘The Poet and the Boy’ is available now on Dekkoo!

A short drama about sexual exploration, Naufrago follows Juan, a 17-year-old who longs to have sex with his girlfriend Samantha. When he starts dressing up in Samantha’s clothes, he begins to discover new ways of feeling pleasure. Stream ‘Naufrago’ now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week:  A groundbreaking American indie that was the most fervently debated film of the early 1990s and a trailblazing landmark of queer cinema. 

Short Film Spotlight: Red Aninsri; Or, Tiptoeing on the Still Trembling Berlin Wall

Inspired by a convention of Cold War-era Thai filmmaking not well known to American audiences – wherein most of the actors voices were dubbed to emphasize character – the politically-charged queer espionage thriller Red Aninsri; Or, Tiptoeing on the Still Trembling Berlin Wall carries the viewer through a strange world where cinema and reality meet.

The film follows Ang, a transgender sex worker with a pretty (and deliberately dubbed) feminine voice, who is assigned a special mission as an undercover spy. She disguises herself as a cis-masculine man to enter into a romantic relationship with Jit, a belligerent yet idealistic student activist with an evil voice (also dubbed for cinematic effect).

Ang must extract important information from Jit. However, the mission goes awry as she slowly falls for him. Apolitical at first, Ang is slowly awakened by Jit to see the other world where people speak in another way.

Hyper-stylistic, this unusual and fascinating 30-minute short film marks writer-director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke as an artist to keep an eye on.

Watch the trailer for Red Aninsri; Or, Tiptoeing on the Still Trembling Berlin Wall below. The full film is available now on Dekkoo.

New This Week – 12/3/21

The children of a religious family begin clashing with their elders during the wake of their recently deceased brother. Teenage Mason is desperately trying to reach his lost identical twin brother through spiritual means. When a handsome stranger arrives, family secrets are brought out into the open. ‘A Wake’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo.

18-year-old Jules is reluctantly spending his holidays in the naturalist camp where he was raised. He soon finds himself torn between his attraction to Karim, an alluring seasonal worker on the textile beach, and Adele, his depressed mother who refuses to let him grow up and move on. Watch ‘Nuclear Family’ now on Dekkoo!

When twenty-something Maurice joins his family on a weekend getaway, he starts to notice how much of a gap has grown between the generations. Though he tries to keep up appearances, he grows more and more frustrated by his family’s myriad secrets – until he reaches a breaking point. The short film ‘Holiday’ is now playing on Dekkoo!

The life and important work of Hank Wilson, a longtime San Francisco LGBTQ rights activist and AIDS survivor, are chronicled in this deeply emotional feature-length documentary. ‘Thanks to Hank’ is available now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: A film that holds a mirror up to what it still means to be young and gay today in so much of the world.

New This Week – 11/19/21

A 13-year-old boy learns to cope with his newfound sexuality and his unrequited love for the coolest kid at school in this lyrical coming-of-age indie from director Cam Archer. Originally released in 2006, ‘Wild Tigers I Have Known’ has been lovingly remastered for its 15-year Anniversary by the cult film label Altered Innocence.

Phil is a postman who really wants to become a writer. When an old woman on his route dies under mysterious circumstances, he descends into an investigatory rabbit hole, hoping to land a juicy story. Along his journey, he uncovers some personal truths as well. ‘Mailmain’ is a black comedy, a musical and a modern coming out story.

17-year-old Nadav wants to serve in a combat unit, even though his mother does not approve. A surprising encounter with his coach changes his perspective. ‘Boys’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo.

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Coming next week: Examining the effects of nationalism on the soul, while also exploring the tender brotherhood among misfits, this musical comedy revels in the discovery of finding your voice and learning to fly.

Short Film Spotlight: Two Men by the Sea

After leaving Brazil, Cesar (played by writer-director Gabriel Motta) meets Martin (Mauri Liiv) at an empty café in Tallinn, Estonia. Cesar is just killing some time before his train departs. He wasn’t expecting to meet someone. And though their connection is brief, it’s hard to deny that both of them want to keep the conversation going.

Channeling beloved films like Andrew Haigh’s Weekend and Richard Linklater’s Before Trilogy, Two Men by the Sea is a deeply charming new 16-minute short film drama from writer-director-star Gabriel Motta which examines that brief spark of attraction that keeps us coming back for more. In front of these two attractive young men lies an uncertainty as infinite as the sea itself.

Watch a short clip from the film below. The full short film is available now on Dekkoo.

https://vimeo.com/551371343

New This Week – 11/12/21

Janik and Samuel, best friends in their final year of high school, are practically inseparable. In the wake of a reckless incident, the pair travel together on a trip to Istanbul. During the trip, they find their friendship tested – and they’re soon forced to examine what they really mean to one another. ‘Blurred Lines’ is available exclusively now on Dekkoo!

A man heading to jail entrusts the care of his beloved German shepherd to his gay lover, who becomes enamored with the dog and wants to keep her at all costs. Gary Oldman and Alan Bates star in this heartfelt gay drama, originally released in 1988 and now available again on Dekkoo! Stream ‘We Think The World Of You’ now on Dekkoo!

Ang, a transgender sex worker with a pretty, feminine voice is assigned a special mission as an undercover spy. She disguises herself as a cisgender man to enter into a romantic relationship with Jit, a belligerent yet idealistic student activist with an evil voice. ‘Red Aninsri; Or, Tiptoeing on the Still Trembling Berlin Wall’ is streaming now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: Cam Archer’s angst-fueled experimental classic coming-of-age film.