Short Film – Page 32 – Discover great gay stories.

New This Week – 7/6/18

***A DEKKOO EXCLUSIVE***

Andreas and Martin have shared all the ups and downs of life, and now that their son has matured and moved out on his own, they have more free time to focus on themselves again. But when they are left alone with only themselves, will the spark still be there? ‘Paths’ is available now on Dekkoo, one month before it’s DVD release!

A powerful documentary, ‘Pansy’ follows artist, writer and designer Paul Harfleet. Since 2005, Paul has been planting pansies at different sites where instances of homophobic abuse have occurred. An act of quiet, thoughtful resistance, this project aims to turn tragedy into art and trauma into recovery. ‘Pansy’ is available to stream on Dekkoo!

Wes and Chris, in couples counseling, decide to explore opening the relationship to spice up their sex life. Watch Cock N’ Bull 2 now on Dekkoo. And don’t forget to stream the first Cock N’ Bull!

_________________________

Coming next week: “Mother” visits Dekkoo!

New This Week – 6/29/18

From Dekkoo Films comes a new gay thriller. After encountering him during a burglary, Tom begins stalking and antagonizing the attractive young Lars. When Lars finds out about Tom’s intentions, he manages to turn the tables on him, leading to a shocking confrontation. Watch ‘The Year I Lost My Mind’ now, months before it’s DVD release!

Wes invites his best friend Chris over for a night in after being dumped by Henry. They attempt to blow off some steam by prank calling strangers, but soon realize that may have been the worst idea ever. Stream the hilarious gay short, ‘Cock N’ Bull’ now on Dekkoo!

A tough young boxer struggles to come out in England. Having traveled to London, from his smaller town, he meets and falls for a twenty-something music producer. But love doesn’t come easy. Watch the gay film, ‘Like It Is’ now, on Dekkoo!

__________________________

Coming next week: “…a sublimely lyrical understated drama that is such a refreshing look at the way a relationship can unfold despite the fact that the love is not lost, but just misplaced.”

Pride Month Spotlight: The Apple Tree

When Gabe and Jonathan (played as young men by Jay Renshaw and Ryland Shelton) fall in love in the 1940s, they decide to spend their life together in secret. But as the times changed, so died the couple – who were eventually able to express their love openly.

When Jonathan unexpectedly passes away years later, Gabe (played as an older man Jerry Bornstein) is faced with a dilemma that many LGBT elders encounter when they move into retirement homes… going back into the closet.

A 30-minute short film, writer-director Matthew Ladensack’s The Apple Tree screened world-wide at LGBT film festivals, and ended up winning the Best Picture prize at Out in the Desert. The short was very powerful at the time it was released and over the intervening years, with many baby boomers entering assisted living homes, the story the film tells has become much louder and stronger – so much so that Ladensack is in the process of adapting it into a feature film.

The writer/director’s newest draft earned a spot in the Top 50 of the world famous Tracking Board Launch Pad feature screenplay contest and was a semi-finalist at the Nashville Film Festival Feature Screenplay Contest. The feature will focus not only on aging in the gay community, but on two generations of gay men coming together – a new primary character, Colton, is a closeted high school football player who ends up forming a close bond with Gabe and seeing, first hand, the experiences of his LGBTQ fore-bearers.

Make sure you check out the original short film before the full-length feature arrives. The Apple Tree is currently streaming on Dekkoo. It’s one of our Pride Month picks.

New This Week – 6/22/18

Months after they broke up, Gunnar receives a strange phone call from his ex-boyfriend, Einar. He sounds distraught, like he’s about to do something terrible to himself. Gunnar drives up to the secluded cabin where Einar is holed up and soon discovers that there’s more going on than he imagined. ‘Rift’ is now available on Dekkoo!

A sex and drug addicted young man who is forced into a Christian-run ministry in an attempt to cure him of his “gay affliction”, where instead he is faced with the truth in his heart and spirit. Stream ‘Save Me’ now on Dekkoo.com!

A group of gay London gangsters get even with a homophobic thug in a most ruthless way. Watch ‘Dirty Bent Bastards’ now on Dekkoo!

_____________________________

Coming next week: Dekkoo Films and director Tor Iben deliver a new gay thriller!

New This Week – 6/14/18

On June 12, 2016, a coward walked into Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, FL, and committed the worst mass shooting in US history. Utilizing survivor interviews, re-enactments, and police body cameras, this documentary examines this tragic event. Watch ’49 Pulses’, now available on Dekkoo.

Genesis 2:8. “And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.” In this story, João and Pedro live in this garden. One of them is about to leave because someone ate the forbidden fruit. The gay short film, ‘Eden’ is now available on Dekkoo.

Let Julianne Moore, Isaac Mizrahi, Michael Musto and other famous (and infamous) faces take you on a fantastic voyage to New York City’s legendary Florent diner. For 23 years, the all-night eatery in the city’s Meat Packing District was prime stomping ground for a surprising mix of A-list celebrities, tourists, families and club kids. This wildly entertaining documentary chronicles the history and final days of this outrageous icon. ‘Florent: Queen of the Meatmarket’ is now available on Dekkoo!

One Great Gay Shot – ‘Eden’ (2014)

‘Eden’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo!

New This Week – 6/8/18

Carefree Elias works at a textile factory, juggling long shifts, dreams of the sea, and animated nights-out with no-strings sexual encounters. As he tries to discern where his future may lead him, he and his coworkers decide to go out for a bit of fun, ultimately leading to new encounters and unexpected desires. ‘Body Electric’ is now available on Dekkoo.

A gritty, 17-minute short from Switzerland, ‘Vandalen’ follows two young graffiti artists who are having a secret affair. While one thinks of their relationship as purely sexual, the other is falling in love. When a female acquaintance comes between them, jealousy forces their hidden desires out in the open. Watch ‘Vandalen’ now on Dekkoo!

‘NY84’ follows the adventures of three young artists in the downtown art scene in the early 1980’s. Young and carefree, the friends party, photograph, paint, sing, and play their way through the clubs and lofts of Alphabet City. The party ends in 1984 when Anton and Keith contract a mysterious illness. Stream the gay film ‘NY84’ now on Dekkoo!

__________________________

Coming next week: On the second anniversary of a needless tragedy, we present a film that commemorates the victims.

New This Week – 6/1/18

Nathan, 16, lives alone with his father Stephane. A newcomer in high school, he is invited to a party and falls in love with Louis, a boy in his class. They find themselves out of sight and kiss each other, but someone takes a picture of them. Soon, the photo is published on Facebook and a storm overtakes their lives as they face bullying and rejection. ‘Hidden Kisses’ is now available to stream on Dekkoo!

Two friends, just beginning to explore their sexual identities, reveal intimate details of their lives. Is it curiosity, braggadocio or flirtation? Stream the gay short ‘Summer’ now on Dekkoo!

Manchester’s famed queer hub Canal Street comes to life in this documentary series that focuses on the exploits of people who ‘live, work and play’ around the village. Binge watch ‘Queer Street’ now on Dekkoo!

_______________________

Coming next week: “…The film examines – with a joyous vibe – the exploring of one’s identity and sexuality through fashion and partying” – Vague Visages

DEKKOO DISPATCH 070 – ‘SHORT FILM ROUNDUP!’

Title – ‘Protect Me From What I Want‘

Director – Dominic Leclerc

Starring – Naveed Choudhry, Elliott Tittensor

Release Date – 2009

Title – ‘Prora‘

Director – Stephane Riethauser

Starring – Swen Gippa, Tom Gramenz

Release Date – 2012

Title – ‘Nightswimming‘

Director – Dominic LeClerc

Starring – Linzey Cocker, Tim Dantay, Harry Eden

Release Date – 2010

______________________

Hey there! The dispatch was away for a couple weeks while I was out scouting for the best in queer cinema at the Cannes Film Festival to bring to Dekkoo, but I’m back! We’ve been adding some great short films to the Dekkoo universe lately and I wanted to feature three of them in this week’s dispatch:

‘Protect Me From What I Want‘ is a really sexy and romantic film from the UK (one of two in this week’s dispatch). I’d seen it before a few years ago when it first came out, but watching it again was a much more intimate experience than I remembered it being. The story revolves around Daz and Saleem. One night they meet while cruising each other on a busy street. Daz is clearly the more experienced of the two and tries in vain to get Saleem to kiss him. After Daz continues to initiate sex Saleem runs away and we get to briefly see his very traditional Indian family giving us the cue that not only is Saleem nervous about having gay sex, but he’s also tormented anti-gay pressures from his family. Eventually Saleem seeks out Daz once more and they go to Daz’s house where Saleem finally submits to Daz’s charms. But what happens once the experience is over? Can Daz hold onto someone so conflicted with their inner desires?

‘Prora‘ takes us on a journey through the ups and downs of young friendship when sexual desire enters the picture. Prora’s title is the name of the setting of the film – a beach resort built by Nazi Germany between 1936 and 1939. It was envisioned as the affordable holiday destination for the everyday German laborer. After the war began in 1939 construction stopped and was never completed. The location choice by director Stephane Riethauser is really fantastic. The beautiful outside area contrasted by the bare, distressed interior of the buildings is a great metaphor for the two boy’s friendship throughout the story. The story is really very simple. Two boys – one French, Matthieu and one German, Jan are having a carefree Summer holiday near Prora. One day while drinking they decide to explore the inside. There Jan eventually shows his same-sex attraction to Matthieu which causes… friction to say the least.

‘Nightswimming‘ is a bit of an erotic puzzle. Also hailing from the UK this film explores the nature of repressed desires and inter-generational experimentation. Two young kids break into a swimming pool. On patrol is an older gentlemen who hears the commotion and goes to investigate. Upon finding the handsome boy with his apparent girlfriend he takes pity on them and grants their request to stay overnight. Over the course of the night he observes the two of them playing around and becoming intimate. The boy is obviously showing off a bit especially since at one point he calls out for the guard in jest so the guard can witness him stripping off the girl. Eventually the two separate and the boy starts talking to the guard. The conversation starts with the incredibly funny line “I’ve run out of fags. Got any?”. There’s also an incredibly sexy shower scene with full frontal nudity so if that’s your thing get on that!

___________________________

Watch it with: Your gay short film loving friends!

Mix it with: White wine.

____________________________

‘The Apple Tree’ to become a feature film. You can help!

Every day hundreds of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered elders are faced with the despairing truth of being isolated and discriminated against as they enter their twilight years. Some have completely denounced their sexuality in fear of being who they are, while others give up and sometimes even commit suicide after facing the fact that they must return into the closet.

Matthew Arnold-Ladensack’s award-winning short film, ‘The Apple Tree’ deals with this subject. The short centers around Gabe, an elderly wheelchair-bound veteran who is forced back into the closet after his life partner passes away and he moves into a homophobic assisted living home.

We were thrilled to learn that the filmmakers have decided to turn the ‘The Apple Tree’ into a feature length film and they need our help!

Please donate to, share or follow this wonderful project!