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SHORTS: JOY & CATHARSIS

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SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2019 AT 6:15 PM PDT ONLINE - Films are either subtitled or captioned

Far too often we are dramatized as tragic, deceptive, and villainous. We are fetishized and exploited as objects of the cis gaze. The cultural imagination consumes us when we overcome obstacles, so they can celebrate our bravery and authenticity. Joy reminds us not to inflict this violence on ourselves. Catharsis acknowledges and allows us to release the pain of this violence. By telling our own stories, we radically claim our birthright to take up space and celebrate the power of our bodies, desires, and futures. 

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BODIES LIKE OCEANS

KC Cory; 2019; USA; 13 min. Closed Captioned

Cory dives into this dreamy portrait of photographer Shoog McDaniel, a self-described “queer, fat, Southern freak,” whose work with fat bodies in nature transgresses reality. From mountain-fed waterfalls to the clear blue and weightless world under the surface of a natural spring, BODIES LIKE OCEANS created by an all Trans and LGBTQ crew—finds beauty in new places.

www.instagram.com/bodieslikeoceansfilm/

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DENIM 

Daryen Ru & Lucas McGowen; 2019; USA; 15 min. Subtitles

On an otherwise regular day at school, Micayla is outed as transgender when a rival classmate vengefully takes a photo of her using the girl’s bathroom. As a result, she is ostracized by the other students and labeled a sex offender by local law enforcement.

www.instagram.com/denimthefilm/

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TELL-BY DATE

Sarah Ball; 2019; USA; 14 min. Closed Captions

Ryan gives himself a deadline to tell his son that he’s trans and also not his biological father—but it’s easier said than done! 

www.tellbydate.com/

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FEMENINA

Ilana Garcia-Mittleman; 2019; USA; 13 min.

Nick, a dedicated boxer in Texas, is training with Nina, the newest member to join the gym. As they spar, their chemistry becomes obvious, and both must confront their fears and desire for acceptance. 

femeninafilm.wixsite.com/femenina

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LIGHT ON A PATH, FOLLOW

Elliot Montague; 2019; USA; 15 min.

Joaquín, a transmasculine person living in rural 1990s Massachusetts (Pocumtuck territory), is eight months pregnant. After encountering a mysterious spirit in the forest, Joaquín goes into labor early. Is this spirit haunting or guiding Joaquín while waiting for the midwife?

www.lightonapathfilm.com/

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I AM SAMANTHA

T Cooper; 2019; USA; 5 min. Open Captions

Director Cooper gathered twenty-seven trans actors together to tell a universal human story about the journey to find identity, acceptance, and love by singing “I Am Samantha" by singer-songwriter Benjamin Scheuer, which wasinspired by his friend Samantha Williams, whom he met randomly at a coffee shop in New York City. 

www.benjaminscheuer.com/

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BOYS DON'T WEAR DRESSES 

Jason Weissbrod; 2020; USA; 28 min. Captions

Inspired by the true-life experiences and struggles of an autistic transgender individual who co-wrote, co-produced, and appears in the film, this modern-day fairytale is a truly inclusive film experience created by and starring autistic, neurodivergent, LGBTQ, and multiethnic artists collaborating with entertainment professionals. Produced by Spectrum Laboratory, a nonprofit that creates original works of film, music, and animation with autistic and neurodivergent artists.

www.speclabs.org/

Content Warnings: Nudity, non-explicit sexual situations., Implied Violence, and Graphic Violence

Earlier Event: May 9
OUT LOUD
Later Event: May 9
MARK