Gay Short Films & Web Series

It turns out it’s not just humans who have same sex relationship issues, it’s rabbits too – or at least six-foot tall Bunny costume rabbits anyway. We loved Stop Calling Me Honey Bunny when we caught the short film at the Iris Prize Festival. Now it’s been released online and as a bonus, if you watch it before April 20th and email the makers with three sex toys seen in the film, one name will be drawn from all the entries and that person will win a $350 gift certificate to Chez Noir to be used online from anywhere worldwide (cheznoir.ca).

Enter by emailing: [email protected]

Here’s what we said about the film at Iris: ‘In a relationship that’s lost its sparkle, two bunnies take steps to reinvigorate their love life. With scenes that will resonate with anyone in a relationship that survived beyond the honeymoon phase, this is a sweet, funny and slightly cock-eyed look at how relationships can change from constant sexy fun into quieter, more intimate affairs.

‘While there’s nothing ground-breaking or particularly revelatory in this portrait of a lesbian relationship, it’s a touching and affectionate look at the frustrations that come with settling into a long-term relationship. Well-shot, and nicely acted, to the extent where the bunny masks actually seem to enhance the emotive acting by the two leads. You’ll laugh, you’ll cringe and you’ll almost certainly have been in a similar situation.’

Take a look at the film below and then enter the contest.

If you know a short film we ought to be posting, tell us by getting in touch via our contact page. And check out more gay short films and web series here. [Read more…]

Non-Love-Song is ‘A short film about two high school best friends on their last day of the summer before heading apart for college.’

One of them obviously has something he wants to say and get off his chest, but isn’t sure how the other person will react. The interesting thing is that it’s possible to read it as one of the guys being genuinely in love with the other but unable to say anything, or alternatively about both of them wanting to say how much they value the other’s friendship but notions of masculinity and how the other person will take that (especially if one of them is gay) make it difficult.

Either way, it’s quite effective. The film screened at more than 45 festival screenings including SXSW, Cinequest, Chicago International Film Festival, and Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival where it was named Best International Short Film.

Take a look at the film below.

If you know a short film we ought to be posting, tell us by getting in touch via our contact page. And check out more gay short films and web series here. [Read more…]

As we reported last week, on Wednesday the British Council and BFI teamed up for #FiveFilms4Freedom, billed as the world’s first digital, global, LGBT film festival, which showcased five queer-themed short film and made them available for free worldwide through BFI Player.

News of the fest programme reached more than 21 million people worldwide in more than 125 countries, with many tuning in on Wednesday to check out the films.

However if you missed out, don’t worry, as you can watch three of them here, which will be available until the BFI Flare London LGBT Festival ends on March 29th – so you’ve got a couple of days left.

The films are Chance, True Wheel & An Afternoon, and you can watch them below.

• An Afternoon (En Eftermiddag) Director Søren Green’s new short film is a sensitive exploration of nascent sexuality. Mathias and Frederik are two friends who spend an afternoon together; Mathias has decided that this is the time to tell Frederik that he is in love with him.
• Chance Jake Graf’s self-funded short film premieres at BFI Flare. It focuses on older gay love and overcoming loneliness as a chance encounter between Trevor and a mysterious stranger equally troubled by his own past, forces both men to start to live again
• True Wheel Director Nora Mandray’s 2015 documentary focuses on Fender Bender, an inspirational bicycle workshop for queer, transgender and women’s communities in Detroit.

I’m not sure when the word ‘bromance’ was invented, but we definitely didn’t talk about them as much in 2007 as we do now. That’s doesn’t mean they didn’t exist, as the short film Flatmates (Kompisar) shows.

And as many people still wonder today, it questions whether exceptionally close male friendships may contain something sexual that neither person wants to fully admit.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘Two friends, Björn and Hampus, decide to move in together. If one ignores the fact that the two men are completely different, theirs is a close relationship. Being in love with your best friend and, in spite of this, or because of it, arguing to the point where it becomes unbearable.’

It’s a great film, which does a good job of initially making you wonder whether the building sexual tension is real or whether it’s just there because the viewer wants it to be. However as it continues things do inevitably reach boiling point when the men end up in bed together.

Take a look at the film below.

If you know a short film we ought to be posting, tell us by getting in touch via our contact page. And check out more gay short films and web series here. [Read more…]

While we might not like to think that prejudice exists within the gay community, the fact is that it does, and when it comes to race some of us can be as dumb and ignorant as straight people can – indeed some might suggest moreso, considering the number of ‘No Blacks’, and ‘No Asians’ statements openly included on Grindr profiles.

Filmmaker Cameron Johnson has decided to shine a light on this, highlighting what black gay men have been told by white gay men, which ranges from the bizarre to the stereotypical to the just plain racist.

Johnson told Huffington Post, “I made this piece because I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t crazy. I couldn’t be the only gay black man who white dates have said insane things to, so I ventured to find others who shared my experiences. What I discovered is that my story isn’t uncommon, it’s just untold… I hope that my work will help to broaden the discussions of what it looks like to be a gay man in 2015, and give people insight into worlds they haven’t understood. Also, seriously never say any of these things to black men again.”

Take a look at short documentary below.

If you know a short film we ought to be posting, tell us by getting in touch via our contact page. And check out more gay short films and web series here. [Read more…]

In the media it often comes across as if the gay rights struggle is essentially LGBTs vs. the Christians, but the reality is far more complex than that, with plenty of people of faith who are completely on board with gay equality, and a lot of LGBT people who whole-heartedly believe in God(s).

That includes many Catholics, who remain part of the Church even if the denomination often seems hostile to gay people (particularly in the US, which tends to be more hardline than the ‘soft’ homophobia of many European Catholic bishops). Now some gay Catholics have told their story in the documentary short Owning Our Faith, all about what it is to be LGBT and Christian.

On the film’s website the makers say: ‘In November 2014, several LGBT Catholics from the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York City launched a project concerning the relationship between the Catholic Church and people of sexual and gender minorities. The goals of this project are to foster dialogue about and encourage greater inclusion and acceptance of LGBT people in the Church. In October 2014, Pope Francis convened a synod of bishops to discuss issues of the family within the Catholic Church, including the topic of homosexuality.  The Pope has encouraged ongoing conversation on these topics in preparation for the Ordinary Synod on the Family, set to take place in October 2015.

‘We want our stories to be a part of the discussion because LGBT people have unique gifts to contribute to the life of the Church. We hope the Church recognizes that God is working through our life stories. We want to inspire change that will strengthen families, encourage acceptance of LGBT people, foster an inclusive community, and promote an open and accepting dialogue among Catholics across the world. Most of all, we want everyone to know they are loved and not alone.’

Take a look at the documentary short below.

If you know a short film we ought to be posting, tell us by getting in touch via our contact page. And check out more gay short films and web series here. [Read more…]

I was all ready to dislike Dog Meet Goose, partly because it has a daft name and partly because it opens with the rather pretentious text, ‘The following presentation was designed as a cinematic experience. Please consider dimming lights, using the best available sound, and watching in full screen’.

When a film gets passive-aggressive before it’s even started (although I’m sure the filmmakers didn’t view it that way), it doesn’t give the viewer much hope.

However the short itself surprises with some great characters and interesting ideas.

The brief synopsis says: ‘A troubled teen seeks help from his neighbor who has a secret.’

The teen knows that there are rumours and speculation about the older man, who’s on ‘the list’ and most people think he should therefore be avoided. The man is initially reluctant to have the teen around, knowing what people will say, but the younger guy says he needs someone to talk to, and as they do, they both reveal more about themselves and the picture gets ever more complex.

It’s an edgy film that sits on the cusp between what is acceptable and what isn’t, as well those things which are legal and aren’t, and whether those things always make perfect sense in the arena of sexuality. Some will find it somewhat disturbing, partly because its about a young man and a much older gent, and partly because it’s the younger person ‘grooming’ the older one in a way that gets to the edge of being a ephebophile’s (someone attracted to teenagers) fantasy.

Indeed overall Dog Meet Goose is difficult one that sits on the cusp of morality, not making judgements but asking a lot of questions of the audience, even if it goes a little over the top at the end. You can watch the full short film below.

If you know a short film we ought to be posting, tell us by getting in touch via our contact page. And check out more gay short films and web series here. [Read more…]