NEWS

A couple of days ago we brought you the list of the films that are lining up to compete for this year’s Iris Prize, the world’s largest international gay and lesbian short film prize which takes place in Cardiff, Wales in October.

One of the films in competition is the Canadian short, I Am Syd Stone, so it seemed like a great opportunity to take a look at the film’s trailer. You can watch that below, as well as take a look at the great poster.

Here’s the brief synopsis: ‘A Hollywood heartthrob returns home for his ten-year high school reunion with the intention of rekindling a closeted relationship.’

In his director’s statement on the film’s website, helmer Denis Theriault comments, “In the film, Syd is at a point in his life where he’s achieved all he’s ever dreamed of. At 27 years old he has hit his peak. That’s a dangerous position to be in. How does one react to that? We always set goals and tell ourselves that when they’re achieved, our lives will be better for it. Oftentimes, that’s not the case. We get to that milestone or goal and we’re still left feeling empty. That’s where we find ourselves at the beginning of the film. Syd’s achieved this success, but has no one with whom to share it.

“I’m also incredibly fascinated by the public personas put on by celebrities. They’re never truly themselves other than when they’re alone or with loved ones (I guess, in a sense, we’re all actors).

“Ultimately, this film is a catharsis for me. The person I was, even 5 years ago, would never have believed that he would be tackling a gay subject in film, especially in such a personal way. I now am an out-and-proud man. All of the people I was afraid of telling either know or don’t care enough to ask. All they’re concerned with is if I’m talented, that’s it. As it often happens in life, we make bigger deals of situations than we really need to. But in that moment, it doesn’t matter. We feel like the whole world will come down on us.”

Take a look at the trailer and poster below. [Read more…]