We’ve all heard stories about – or experienced ourselves – people hooking up on Grindr, only to discover that the person they’re meeting doesn’t look anything like they did online. Either they used really old images, their pics were deceptively framed or they’re a completely different person.

Usually in these stories it’s the person who lied who’s made out to be the bad guy, but in Generous they focus on the other side – why someone might play with the truth on a hookup app. It takes a look at aging, preconceptions and loneliness, as a young man turns up at somebody’s apartment only to discover the guy he’s supposed to be hooking up with is significantly older than his pics.

Ultimately it asks who the bad guy is here (or perhaps they’re both as bad and good as the other). It also questions whether there are other issues surrounding online hookups that are perhaps more important. Ultimately though, Generous is a film more about the questions than the answers.

Take a look at Generous below (which incidentally was shot on an iPhone 6s). 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…]

We’ve featured all sorts of short films on BGPS, but not that many have been released in support of a direct campaign calling for some direct action. However, War Within has hit the web in the hope of increasing support for a push to grant five Mr. Gay Syria contestants asylum.

The Change.org petition states, ‘Five Syrian refugees escaped the horrors of life as gay men in Syria only to find that their nightmares never ended. After years of living in hiding, fearing for their lives, and watching fellow LGBTQ+ people being mercilessly executed by ISIS, these men believed they had found freedom and safety in Istanbul. Feeling liberated and grateful for their newfound, yet conditional freedom of authentic self-expression, they decided to hold a Mr. Gay Syria contest and planned for the winner to participate in The Mr. Gay World competition. However, hate and homophobia still remain in Turkey.

‘Created by Mahmoud Hassino to illuminate the urgent challenges experienced by LGBTQ+ people in the Middle East, Mr. Gay Syria is a regional competition to advance to Mr. Gay World and also a documentary, written and directed by Ayşe Toprak, poised to hit film festival circuits this summer season. The documentary highlights the relatable challenges of the five Mr. Gay Syria contestants: cultivating shared connection with like-minded people and depicting the not-so-relatable challenges of severe persecution and seemingly impossible barriers to being one’s authentic self while living in antiquated and judgmental environments.’

The hope is to help accelerate the asylum process for these men.

War Within itself depicts the conflicts going on inside a Muslim man who is trying to reconcile his sexuality with his faith, and how the traditions of his culture have pulled against him (and his family ties) since he was young. It’s a moody and sometimes sad piece, but well worth a look.

Take a look at War Withing 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.

And head here to sign the Change.org petition. [Read more…]

The majority of the web series we’ve featured on BGPS are from America, so it’s also nice to find one from another part of the globe. Now there’s a new series from Japan, following the stories of gay men living in Tokyo.

The show is made up of two-part episodes, with each duo of instalments focusing on different people and/or tales. The first story looks at a young man who’s been living abroad but has now returned to Tokyo and is looking for a job. He’s also looking for love, but finding it difficult. While he’s interested in bartender Ataru, showing it isn’t that easy.

Tokyo Neighbours is a sweet little series made up of short episodes. It’s a show that underlines that even on the other side of the world, the problems of gay people and the things that matter to them are the same as most people everywhere else, and that includes a culture where gay people aren’t as openly seen and accepted in society as they are in many western nations.

Take a look at the first two episodes below, which appear to be the only ones so far that have English subtitles (you may need to switch on the subtitles by clicking ‘CC’). (h/t Instinct) [Read more…]