SHORTS: FREE TO BE ME - NewFest

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Description

Through an inclusive, celebratory, and inspirational collection of short films, this program is curated specifically for LGBTQ-identified high school audiences, providing access for LGBTQ+ youth to see themselves reflected on screen while promoting media literacy and encouraging self-worth and expression. This program, which is made possible with support from New York City’s Department of Education, features a combination of celebrated shorts from the film festival circuit and debut short films from young filmmakers themselves, capturing a variety of topics that exist across the LGBTQ+ teen experience, including family dynamics, first dates, coming out, self-care, gender expression, and identity.



AND THEN SHE KISSED ME
Dir. Alexia Khodanian, USA, 2019, 2 mins
A love story between two high school girlfriends.



EGGHEAD & TWINKIE
Dir. Sarah Holland, USA, 2019, 9 mins
Egghead is in love with his best friend, Twinkie. Twinkie is a closeted lesbian. And tonight, she is coming out to her parents in the most casual way possible.



BIND
Dir. Emory Chao Johnson, USA, 2019, 3 mins
A glimpse into the trans Asian diaspora, BIND follows the events that occur when Jules gets a surprise visit from their mother — and their chest binder.



GO GO, BOY!
Dir. Oriana Oppice, USA, 2019, 6 mins
A boy discovers his fabulousness while dancing in his bedroom.



WERE YOU GAY IN HIGH SCHOOL?
Dir. Niki Ang, USA, 2020, 13 mins
Two queer women recall their awkward, closeted high school days of kissing boys and straight-girl crushes.



ALL THE SIGNS
Dir. Susan Carine, Katie Doyle, Ashley DeSalvo, Samantha Felix, Korbin Kepner, Samantha Roppola, USA, 2019, 7 mins
A mocudrama about two friends solving the theory of love. Is this a possible girlfriend or just another female friend? Maybe it’s not as difficult to figure out the answer as they thought.



FISH HEAD
Dir. Grace Tan, Australia, 2020, 10 mins
An alienated teen on the cusp of womanhood must find solace in an alternate coming of age, where lines of gender dissolve by the surrounds of the sea.



SHÉÁR AVORY: TO BE CONTINUED
Dir. Abram Cerda, USA, 2020, 26 mins
The coming-of-age story of Shéár Avory (pronouns: they/them/theirs), a 17-year-old aspiring social justice advocate in Los Angeles who navigates housing instability and familial dependency on their journey to adulthood.

Part of The 32nd Annual New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival

Presented in partnership with The NYC Department of Education