SHORTS: LOVE IS STRONGER THAN SHAME

Queer people are born into a world that tries desperately to break our hearts. But we’re also a resilient bunch, and many of us learn to rise above the potential shame forced upon us. In these remarkably honest films, the protagonists are searching not just for themselves, but also for a chance to be celebrated for who they are by those they love. With open hearts, witty banter and determined spirit, they question the norms of culture. Featuring three fiction films and two documentaries—set across America, India, Morocco and China—this wise and ultimately uplifting program offers a holistic view of modern queer life.

The in-person screening of this shorts program will be followed by a Q&A*



MANTING
Dir. Shuyao Chen, 15 min, China/USA
Manting, a Chinese woman in her 60s, reconnects with the lesbian lover from her adolescence, and they spend a night roaming in the city.




IMOGENE
Dir. Katie Blair, 19 min, USA
Imogene is a single, free-spirited New Yorker in her 40s. Unprompted, her absurdly traditional family thrusts a pregnancy on her. But all that can be expected from Imogene is the unexpected.




IF I DIE IN AMERICA
Dir. Ward Kamel, 15 min, USA/Puerto Rico
A young man fights for a chance to grieve his husband after his traditional Muslim in-laws demand the body be sent back to the Middle East mere hours after the untimely death.




YOUR LOVE IS BURNING
Dir. Balkis Guetta, 13 min, Morocco
Izgar represents the new Moroccan generation. They constantly question society and redefine our vision of love. For them, leaving is not an option.




AMMA’S PRIDE
Dir. Shiva Krish, 20 min, India
Amma’s Pride is the poignant story of Srija, a trans woman from India, as she navigates the complexities of her marriage, fighting for its legal recognition while striving to sustain it—all with the unwavering support of her devoted mother, Valli.