SHORTS: TLC (TRANS LOVING CARE)

This empowering shorts program celebrates transgender lives with unapologetic declarations of self. Each film showcases how trans protagonists harness their inner strength to overcome obstacles and build supportive networks grounded in love and authenticity. Witness nuanced realities faced by Indigenous people and people of color as they navigate systems of care and mutual support within the trans community and tackle challenges like decolonizing womanhood, confronting transphobia in gay relationships, and advocating for transgender medical care at the highest levels of government. Each story resonates as a powerful testament to self-discovery and resilience.
The in-person screening of this shorts program will be followed by a Q&A*


PERSONAL MYTHOLOGIES
Dir. Susan O’Brien, 4 min, USA
Inspired by mythological Greek hero’s journeys, Dominique begins her filmic journey in the Philippines presenting the story of the Adarna Bird, an old Filipino folklore. Created as a continuous symbolic representation of the heroine’s journey, the movement of this piece illustrates Dominique metaphorically and physically crossing the ocean to become the present-day version of herself.


CLEMENTINE
Dir. Sally Tran, 15 min, USA
A late-blooming Trans woman reluctantly confronts an assigned-male-at-birth Trans specific life-altering dilemma. With the help of her besties, she attempts to process this debacle in order to determine which path to take on her journey of decolonizing her womanhood.


TRANS ALCHEMY
Dir. Félix Endara, 8 min, USA
“ALQUIMIA TRANS” is a short documentary that delves into the unique experiences of trans masculine activists across Latin America. Through poignant narratives from individuals in Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Puerto Rico, the film offers a compelling testimony to the challenges and triumphs encountered by trans masculine individuals in the region.


ALL THE WORDS BUT THE ONE
Dir. Nava Mau, 18 min, USA
A dinner with her partner’s new boss becomes precarious when Maya realizes she’s also dining with someone from her past.


PILLOW CHOCOLATE
Charlie Tidmas, 9 min, United Kingdom
For transman Jamie, a one-night stand is more than just sex, it’s a question of self-worth.


AFTER HOURS
Dir. Star Amerasu, 6 min, USA
Two transwomen have a chance encounter in the club bathroom, one at the end of her rope, one at the end of her shift working at the bar.


THE SONGS OF WATER
Dir. Song Hà, 10 min, USA
‘The Songs of Water’ is a meditative short documentary weaving eight transgender individuals’ stories of care, chosen family, and resilience through the lens of nature, inviting viewers to see themselves as part of humanity’s evolving biodiversity.


HI ADING
Dir. Dinaly J Tran, 2 min, Canada
“hi ading” is a poetic short that provides a glimpse into a love story. Speaking to their parents’ past selves, Dinaly asks and hopes that these past versions might help them realize that the decisions they may not understand are still made out of love.


SEAT 31: ZOOEY ZEPHYR
Dir. Kimberly Reed, 13 min, USA
When Zooey Zephyr was expelled from the Montana House of Representatives for speaking on a bill banning transgender medical care, she made a nearby bench her “office.” Director Kimberly Reed’s cameras land next to Zooey, capturing shocking, funny, and joyous events.

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