Unreal Short Films

In a budding GAZE tradition, the genre busting gender benders of queer cinema take us once again to the furthest reaches of queer imagination in this selection of short films spanning high camp fantasy to low budget horror. A morbid streak runs through this magical melange with themes of death, resurrection and transformation reigning supreme; queer lovers bid ghostly goodbyes, corpses commune with unlikely allies, and an undead trans femme sex worker brings total vengeful mayhem. 

From the folkloric dancefloor to the séance table, take our hand and don’t let go—who knows where these films might take you… 

1hr 45m 

Passiflora 

In a modern retelling of Brazilian folklore, Theo nervously ventures into a fantastical party, only to be shaken out of his insecurities after a passionfruit cocktail takes him on a magical adventure to find true love. 

Gabriel Souza Nunes/ Canada/ 2023/ 14m 

Writers: Carolyn Woolner, Gabriel Souza Nunes 

Producers: Aries Ceta, Elaine Yan 

im in love with edgar allan poe 

Two baby goths prepare to summon the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe, but a series of unexpected obstacles jeopardize the entire spooky spectacle, and maybe even their friendship. 

Andrea A. Walter/ USA/ 2023/ 13m 

Writer: Andrea A. Walter 

Producers: Bianca Catbagan, Lou Wang-Holborn 

Their Universe 

A year after passing away, Jun returns to Earth as a ghost to say goodbye to his boyfriend. 

Jeong-gil HAN/ South Korea/ 2023/ 17m 

Writer: Jeong-gil HAN 

Producers: Chang-hwan PARK, Han-bum KIM 

Sole 

As an embalmer dreams up dialogue with a teenage trans boy she’s been told to put in a dress, she struggles to honour the dead without wounding his grieving family. 

Ana Berdeja/ Mexico/ 2024/ 15m 

Writer: Ana Berdeja 

Producers: Jose Manuel Mijares, Rafael Macazaga, Allan Feder 

there’s a light 

Abandoned in an unfamiliar place, a lonely partygoer teeters on the edge of an all-consuming, reality-warping breakdown. Writer/Producer: Elisa Beli Borrelli BLEACH Daniel Daniel/ United Kingdom/ 2023/ 19m Wracked with both shame and desire, Lloyd spirals down a Grindr-fuelled descent into total self-annihilation. 

Elisa Beli Borrelli/ Ireland/ 2023/ 5m 

Writer: Alfie Flewitt 

Producer: Matthew Pieterse

BLEACH 

Wracked with both shame and desire, Lloyd spirals down a Grindr-fuelled descent into total self-annihilation. 

Daniel Daniel/ United Kingdom/ 2023/ 19m 

Writer: Alfie Flewitt 

Producer: Matthew Pieterse

The Journey Home 

In two parallel worlds of light and darkness, a liberated trans man enjoys a lush idyll while a creature is warped out of shape by its bindings. Writer: Noah Lei Underwood Transition to Death Nate Newman/ Vietnam/ 2024/ 20m With the help of a strange witch and an armoury of deadly sex toys, an undead trans stripper seeks gory, grindhouse revenge. 

Noah Lei Underwood/ UK/ 2024/ 3m 

Writers: Jayna Young, Nate Newman 

Transition to Death 

With the help of a strange witch and an armoury of deadly sex toys, an undead trans stripper seeks gory, grindhouse revenge. 

Nate Newman/ Vietnam/ 2024/ 20m 

Writers: Jayna Young, Nate Newman