These LGBTQ Shorts Winners Blew Us Away!

Audience Awards just ran its 2017 LGBTQ Shorts Film Festival. Here are the films that impressed the jurors.

In first place, we have the action film BRIX AND THE BITCH, by Nico Raineau. Raineau explains, 

The difficulties of making this film have now been far outweighed by the joy of how audiences have responded to it. I wasn’t sure if anyone would embrace a violent, female driven, LGBTQ, action romance – something I felt I had never seen before. This film is about a love story, and no community has fought longer, harder, and more passionately in the name of love than members and supporters of the LGBTQ community.

I hope we continue to see more films in which LGBTQ people are represented on screen without having to be labeled by their sexual orientation, and that filmmakers everywhere fight to give us more female driven action films in which women finally get the credit they deserve as badass action heroines.

Trapped in a seedy and illegal fight club, one woman’s only chance for escape is to win a brutal brawl against the one person she refuses to harm.

Following up in 2nd place is the documentary Princess Jack, by Lesley Johnson.

This film is an intimate portrait of a unique and intelligent child, immersed in his own world, and fully supported by his caring family, dance instructors and sewing teacher.

Rounding out our winners in third place is Follow Me, by Anthony Schatteman.

Eighteen-year-old Jasper is madly in love with his art teacher. Overcome with confusion and longing, Jasper takes to following his teacher and his new girlfriend wherever they go.

Meet our runners-up! (In no particular order)

The Boy Next Door by Joe Camareno

Camareno tells us,

“participating in an audience awards was fun! A little nerve-wracking watching the stats. Ha! But it served as a great way to reach out to people directly and have a way for them to see our work. We are so proud of this film and the message presented in it. We also love the fact that the couple in this story are comprised of two middle-aged people, something that is rare in LGBTQ stories for the screen.”

Cold Feet by Tim Blane

Minutes before his backyard wedding, Richie suddenly decides he’s not mature enough to be a husband. His best friend, Mike, discovers him freaking out in the kitchen. Mike has five minutes to listen to Richie’s neurotic fears, calm him down, and convince him to walk back outside and get married.

Bound by Colin J Murphy

Bound follows Jacob Phillips, an out gay agent, as he tries to find a balance in his feelings of allegiance to his job, a codependent friendship, and a new man.

InQueeries by Aliya Brooks

Social, religious, and racial issues erupt when a closeted lesbian returns home to come out to her family, with her partner by her side.

Thank you to all filmmakers who submitted and congratulations to our winners! We look forward to seeing the top three films premiere at AudFest 2018!