16 Feature Films, Short Films, and Pilots Slated to Screen June 19-29
Los Angeles, CA (June 6, 2025)—Discovery competition Dances With Films (DWF) is proud to spotlight the LGBTQIA+ lineup for its twenty eighth version in honor of Pride Month. This 12 months, three options, 9 shorts, and 4 pilots will play on the historic TCL Chinese Theatre from Thursday, June 19 by way of Sunday, June 29.
The Features slate begins with the World Premiere of Lane Michael Stanley’s T on Friday, June 20 at 7:15PM. Filmed over lead actor Mel Glickman’s real-life first 12 months taking Testosterone, T is a fictionalized, never-before-seen journey of nuanced transmasculine discovery, authentically portraying the transferring struggles and joys encountered in friendships, household, and romantic relationships.
Features wrap up on Wednesday, June 25 with the West Coast Premiere of Chris Coats’ FLAMINGO CAMP at 4:30PM and the World Premiere of Avan Hardwell’s SILENT PREY at 9:30PM. FLAMINGO CAMP takes place within the harsh Sonoran Desert’s near-lawless squatter city of Slab City, the place a bunch of younger queer and trans anarchists have created a thriving secure house for themselves. The camp prospers by way of the gentle winter months below the management of its founder Nova, however the unthinkable occurs when Nova departs for the summer time and the brutal warmth units in, fracturing this as soon as close-knit chosen household. In SILENT PREY, an embattled Los Angeles legal professional learns that the police have attributed her brother’s premature dying to an unintentional overdose and joins forces with a hesitant detective to uncover the reality. Soon their investigation finds a string of murders that time to a serial killer hellbent on cleaning America of the evil he believes to be destroying it.
T
FLAMINGO CAMP
SILENT PREY
The Shorts programming kicks off on Friday, June 20 at 4:45PM with the Los Angeles Premiere of Cheri Gaulke and Sue Maberry’s OLD GIRL IN A TUTU: SUSAN RENNIE DISRUPTS ART HISTORY within the “Doc Shorts Block 1” class. Feminist scholar, Susan Rennie, seizes her iPhone and sneaks her queer, octogenarian physique into grasp artworks, disrupting the narrative of the male gaze. With humor and wit, Rennie’s photographic interventions supply a feminist critique of the traditional canon of artwork historical past, and an unabashed embrace of her elder, queer id.
Saturday, June 21 brings us Sara Monge’s HAPPY PLACE World Premiere within the “Comp Shorts Block 1” class at 11:45AM. After realizing she could wish to date ladies, Anna goes to her roommate’s cousin’s lesbian engagement social gathering within the hopes of discovering solutions however discovers one thing way more terrifying as a substitute. This is adopted by the “Comp Shorts Block 3” class at 4:15PM, which options the West Coast Premieres of Jonathan Hammon’s FIREFLIES IN THE DUSK and Steven Fierberg, Brandon Johnston, and Lindsay Chamber’s HEAVEN AND NATURE. In FIREFLIES IN THE DUSK, Victorian-era Charlotte and trendy bro Zack alternate love letters by way of time and house. When Charlotte’s overbearing mom forces her to marry the uptight Cecil, Charlotte throws herself by way of a time portal to be Zack. But when Cecil follows, all the things goes awry. HEAVEN AND NATURE is about within the late Nineteen Fifties, as childhood sweethearts are confronted with the realities of their relationship as adults and compelled to acknowledge that conditions are usually not at all times what they look like. They should ask themselves what they’re prepared to sacrifice to dwell the American Dream.
HAPPY PLACE
FIREFLIES IN THE DUSK
HEAVEN AND NATURE
Sunday, June 22 sees the World Premiere of Stephan Fleet and JL Perkel’s XY within the “Comp Shorts Block 6” class at 4:15PM. Up and coming trans actress JL Perkel and recurring Palm Royale actor Dominic Burgess star in a social commentary on trans rights in America. XY is the story of a repressed comfort retailer clerk named Y and a trans cam lady named X whose lives tragically intersect at a bleak strip mall in right this moment’s America.
The “Fusion Shorts Block 1” class on Monday, June 23 at 5:00PM options the California Premiere of Fiona Obertinca and Corey Pinchoff’s DANDELION. In Nineteen Seventies Los Angeles, rebellious queer teen Margaret will get thrown out of yet one more foster placement and finds herself within the firm of a mysterious social employee who’s tasked with discovering her a brand new residence earlier than the break of daybreak. At odds and compelled to journey town collectively, Margaret realizes that working will not be her solely possibility.
XY
DANDELION
The West Coast Premieres of Carrie Adam’s COMPOSURE and Emelie Claxton’s DOGGONE are on Tuesday, June 24 at 7:00PM within the “Fusion Shorts Block 3” class. In COMPOSURE, an engagement photographer connects with a bride-to-be when the groom doesn’t present as much as their photoshoot. DOGGONE follows a struggling artist who will get a candy gig canine sitting for a rich publicist. But all hell breaks free when the Pomeranian in her care is dognapped proper out from below her nostril. On her quest to get the canine again earlier than the proprietor will get residence, she should face artwork world jerks, drag queens, drunk bridesmaids, and the rift forming in her most necessary relationship.
Closing out the shorts is Jonathan Hamond’s MASCLOOKING, starring Daniel Franzese, with its World Premiere within the “Fusion Shorts Block 5” class at 7:00PM on Wednesday, June 25. After two pals focus on the professionals and cons and homosexual courting apps, one begins to get ominous messages from a possible hookup with the deal with, MascLooking. And MascLooking is getting shut…and nearer.
COMPOSURE
DOGGONE
MASCLOOKING
Rounding out the lineup is Pilots, which begin on Saturday, June 21 at 2:45PM with Rain Valdez, Darryl Stephens, and Kyle Puccia’s World Premiere One For The Team within the “Pilots Block 3” class. Desperate to hold onto his Ivy League scholarship, trans hotshot Nico Ramirez strikes an hour away from residence to play lacrosse at an prosperous new highschool. Coach says Nico may win them the championship, however will he lose his pals, his full-ride, and his total sense of self within the course of?
Tuesday, June 24 sees Paul Sanchez IV’s Babyteeth at 4:30PM, previous the screening of function movie THE DISTANT JUMP. Babyteeth follows Toni, an 11-year-old LatinX transboy who’s afraid of the monster below their mattress…which could be very actual, nevertheless it will not be the one monster in the home.
One For The Team
Babyteeth
Pilots finish on Saturday, June 28 with the West Coast Premieres of Monica Raymund and Lisa Cordileone’s Crazy As A Loon within the “Pilots Block 4” class at 11:00AM and Lynn Rosen and Chad Kessler’s Gasbag within the “Pilots Block 6” at 3:30PM. Crazy As A Loon is a gripping proof of idea centered on one American household merely attempting to exist in the course of the Lavender Scare of 1953 in Washington, D.C. On the evening of her son’s party, a matriarch is hunted by a covert authorities unit, unleashing excess of her perpetrators bargained for. The story exposes the ruthless techniques—secret interrogations, surveillance, and blacklists—focusing on queer Americans, folks of colour, and intellectuals. The story resonates with the chilling fact that what occurred 70 years in the past nonetheless echoes by way of America right this moment. Gasbag is a coming-of-age ensemble comedy a couple of lovable, lately out overtalker discovering what (and who) he desires at age 42. The coronary heart of Ted Lasso meets the vibe of Abbott Elementary, by means of Queens, New York.
DWF is happy to proceed its dedication to amplifying and celebrating LGBTQIA+ voices and filmmakers, particularly throughout Pride Month.
Crazy As A Loon
Gasbag
DWF co-founder Michael Trent concludes, “We are incredibly honored to present such a diverse slate each year. Pride Month is a time of celebration and visibility for the LGBTQIA+ community, and we are so proud to shine a spotlight on these exceptional filmmakers who use their voice and art to promote acceptance and understanding.”
The 2025 outing of DWF will play a complete of 254 movies, with the theme “Find Your Truth,” making it Los Angeles’ largest unbiased movie competition. An entire checklist of movies and occasions, the competition schedule, passes and tickets, and extra can be found on-line here. Press supplies can be found here (picture credit score Dances With Films) and advance screeners can be found for media on request.
About Dances With Films (DWF)
Now in its twenty eighth 12 months, Dances With Films (DWF) champions the unflinching spirit on the very core of the unbiased movie scene. With most movie festivals relying closely on superstar, DWF has relied on the innovation, expertise, creativity, and sweat fairness that revolutionized the leisure business. And that reliance continues to show profitable, with alumni transferring on to write down, direct, and produce celebrity-studded automobiles, star in blockbuster films and tv collection, produce multi-million-dollar movies, and create scorching TV exhibits.
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