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Namas Dei: The Tucker J. James Story (2:00pm) Clueless (and somewhat delusional) wannabe movie star Tucker J. James moves to Los Angeles and goes viral for all the wrong reasons. His good luck turns bad when he makes a huge mistake – one that just might force him to evolve into a slightly less terrible version of himself.
Love Me Bait Me: The Power of Queer Representation. (4:45pm) Disc
300 Letters (7:00pm) Jero and Tom are the young gay couple that everyone wants to be. But on the day of the first anniversary of their meeting, Jero returns home to find that Tom has abandoned him, leaving him a box of 300 letters as his only explanation.
A Portrait of Love (11:30AM) For over 20 years, renowned Australian artist Craig Ruddy and his partner Roberto Meza Mont documented their life together. Then suddenly Ruddy was gone, the victim of COVID-related complications, and Roberto Meza Mont was left alone. Filmmaker and friend Molly Reynolds weaves Roberto’s footage into an intimate portrait of life, love, art, and loss.
Lolita (2:30PM) After serving a nine year jail sentence for drug abuse and prostitution, Jesus tries to integrate back into society in order to start fresh. It isn’t easy and he struggles at every turn…to find a job, to mend broken fences, and to figure out a way to get his daughter Lolita back from his brother and sister-in-law.
Papi’s Pregnant (5:00PM) This honest, and very personal documentary chronicles the filmmaker’s transgender, non-binary, queer pregnancy from Chicago to Los Angeles, navigating the personal and medical challenges of queer and trans-inclusive healthcare and family building. Blending montage, cinéma vérité, and interviews, the film explores fertility, going off HRT, ovulation, and donor negotiation, while seeking queer- and trans-inclusive care.
Surviving Voices (7:00PM) Three Films combine to share one powerful message: Surviving Voices: HIV Lifetime & Long-Term Survivors honors HIV Lifetime and Long-Term Survivors – those who acquired HIV at birth or as young children and those who acquired the virus before the availability of effective treatment in the mid-1990s. Surviving Voices: AIDS Memorial Quilt Panel Makers focuses on the Untold Stories of the AIDS Memorial Quilt; those of the people who commemorate lost loved ones by sewing Quilt panels. Finally, Gert’s Boys tells the story of Cindy “Gert” McMullin, an original volunteer and co-founder of The AIDS Memorial Quilt. Special Panel Discussion after the screening.
Sandbag Dam (Sponsored by Desert Film Society) (10:00AM) When Slaven returns to their town after the death of his father, he revives his relationship with Marko, his teenage love and the reason his father kicked him out of the house. Now tempted to reunite, they need to make peace with their own decisions and struggle against family and societal restraints.
Mea Culpa (2:00PM) Lies and guilt shape Patrick’s bond with his mother, Randa. Over years, he saved their audio messages and video calls. Now, he crafts them into a portrait of her life in Lebanon and his in Belgium. By turns moving, tragic, and humorous, Mea Culpa probes national and sexual identity for a young Palestinian emigrant.
Row of Life (4:45PM) ROW OF LIFE follows Paralympian, Marine veteran, and 14-time Guinness World Record holder Angela Madsen in her final, unassisted solo row from Los Angeles to Hawaii. A poetic portrait of bravery, resilience, and love, it captures Angela and her wife Deb’s unwavering support, separated by an ocean and bound by dreams.
Until the Silence (7:00PM) WORLD PREMIERE – A HERE FILMS Original. In post-blast Los Angeles, three couples gather for one last candlelit dinner. As darkness closes in, they share stories, regrets, humor, and fragile love—a final testament to humanity. Written and directed by EMMY-nominated filmmaker Billy Clift.
WHERE YOU FIND ME (2:30PM) Two women fight for the right to their own bodies and discover unexpected support in each other. Although they couldn’t be more different, a close friendship develops between them until they are both confronted with a big decision. WHERE YOU FIND ME tells a kaleidoscopic story about bodily autonomy and rebellion, friendship, and queer family models.
Viet and Nam (4:30PM) Deep underground in Vietnam’s coal mines, young lovers Viêt and Nam share secret moments away from prying eyes. Before Nam leaves abroad, he joins his mother in searching the forest for his father’s remains. Shot on 16mm, VIET AND NAM is a tender, forbidden love story and haunting portrait of a nation’s legacy.
Bob Morgan’s Just Going to Tell some Stories (4:45PM) A queer Kentucky follk artist, activist, and historian in recovery shares vivid tales of art, sex, pagan babies, LGBTQ archives, and his journey from outsider to community icon. This film bursts with color, texture, and wit—a visual flavor fest celebrating resilience, creativity, and the power of lived experience.
Thank You For Her (5:00PM) When aspiring fantasy novelist Anna Drake accidentally runs cyclist Lance off the road, she has no idea this chance encounter will change both their lives. As their romance blossoms, Anna finds herself falling for Lance’s free-spirited nature and determination, while keeping her brother Cam’s protective instincts at bay.
Cinema Diverse Spotlight: Weekend Two!
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