Showing in Pairing Up block October 5th, 2025, at 7:00 PM click here for tickets: HQSFF
By Valerie Milano
Hollywood, CA (The Hollywood Times – Media Partner with the Hollywood Queer Shorts Film Festival) 9/23/25 – The short film Two Black Boys in Paradise is a luminous achievement in queer storytelling, an arresting stop-motion animation that marries poetry, visual artistry, and lived experience. Directed by Baz Sells, produced by Ben Jackson, and written in collaboration with poet Dean Atta, the project blossoms from Atta’s poem of the same name into a cinematic celebration of identity, self-acceptance, and the transformative power of love. The Hollywood Times had the pleasure of speaking with the creative team in advance of the film’s upcoming screening at the Hollywood Queer Shorts Film Festival (HQSFF) on October 4. Though the team, based in Manchester, cannot be present in Los Angeles due to the demands of their festival circuit, their voices carried deeply across the digital space during our interview, leaving an indelible impression.
purples of the sky and the cliffs and mountains surround the lake.
Atta’s original poem was inspired by imagery from the Garden of Eden and the tensions he felt growing up Christian while knowing he was gay. “I wanted to write this story about acceptance and belonging, about finding love and not hiding who you are,” Atta explained. Producer Ben Jackson recalled first hearing Atta perform the poem in Berlin: “It was one of those moments where you hear something and can’t stop thinking about it for days. I saw the potential for a really special film.” Together with Sells, the trio developed the project into a richly textured stop-motion animation. Securing support from the BFI, the team devoted three years to production, shaping Atta’s words into a vibrant, tactile world.
Click below for our exclusive interview:
For Sells, who wore multiple hats as director, co-writer, and co-DOP, the film’s scale required leaning on the crew and embracing collaboration: “It was such a big undertaking that we really had to trust one another. What drove me was a sense of protectiveness over these characters and their stories. In some ways, the film is a protest as much as it is a celebration, an unapologetic affirmation of queer love and identity.” That protectiveness and passion resonate on screen. The film’s stop-motion artistry gives its characters an otherworldly yet tender quality, creating a visual “paradise” that audiences are invited to enter.
purple-toned water that sparkles faintly with reflected star light.
The filmmakers spoke candidly about how the film mirrored their own journeys of self-acceptance. Jackson shared: “For a long time, I wished I could be straight. But through the process of making this film, I found pride in being gay and discovered my own piece of paradise.” Atta emphasized that paradise in the film is open to all: “It’s a state of mind a place of self-acceptance and self-love. We invite everyone to enter paradise with whoever they choose, or even on their own.” The team’s reflections reveal that Two Black Boys in Paradise is not just an adaptation but a communal act of healing and affirmation, grounded in their lived experiences and supportive partnerships.
and colorful fish.
Since its world premiere in Brussels, the film has been embraced across international festivals, from BFI Flare to Amdocs, and now HQSFF. The filmmakers expressed gratitude for being part of a festival that champions diverse and underrepresented voices: “It’s so special when queer films are showcased together. We hope audiences leave with a sense of belonging and of being seen. One person told us the film felt like a massive hug. That’s what we want people to take away, love, joy, and celebration.”
framed by distant mountains across the lake.
As media partners with HQSFF, The Hollywood Times is proud to spotlight Two Black Boys in Paradise. This film is more than a visual delight; it is a beacon of representation, reminding us that paradise exists wherever love, acceptance, and authenticity are embraced. Don’t miss its Hollywood screening on October 4 at HQSFF, an evening that promises to open the gates of paradise to all who enter.
