LGBTQ short films to watch out for during Tribeca 2019

With the 18th annual Tribeca Film Festival set to take place this April in New York, there’s a number of LGBTQ short films showing at the film festival that you can watch.

Among these include short films about a bank robber and her daughter, New York City gay history as seen through the photographs of one who was there, and two girls who pick up a guy at a bar.

Diverse Tribeca short films

Tribeca, presented by AT&T, recently announced their 2019 lineup with 63 short films set to compete with each other in 11 distinct competition programs, and 31 having their world premieres.

What’s more, the program includes a cross-section of international and US filmmakers from a record 5,131 submissions. Of the films selected, 45 percent were from female filmmakers.

“We spent a great deal of time curating programs that reflect the diverse interests of our audiences,” said Sharon Badal, Vice President of Filmmaker Relations and Shorts Programming.

Badal added: “This year we emphasize identity, community, and humanity while also entertaining our audience with some laughter, fun, and adventure.”

The competition programs include six narrative, four documentary, and one animation program– as well as a special screening programs for the annual Tribeca/ ESPN Sports Film Festival.

The Queen Collective program, developed by Procter & Gamble, is likewise set to debut with a program focusing on accelrating gender and racial equality behind the camera.

LGBTQ short films at Tribeca

Among this richness of short films are several that have LGBTQ subject matter/ actors available for our enjoyment.

Likewise, there are also a handful of directors of these short films who identify as LGBTQ.

The films:

1. “Black Hat” (Dir. Sarah Smith) – Black Hat, directed by Sarah Smith, written by Phillip Guttmann. (USA) – New York Premiere, Short Narrative. A pious Hasidic man living a secret double life misplaces his hat one night, which will cause his two separate lives to collide in a way he never imagined. With Adam Silver, Sebastian Velmont, Shelly Kurtz, Alan Lennick, Carolyn Michelle Smith, Nicholas Hylander.

2. “Carlito Leaves Forever” (Dir. Quentin Lazzarotto)- Carlito Leaves Forever, directed and written by Quentin Lazzarotto. (France, Peru) – New York Premiere, Short Narrative. A short poetic film following Carlito, a young man living in an indigenous village at the heart of the Amazonian jungle, who decided to leave and change his life forever. With Carlito Tirira Meshi, Alfonsina Sehua Tioshe.

3. “Framing Agnes” (Dirs. Chase Joynt & Kristen Schilt) – Framing Agnes, directed by Chase Joynt, Kristen Schilt. (USA) – North American Premiere, Short Documentary. In 2017, trans artists gained access to a 1950s archive of never-before-seen histories of transgender people. Through reenactment and documentary, they revive the past to redefine the future. With Angelica Ross, Chase Joynt, Max Wolf Valerio, Silas Howard, Zackary Drucker.

4. “His Hands” (Dirs. Arron Blake & Darius Shu) – His Hands, directed and written by Arron Blake, Darius Shu. (UK) – North American Premiere, Short Narrative. Two men of different ages meet for the strangest encounter of their lives. With Arron Blake, Philip Brisebois.

5. “I Think She Likes You” (Dir. Bridey Elliott) – I Think She Likes You, directed by Bridey Elliott, written by Teresa Lee (Screenplay), Christine Medrano. (USA) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. When Justine and Julia pick Jake up at a bar, it’s not quite the threesome he was expecting. With Christine Medrano, Teresa Lee, Josh Fadem.

6. “Mack Wrestles” (Dirs. Taylor Hess & Erin Sanger) – Mack Wrestles (Mack Wrestles), directed by Taylor Hess, Erin Sanger. (USA) – New York Premiere, Short Documentary. Mack Beggs loved wrestling—it gave him a sense of purpose and a sense of self. Mack Wrestles, takes the audience behind the scenes as this gifted athlete from Euless, Texas, struggles against the outside forces that stigmatize transgender athletes.

7. “Momster” (Dir. Drew Denney) – Momster, directed and written by Drew Denny. (USA) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. When notorious bank robber, the Momster, catches her daughter Angel mid-gunfight, Angel thinks she’s being rescued… until she realizes she has to do the saving. With Brianna Hildebrand, Amanda Plummer, John Ennis, Josh Fadem, Ryan Simpkins.

8. “Ponyboi” (Dirs. River Gallo & Sade Joseph) – Ponyboi, directed and written by River Gallo. (USA) – New York Premiere, Short Narrative. Ponyboi, an intersex sex-worker, looks for love and to escape his seedy life in New Jersey. Through an encounter with the man of his dreams, Ponyboi discovers his worth. With River Gallo, Keith Allan, Aaron Schwartz, Sophie Labelle, Logan Arevelo.

9. “Stanley Stellar: Here for this Reason” (Dir. Eric Leven) – Stanley Stellar: Here for this Reason, directed and written by Eric Leven. (USA) – World Premiere, Short Documentary. 40 years of New York City gay history told through photographs and the man behind the camera there to capture it all.

10. “This Perfect Day” (Dir. Lydia Rui) – This Perfect Day, directed and written by Lydia Rui. (Australia) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. Across the street, a music store is closing. With only a few minutes to make their move, Julia realizes it’s time for them to face their fears. With Michelle Keating, Lee Mason, Hannah Koch.

The filmmakers:

1. Drew Denney (“Momster”)
2. Quentin Lazzarotto (“Carlito Leaves Forever”)
3. Eric Leven (“Stanley Stellar: Here for this Reason”)
4. Adam Yorke (“Bunker Burger”)

Reasons to watch LGBTQ short films

If you saw the 2019 Oscar short film winner “Bao,” which was directed by Domee Shi, it actually had its world premiere in last year’s Tribeca Film Festival.

What’s more, some notable actors that are appearing in this year’s festival include Lorraine Bracco, Brian Dennehy, Veronica Dunne, Brianna Hildebrand, Amanda Plummer, Bella Ramsey, and Keenan Thompson.

For those interested watching this April 24 – May 5, you can get advance selection ticket packages online at tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets, or by telephone at (646) 502-5296 or toll-free at (866) 941-FEST (3378).

You can also purchase The Hudson Pass, an all-access pass to screenings and talks taking place at BMCC, Regal Battery Park Stadium, Village East Cinema, and SVA theaters.

This also gives full access to all events at the Festival Hub at Spring Studios, which includes VR and Immersive projects, Movies Plus screenings, and access to festival lounges.

Single tickets are pegged at US$24.00 for evening and weekend screenings, US$12.00 for weekday matinee screenings, US$30.00 for Tribeca TV and Movies Plus, US$40.00 for Tribeca Talks panels, and US$40.00 for Tribeca Immersive.

The Tribeca Film Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 in Lower Manhattan, and is now on its 18th year.