BLACK & QUEER IN AMERICA
TUESDAY, OCT 19, 7:00 PM, NW FILM FORUM &
VIRTUAL (OCT 14–24)
This year’s QTBIPOC program is dedicated to celebrating the joy and resistance of Black queer lives in the United States.
CO-PRESENT WITH:
Langston Seattle
OUT OF THE DARK: AKEEM
Sarah Klein & Tom Mason; 2021; USA; 4 min.
Slam poet AKeem Rollins delivers a powerful performance about facing the greatest challenge of his life and finding a strength he never knew he had.
PURE
Natalie Jasmine Harris; 2020; USA; 12 min.
On the eve of her cotillion, Celeste grapples with her queer identity and questions her purity in this somber and meditative coming-of-age short.
KIIA
Jon Crawford; 2021; USA; 5 min.
In this endearing documentary, alternative medicine advocate Kiia speaks about the herb life, growing up in the South, and the importance of comfortable chairs.
AIMEE VICTORIA
Chrystee Pharris; 2021; USA; 11 min.
Conceived and created entirely remotely during the lockdown of 2020, this is the story of two deaf women of color, Aimee and Victoria, whose relationship is tested when they are separated on their anniversary.
LIMA’S PLACE
Hailey Bunn; 2021; USA; 11 min.
In this smart and sweet experimental short, we get to know Kenyan-born, Seattle-based teenager Lima, who shares their experiences as a Black, nonbinary, bisexual person navigating family, religion, and mental health.
PEACE
Adomako Aman; 2020; USA; 11 min.
Peace is a love story between music producer, Daniel, and music artist, Leon, that dives into the complexities of a down-low queer relationship. This visually appealing, often poetic short questions what it means to truly be at peace.
THE BEAUTY PRESIDENT
Whitney Skauge; 2021; USA; 10 min.
In 1992, Joan Jett Blakk made a historic bid for the White House as one of the first openly queer write-in candidates. Today, Terence Smith, the man behind the persona, reflects on his place in gay rights history at the height of the AIDS crisis.
SUNDAY’S CHILD
Maisie Richardson-Sellers; 2019; USA; 13 min.
After stumbling upon a vivid QTPOC house party, Esi lets down her walls, lets go of societal and family pressures, and takes the first steps toward self-acceptance.
COMING HOME TO MYSELF
Ella Figueiredo; 2020; USA; 5 min.
An experimental and cathartic visual portrait of queer Afro-Latina Bianca and her personal experience of finding liberation through dance.
Total running time: 82 min.
CONTENT WARNINGS: DEPICTION OF SUICIDE, DISCUSSION OF SUICIDE, DEPICTION OF SELF-HARM, DISCUSSION OF SELF-HARM