for us, an essay

When Brian Epstein set foot in the Cavern Club in November 1961 to watch The Beatles perform, he saw something no one else could – a glimmer of gold. Sharply dressed and well-spoken, Brian was hardly the most obvious radical – but being Jewish, closeted and having grown up as an outsider who had failed at pretty much everything, he was a 26-year old with something to prove and who wanted to tear up the rulebook.

Fifteen-year-old Malou is struggling with herself; while her mother is mostly absent and her rowing teammates bully her, the one person she can rely on is her brother Max. When Malou develops feelings for Max’s girlfriend Nouria, her life is dragged in an unstoppable current. Malou has to face her true self, may it be at the expense of her brother.

Maria lives a suffocating routine and an abusive relationship. She decides to embark on a journey of reading alongside Rose, an inspiring woman defined by her freedom. Together, they discover that poetry can teach far more than she ever imagined.

This year, seventy year old grumpy Johan is married with his wife Dora for fifty years. But unfortunately, Johan finds there is nothing to celebrate. Something seems missing... Something that's been out of place for all those years. He spends his daily life routine complaining and bullying and only after the moment he meets sixteen year old Yorgos, a Greek shop employee, he starts to realize he may only have a very short time left to stop denying his true feelings and identity.

Timothy is bullied by homophobic classmates at his all boys high school. While studying A Midsummer Night's Dream, he imagines a world where he isn't so different. With the help of Midsummer, his quirky teacher, a spectacular musical dream and tons of glitter, he creates a way to fit in.

Haunted by their own directionless lives, two pre-adolescent girls reunite while visiting their ailing grandmother. In the midst of her fantasies of a medieval past - one consumed by fear and desire - the two girls are transformed and confront a legacy of oppression, juxtaposing their budding identities to a trial condemning two Moorish homosexuals to burn at the stake.

During a hard-fought, tense cup semi-final, the two captains of a football team have an argument that ends up revealing a secret buried in the dressing rooms of the first division: the silence of homosexual footballers.

Spencer is the story of a young bisexual man who is struggling to reconnect with life after a series of tragic and complicated relationships.

Katya, a young librarian, believes in love, but her ideals are crushed by reality. After a string of disappointing affairs, Katya finally finds tenderness and understanding in the arms of her colleague, a journalist called Tanya. But then the First Department interferes: the state security services see this relationship as unacceptable for a Soviet woman.

Tired of the unsatisfying singles scene, Glenn answers a personal ad and meets Adam, a handsome Southern man seeking a long-term relationship. The two hit it off immediately, but their initial attraction is soon put to the test. Glenn's gay friends say he'd be happier playing the field again, but his straight pals encourage him to work at the budding relationship.

Luisa has a habit of bringing her dates home, irritating her son, Cesar. When Cesar invites his best friend Pablo over for a sleepover, Luisa's flirtations become too much to bear, especially as Cesar has his own feelings towards Pablo.

As he has done countless times before, Cris (Archie de Calma) is riding the jeepney bus along the Elliptical Road bordering the Quezon Memorial Circle. Suddenly a robbery begins and he finds himself being held at knife point. As his life passes before his eyes, he asks the question, what could I have done in the past to save me from this? "Circles" tells the story of Cris' life in the days leading up to the robbery. As a trader at Quezon Memorial Circle, he deals with all levels of Filipino society. From fruit sellers to student protesters to male hookers all lives intersect at the park and it's historical landmarks. As brave and creative as Pablo's past features ("Doubt", "Bathhouse") and shot gorilla style on a shoe string budget,"Circles" promises to be all things to all gay people: entertainment, fable and erotica.

An old flame is reignited and a new desire is awaken when Hollywood Actress Adina J. Spencer returns back to New York. Soon she is forced to face her sexual past, confront her present identity, and admit her true love.

The painter Lili Elbe was the first person to have gender confirmation surgery in the 1930s. The homonymous opera is a glimpse into the life of Lili Elbe and her wife Gerda Wegener (also a famous painter) through Lili's transition at a time when such surgery was still completely uncharted territory.

This debut experimental short film features a young woman trapped in the Midwest, and explores her views on life, and how she is perceived.

Eduardo, an 18-year-old kid from a small village in Jalisco, travels to Guadalajara. In this big and strange city, away from the eyes of his parents, he experiences his first encounters in love and sex.

Healing from a painful breakup, Michael travels to Venice, Italy, where he discovers the beauty of desire and experiences a love that awakens his spirit, promising to forever change the course of his life.

Paulo, a young pianist, meets Ilir, a double-bass player originally from Albania. It's love at first sight. Confronted by Anka, Paulo finds himself out on the street. Despite Ilir's misgivings, Paulo moves in with him. One day, when Paulo promises that he will love Ilir for the rest of his life, Ilir leaves the city and doesn't return. A few days later, Paulo finds out that Ilir is in jail, and the two lovers embark on an heart-breaking relationship.

Claire, a closeted dancer, finds herself at a small convention for Flappers with her friend and longtime crush Lou. As she begins to recognize herself in the other attendees, the truth about who she is becomes increasingly painful to ignore.

Shipwrecked on a tropical island, a young boy befriends an abandoned native youth, forcing him to reevaluate societal prejudice about race, religion and nudity.