Screening followed by Q&A with: Fawzia Mirza (Director) and Andria Wilson Mirza (Producer), moderated by Chani Nicholas.

Azra is worlds apart from her conservative Muslim mother. When her father suddenly dies on a trip home to Pakistan, Azra finds herself on a Bollywood-inspired journey through memories, both real and imagined; from her mother’s youth in Karachi to her own coming- of-age in rural Canada.

Screening followed by Q&A with: Meg Shutzer (Co-Director & Producer) and Brandon Yadegari Moreno (Co-Director and DP) from Mother.

Throughout history, queer people have conceptualized and practiced various forms of resistance – politically and artistically; individually and collectively. The films in this block examine the world as it is while raising the possibility of what it can be. Whether based on a true story or an imagined story, these films showcase the transformative power of defying the status quo and inspire viewers to explore, embrace and ultimately, enact alternate futures.

Screening followed by Q&A with: Nate Gualtieri (Writer).

An Iranian-American transman, Ahmad, searching for his place in history, finds more than just a link to the past in the archives. Drawing from first-person accounts, as well as fictionalized segments, filmmaker Jules Rosskam explores the lines of desire as they intersect with identity for many transmen.

Screening followed by Q&A with: Natalie Jasmine Harris (Ben in Bloom), Lina Abascal (Stud Country), Alexandra Kern (Stud Country), April Maxey, Writer / Director (Work), Elaine Whae, Actress (Work); and from Blue Square Heart: William Means (Director), Noam Klement (Editor), Olia Zimarova (Producer), Yulia Safonova (Producer), Jessica Lea Risco (Actor), and Kian Morr (Actor).

This program of short films showcases the queer sanctuaries we create and find in spaces, our memories, and in others. Centered around the joy and safety that allow for the most authentic version of ourselves to emerge, the films showcase the world-building, and life-affirming possibilities of queer relationality. Individually, these films each highlight the nature and journey towards queer sanctuaries. Together they enshrine the most sacred and healing aspects of being queer – finding ourselves.