LGBTQ+ Festival Feature Script: The Pupil’s Lash, by Diana Smith

A murdered artist is given one more day to live, on the condition that he create a painting of pure beauty and destroy his latest work, a sculpture imbued with evil powers.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Hannah Ehman
NIT: Steve Rizzo
MICHAELANGELO: Geoff Mays
THOMMASO: Sean Ballantyne
Various: Julie Sheppard
Various: Elizabeth Rose Morriss
Various: Shawn Devlin

HIGHLIGHTS: October 2023 LA LGBTQ+ Film Festival

Showcase of the best FILMS in the world today.

Audience Award Winners:

Best Short Form Short Film: SON RISE, SON SHINE
Best Long Form Short Film: JARDINES
Best Direction: WHEN IT PAYS
Best Performances: TINA
Best Sound & Music: EVERYTHING’S FINE
Best Student Film: THE KIKI HOUSE OF VASE

Watch the Audience Feedback Video for each film:

WHEN IT PAYS, 11min., USA
Directed by Marisa Bertani
From the queer and women run production company, Late Bloomer Pictures. When struggling NYC sci-fi novelist, Erin, goes home for Passover, she must decide whether her family deserves to know a life-changing secret before they find out without her.

https://www.latebloomerpictures.com/
https://www.instagram.com/latebloomerpictures/

WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!


THE KIKI HOUSE OF VASE, 8min., Taiwan
Directed by Syrus Sadvandi
The Kiki House of Vase is a ballroom house based in Taipei. This is a group of voguers which attend events called “balls.” However, ballroom is more than a space to dance — it’s where people of an LGBT background can find unconditional support and a family regardless of their orientation or gender identity.

WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!


SON RISE, SON SHINE, 10min., USA
Directed by Sasha Marie Speer
A black man struggles to find his place in the world after not meeting society’s expectations. Son Rise, Son Shine is a short film about the journey of Gerald, a black, gay man, as he interacts with himself and the world from ages 6 to 40. Throughout the film, his 9-year-old self is acting as his inner bully, always telling him that the way he is doesn’t meet who he should be as a black man. That he isn’t good enough. That no one loves him. Through his different ages, we see Gerald struggle, but eventually finally find peace with who he is and his place in the world.

WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!


EVERYTHING’S FINE, 14min,. USA
Directed by Christina Hulen
A young teacher suffering from trauma induced memory loss finds herself spiraling dangerously out of control as the impending anniversary of the event nears, threatening to destroy her carefully crafted veneer of normalcy, her relationships and her life.

https://www.everythingsfinethemovie.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/152022827084682
https://twitter.com/EF_themovie
https://www.instagram.com/everythingsfine_themovie/

WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!


JARDINES, 26min., USA
Directed by Alfredo Torres
While waiting in limbo, displaced LGBTQ folks hoping to cross into the United States find support and healing with one another, as they process the heartbreak and joy of a queer family on the move.

https://www.torresalfredo.com/torres/jardines
https://www.instagram.com/jardinesfilm

WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!


TINA, 14min., USA
Directed by Laura Sweeney
Our new short film TINA is a heartfelt, story about two people who knew each other back when and are surprised to meet up again. We think viewers will absolutely relate, especially if they’ve ever encountered someone from their past who influenced them at a key juncture in their life, or if they’ve gone searching online for an old friend, teacher, boss, whoever…and been surprised by how much they’ve both changed!

https://www.instagram.com/tinatinalove23

WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!