LGBTQ+ Festival 1st Scene: THE OUTRAGEOUS LIFE OF HENRY FAULKNER, by Jim Hall

The colourful and adventurous life of one of America’s most talented unknown gay artists and his quest for self-expression and respect.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Val Cole
Jamie: Shawn Devlin
Henry: Sean Ballantyne

Writer Biography – Jim Hall

Like his titular character, Jim Hall grew up in Kentucky with an eye for far horizons. He began his career in the film industry before spending years as an airline pilot, exploring the world and gathering experiences that now inspire his writing. A skilled carpenter, Jim has restored historic homes around the globe, including multiple 17th-century canal houses in Amsterdam, blending craftsmanship with creativity.

Jim’s passions for classical music, film, and the arts shape his unique perspective and attention to detail. Alongside his talents as a gourmet cook and harpsichord builder, his journey into screenwriting was reignited by a chance encounter with the story of artist Henry Faulkner, sparking a unique virtual friendship and a renewed enthusiasm for storytelling.

After eight years in Barcelona, Jim recently returned to Amsterdam with his partner, where he continues to channel his eclectic talents into film and writing projects.

‘The Outrageous Life of Henry Faulkner’ – winner Best Epic Drama and Best Independent Spirit Screenplay at Angel / Monaco Film Festival 1 December 2024. Won Best Feature Screenplay at the Amsterdam New Cinema Film Festival 12 December 2024.

Writer Statement
After many years of not writing, I’ve taken on thi

WINNERS: October 2025 LGBTQ+ LA Festival

A showcase of the best LGBTQ+ films in the world today.

AUDIENCE AWARDS:
Best Short Film: STAG
Best Direction: TROY! The Original Lady Boy

STAG, 20min,. USA
Directed by Nick Giannetto
A queer son and his conservative father venture into the Sierra Nevadas for a hunting trip heavy with silence, grief, and unspoken truths. In the stillness of nature, their clash over identity and tradition becomes a test of love, acceptance, and whether connection can survive the distance between them.

TROY! The Original Lady Boy, 32min,. USA
Directed by Christina Linhardt
Take a peek inside the gritty, glitzy life of the one-and-only honky-tonk Queen, Troy Walker, considered to be the first “lady boy”. From his life of drugs and drag on the Sunset strip in the 1960s, to his infamous 1970s run at North Hollywood’s World Famous Palomino, not only did the ultra-flamboyant singer survive, but is now preparing to celebrate his 80th birthday.

https://troytheoriginalladyboy.godaddysites.com/

LGBTQ+ Festival 1st Scene: BLUE IDAHO, by Noah Zayn Mortier

Blue (formerly Logan) is a gifted transgender surgical nurse whose life spirals after a violent romance exposes her truth. Surviving a suicide attempt, she’s sent to an off-grid trauma retreat, where healing begins amid a web of broken souls, betrayal, and revelation. Returning home to confront family and memory, Logan reclaims his identity—detransitioning not in retreat, but in power. Blue Idaho is a raw, redemptive journey of self-forgiveness, queer identity, and the quiet strength it takes to choose yourself.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Val Cole
Blue: Hannah Ehman
Richard: Geoff Mays

LGBTQ+ Festival 1st Scene: LESBIANS OF BUSHWICK, by Olive Persimmon

Margot sneaks into the Premier lounge, and obnoxiously pitches her fake reality show idea to Arbuckle. He gets her kicked out. A video circulates of him saying a gay slur. He pitches her show to Ronnie, who’s ready to drop him. He emails Margot. She convinces Alex to help her shoot the pilot. He brings along Remy, his inept niece. At the urging of her neighbor, they go to a local bar to scout talent. They find JB and Jane. While interviewing them, JB goes out to smoke and is brought back by Nadine, who blackmails Margot into being on the show.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Val Cole
Margot: Hannah Ehman
Arbuckle: Geoff Mays