Community, Connection, and Visibility: Real Lives Shorts Program

Coming on November 16

Run Time: 115 min.

Wicked Queer: Docs

This program brings together stories that illuminate LGBTQ+ courage, connection, and celebration around the world. From a trailblazing trans football club, to a daughter forging fragile bonds with her donor father, exploring resilience, family, and self-determination. A dazzling ode to queer Oz fandom and a fight for equality at Disneyland, we also meet two spirited seniors embracing freedom on the road. Together, these stories honor chosen community, the power of visibility, and the many ways we create home, history, and joy on our own terms. – Katie Shannon, Programmer

WE’LL GO DOWN IN HISTORY

Directed by Cameron Richards, Charlie Tidmas • 25 min • UK • English

WE’LL GO DOWN IN HISTORY tells the story of TRUK United, a grassroots, proudly trans football club. Filmed over two years, it captures the team’s highs and lows on and off the pitch as they create a safe haven for their community in the face of rising transphobia.

WHILE WE STILL HAVE TIME

Directed by Ava Grimshaw-Hall • 15 min • Australia • English

While We Still Have Time is the debut from daughter-cum-documentary filmmaker, Ava Grimshaw-Hall, who embarks on a poignant journey to connect with her sperm donor father John, as he battles an aggressive cancer. Together, they explore their unique bond, seeking understanding and closure amidst life’s uncertainties.

FRIENDS OF DOROTHY: THE YELLOW BRICK CODE

Directed by Randy Schmidt • 22 min • USA • English

Friends of Dorothy: The Yellow Brick Code is a dazzling short film exploring the queer legacy of Oz, from L. Frank Baum’s book to the camp of the 1939 MGM classic and the world of Wicked. Featuring drag superstar Ginger Minj and author Gregory Maguire, it celebrates Judy Garland as a gay icon and Oz as a haven for LGBTQ+ fans. A spirited tribute to chosen family, fabulousness, and the enduring magic of Oz.

DANCING IN TOMORROWLAND

Directed by Jakob Roston • 16 min • USA • English

An unsung gay rights activist fights to overturn Disneyland’s ban on same-sex dancing in the early 1980s.

TWO TRAVELING AUNTIES

Directed by Christine Seow • 22 min • Singapore • English

Two spirited Singaporean seniors ditch conventional living for van life, embracing adventure, newfound freedom, and the joy of living on their own terms.

No Brattle Passes