Out on Film 2026 - Queer Chemistry: Romance Shorts

From the venue:

Attraction rarely follows the rules—and sometimes it doesn’t remain entirely of this world. These seven stories explore the sparks, surprises and complications that arise when queer desire takes hold.

Fresh from an eight-year relationship, Daniel scrolls through a hookup app at a party before an encounter with Taylor suggests that love at first sight might be real. In a smoke-filled sports bar in 1974, two men communicate everything they cannot say aloud through a game of eight-ball pool. During lifeguard training, timid Marco becomes entranced by the mysterious Xavier and must decide whether to risk rejection or let queer joy pass him by. A bar-bathroom hookup takes an otherworldly turn, forcing two men to work through their problems before they can move forward. After discovering her husband’s interest in gay pornography, Molly arranges a threesome that reveals deeper complexities within their marriage. A first date between a trans man and a queer man becomes an unexpected adventure filled with intimacy, affirmation and gender euphoria. And a seemingly perfect housewife’s appetite for expensive meat—and the butcher who knows exactly how to handle it—exposes the cracks in her carefully constructed life.

Expected Attendance:

Embrace - Matthew Rush, Director, Writer

An Act of Love - Keshet Pratt, Actress, Writer & Stephan Stelman, Director, Writer

Affirmation - Christopher Vallario, Director & Tony Zosherafatain, Producer

Shorts:

Petrichor (Hey, Handsome) - Freshly out of an 8-year long relationship, DANIEL attends a party that his friend invited him to. He sits alone outside, perusing the app “Sniffies”, looking for a hookup that will take him out of the party and somewhere he doesn’t have to think. That’s when TAYLOR finds him… and falls in love at first sight. As Taylor slowly chips away at Daniel’s hard exterior through jokes, compliments, and overt flirtation, Daniel starts to realize that maybe he has fallen in love at first sight as well…. just to be constantly pulled back to his reality but constant notifications from Sniffies. The boys finally reach a deeper connection, kissing and dancing in the newly arrived rain, when yet another Sniffies message distracts Daniel and frustrates Taylor. Realizing that Daniel might be the “right person, wrong time”, Taylor leaves him alone. Daniel receives one final message on Sniffies. It’s from a new account…. Taylor. Daniel laughs, makes his decision, and goes in the party to join Taylor.

Magic 8 - A Smoke filled Sports Bar. Love is like a game of pool. “Magic 8” is a 3 minute short film shot on Super 8, which explores what happens when making a queer connection in a stereotypically “Straight” space. It follows two men (referred to as Solid and Stripe), who engage in a game of 8-Ball Pool. As an audience we get the impression this is a regular occurrence for our two characters, but there is a mutual understanding that none of Solid’s inner dialogue could ever be said out loud.

Swimmers - Marco is a timid teen who has yet to discover his own agency. Over his summer break, he signs up for a lifeguard training course, where he becomes entranced by his polar opposite, Xavier; a boy of mystery and unknown sexuality. Not wanting to risk making a fool of himself or stand out, Marco hides his feelings.

When Marco is partnered up with Xavier for CPR and in-water drills, a connection begins to form. As Marco's confidence grows, so does their friendship. When it becomes clear Xavier may feel the same way, Marco must decide whether to act on his feelings or let his queer joy pass him by.

Swimmers explores the thrill, vulnerability, and discovery of coming into one's queer identity.

Embrace - When a bar bathroom hookup takes an otherworldly turn, two men must work through their problems to move forward.

An Act of Love - When Molly discovers her husband Dave's secret interest in gay porn, she arranges a threesome to explore his sexuality. But her act of acceptance reveals deeper complexities as the couple navigates new territory in their marriage.

Affirmation - A date between a trans guy and a queer guy leads to unexpected adventure and intimacy.

In the Flesh - The perfect housewife has a secret: She's obsessed with expensive meat, and the local butcher who knows how to handle it. When her dream of a chance encounter with the butcher comes true, the cracks in her home life are exposed.