IT’S COMPLICATED: (Relationship Stories)
Runtime: 85 minutes
These six films explore the ups and downs of romantic relationships and the wide range of experiences and emotions that come with putting yourself out there.
Program lineup:
LADYLIKE
FLIRTING (WITH POSSIBILITIES)
INSPIRED
REVERIE
SUNSCREEN
19:24
ID: A poster for “Ladylike” with the title in white across the bottom of image of a woman with half of her face showing with black background behind her. Text on the right side: “Starring Abigail Blythe, directed by Natalie Ring.”
LADYLIKE
Short | United States | 12 Minutes | American Sign Language
Director: Natalie Ring
Aubrey brings her girlfriend Kat to meet her family for the first time at an intimate family dinner and is met with hostile disapproval. During the evening, tensions rise, and the toxic dynamic reaches a breaking point.
Content warnings: Adult, Homophobia, Profanity
ID: A poster for “Flirting with Possibilities” with the title in orange and white in center, superimposed over an image of two men approaching each other in front of a building. Text on top: “A Lake Five Production: Garrett Zuercher, Jason Tam, Tom Berklund, Jared Johnston, and Andrew Keenan-Bolger”. Text around the title: “A film by Garett Zuercher”.
FLIRTING ( WITH POSSIBILITIES)
Short | United States | 19 Minutes | American Sign Language
Director: Garrett Zuercher
Harley, a young Deaf man, spots a cute hearing guy in a coffee shop. In this charming story that blends a variety of creative styles, Harley imagines different scenarios to figure out the best way to start a conversation with his new love interest.
Content warnings: Pre-Teens and older
ID: A poster for “Inspired”, with the title in white, centered over an image of person with just the jaw and upper torso visible. A hand is placed over the heart. White text across the top: “Their love was never normal. It was special. Damian Slattery and Andreas Gabriel”. Additional film details in white text across the bottom.
INSPIRED
Short | United States | 28 Minutes | American Sign Language
Director: Darian Slattery
Raina, once the only Deaf and Disabled person in her film school, reconnects with her ex-boyfriend and former college Teaching Assistant, Sebastian, and soon it becomes clear the ways in which ableism had a hand in their relationship’s trajectory. Writer/Director Darian Slattery shines as Raina in this unique story that challenges expectations surrounding disability representation with humor and insight.
Content warnings: Pre-Teens and older
ID: A poster for “Reverie” with the title in black, superimposed over an image of two people sitting side by side on the sandy beach, facing the water. Additional text in white across the bottom.
REVERIE
Short | United States | 5 Minutes | American Sign Language
Director: Chase Chambers, Justin Jackerson & Jules Dameron
Following the loss of his fiancé, Jason struggles to process his haunted emotions. This touching drama takes a creative approach to remind us that grief is different for everyone and that real love is never forgotten.
Content warnings: Adult, Suicide
ID: A poster for “Sunscreen” with the title in orange-red, superimposed over a photo of a couple lying on the sandy beach facing the water beyond. Text across the top: “Amelia Hensley, Andrew J Barlow”. Additional film details across the bottom.
SUNSCREEN
Short | United States | 11 Minutes | American Sign Language
Director: Edna Luise Biesold
Shelby and Mason go to the beach, ready for a day of fun in the sun. However, when the couple’s sunscreen goes missing, the way they handle the dilemma becomes symbolic of bigger issues within their relationship.
ID: A poster for “19:24” with a black background and a stylized blue text message in center with “19:24” inside. Text in white on top: “A film written and directed by Aurelien Mancino and Audrey Sangia”. Text across the bottom: “with Sophie Scheidt and Bo Hardell.”
19:24
Short | France | 11 Minutes | French Sign Language
Director: Audrey Sangla & Aurélien Mancino
When a long-distance relationship is put to the test, cracks begin to show. This thought-provoking short explores the complexities of toxic relationships in the modern world of technology.
Content warnings: Adult, Mental Illness