LGBTQ Shorts 2026

Short 1:
Muse
Directed by Chad Zemel, USA, 17 Minutes

A withdrawn teenager searches for inner peace at a desert meditation center, only to be paired with a picture perfect roommate.een tree, dreams of royalty. With help from Sprucilla, a former queen, they embrace their uniqueness and prove that standing out is the key to shining brightly.

Short 2:
Pismo Beach
Directed by Christian Tucci, USA, 15 minutes

A drag performer receives a surprise visit from a stranger after her show. When he reveals an eerie coincidence, he challenges her relationship to her name and identity.

Short 3:
Church Girl
Directed by Bessie Fong, USA, 10 minutes

Olivia, a Filipino lesbian, pretends to be Christian to impress her non-binary crush and ends up at Bushwick’s oldest queer Bible study, where faith and attraction collide in unexpected ways.

Short 4:
Be My Baby Now
Directed by Stephen Steelman & Emmy Olea, USA, 14 minutes

After a violent assault, a trans woman relocates to Los Angeles and reenters the dating world, only to face a series of encounters that leave her feeling unseen. As her search for connection deepens, so does the cost of continuing to look.

Short 5:
FLY
Directed by Carlton Daniel, USA, 14 minutes

A perfectionist dance prodigy auditions for a coveted ballet apprenticeship, but their world is challenged by a talented rival whose joyful spirit rekindles love, freedom, and a new perspective.

Short 6:
Is It True?
Directed by Hayden Goldman & Daniel Isaiah, USA, 13 minutes

Lucy, a teen hiding her gender identity at a new school, faces suspicious classmates and a protective mother while finding the courage to embrace herself and stand up.

Short 7:
The Late in Life Guide to Modern Day Lesbianism
 Directed by Emelie Claxton & Molly Rangel,  USA, 7 minutes

Congratulations on finally coming out! Equal parts orientation, indoctrination, and camp, this satirical 90s corporate training video onboards “late-in-lifers” with everything you didn’t know you needed to survive modern-day lesbianism. Please adjust your VCR tracking.

Short 8:
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
Directed by Conor Larsen & Zachary Kornblum, Canada, 2 minutes

In a dark movie theater, a young boy’s anxiety swells as he debates making the first move—until a small act of courage speaks louder than words.

Short 9:
Method Cowboy
Directed by Carlos Valdivia, USA, 13 minutes

When a struggling actor feigns being gay to land the role of a lifetime in an Oscar-bait Cowboy Western, he decides to transform himself for the role, blurring the lines between reality and performance.

Short 10:
Ronita Rambo
 Directed by Michael Doshier, USA, 12 minutes

Ronita Rambo, the sharp-tongued waitress of a rural Missouri diner, has everyone’s order memorized – but not a clue how to text her new crush. Enlisting the help of two gay teens, she takes an unexpected leap toward love and authenticity.