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W I N S TON S A LE M SYMPHONY 25 | 2 6 Season Highlights:

BEN FOLDS Oct 11 MOZART & RAVEL Nov 15 & 16 STORM LARGE The Seven Deadly Sins Apr 25 & 26 DEFYING GRAVITY The Wonderful Music of Oz May 9

wssymphony.org

There’s no sound like home.

FROM OUR LEADERSHIP Welcome to the 12th Annual OUT at the Movies International Film Festival!

Rex Welton

Greetings! Whether you are attending your first OUT at the Movies screening or you have joined us for over 440 films (yes, we have screened that many since 2004), we welcome you! Each festival brings together longtime friends, filmmakers, actors, documentary subjects, jurors, donors, sponsors and volunteers. The list is long, and we appreciate each of you! Thanks to your support, OUT at the Movies has awarded scholarships to 5 students in the UNCSA School of Filmmaking. We will recognize another deserving student with our 2025 scholarship. Speaking of UNCSA, their ACE Theatre Complex has been our primary home for the last twentytwo years. Matt Jones, the Associate Curator of the Moving Image Archives, and Eric Self, the Exhibition Coordinator, have been invaluable to us. Deborah LaVine has been amazing to work with us as the dean of the School of Filmmaking. Matt, Eric and Deborah, you are the BEST! In this program, you will find logos and ads from businesses, big and small, and the many donors whose gifts are helping us to celebrate 22 years of movies, talkbacks, concerts, parties and more. Please support these businesses and say “thanks” to our donors. We welcome the actors, filmmakers and documentary subjects from many of the movies you will enjoy. They will be participating in Q&As following their films and will look forward to answering your questions and meeting you at our nightly receptions. We also welcome our jurors, many of whom are filmmakers, themselves. They will select the jury awards, and you, our audience, will choose our audience award winners. Thanks to everyone for joining us OUT at the Movies! Rex Welton Executive Director OUT at the Movies International Film Festival 2025 | 1

WELCOME LETTERS Greetings from the Office of the Mayor! On behalf of the citizens of Winston-Salem and the WinstonSalem City Council, I congratulate OUT at the Movies International Film Festival on reaching your 12th Annual Festival. Allen Joines

Beginning as a screening series in 2004, your organization has brought LGBTQIA+ films to the City of Arts and Innovation. Since launching your annual International Film Festival in 2014, you have brought over 200 artists, filmmakers, actors, and film industry professionals to Winston-Salem for the weekend of events. The City of Winston-Salem is honored to host OUT at the Movies International Film Festival’s annual event. We are grateful for the direct impact on the lives of individuals in our community, through programs such as the Emerging Artist Film Grant, supporting artists with annual scholarship programs and financial assistance at UNCSA School of Filmmaking, Wake Forest University Documentary Studies Program, and MUSE WS. During your festivities, I hope you will find some time to take advantage of the many opportunities that Winston-Salem has to offer. From our fascinating historical sites and thriving arts community to sports and recreational events, Winston-Salem has something for everyone. Best wishes for a successful event, and I wish you many more Festivals to come! Sincerely, Allen Joines, Mayor

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On behalf of the UNCSA School of Filmmaking, we are honored to be a partner. As a film festival it has long given underrepresented voices a platform to share work that chronicle the complexities of our times as well as entertain audiences with a diverse slate of movie-going experiences.

Deborah LaVine

While the film festival is hugely important to the landscape of Winston Salem culture, the organization’s support for a variety of initiatives impacts the community in significant, sometimes life-changing ways. OUT at the Movies has annually awarded a scholarship to assist in the tuition or living expenses of an LGBTQIA+ student at the UNCSA School of Filmmaking. This is a financially transformative award that often ensures a student will be able to complete their studies. Out At The Movies plays a vital role in reminding us how various cultures, generations, ethnicities, and personal orientations superficially seem disparate, but in fact share more similarities than differences. Cinema is often credited as generating empathy. The glorious curation of this year’s festival amplifies that in so many ways. Those are just a few reasons this festival is a very special part of our community. I hope you enjoy the experience of sitting in the theater sharing the magic of the flickering screen with fellow movie lovers. It is a truly inimitable joy! Best wishes, Deborah LaVine, Dean, The UNCSA School of Filmmaking Welcome to Winston-Salem and OUT at the Movies International Film Festival!

Rebecca Clark

It’s a great privilege to have this prestigious festival in our city, which has a deep appreciation for filmmaking. Not only do we cherish filmmakers’ creative visions, but we are also home to one of the top filmmaking schools in the country, UNCSA School of Filmmaking, training young talent for jobs in the industry. The Piedmont Triad Film Commission proudly works to recruit and facilitates film business in Winston-Salem and the greater Piedmont Triad region. Our film office fully embraces inclusivity and diversity, assisting all filmmakers with impactful stories to tell. Over the years, we have been the backdrop for numerous successful independent film productions, including works by Angus McLaughlin, Spike Lee, Ramin Bahrani, David Gordon Green, Matthew Weiner, George Clooney, and Nicholas Sparks. These films have showcased the beauty and versatility of our locations. If you are a visiting filmmaker, we encourage you to explore our diverse and stunning locations, which could be the perfect fit for your next film! For more information, please visit our website and feel free to contact us during your stay at www.piedmontfilm.com. Sincerely, Rebecca Clark, Executive Director, Piedmont Triad Film Commission OUT at the Movies International Film Festival 2025 | 3

WHO WE ARE OUR LEADERSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STAFF

Zach Birtsch

Rex Welton, Founder and Executive Director

Clint Cedillo Dean Culler, President Brigith Dávila Ann Gauthreaux Andrew Golden

Max Cullen, Director of Operations & Marketing ADVISORY BOARD Mohammed Shaik Hussain Ali

Rob Hartley, Treasurer

Marisa Calin

Connor Higgins

Crystal Chappell

Greg Knouse

Barney Cheng

Mike Majett, Secretary

Nicole Conn

Gracie Rodgers

Rob Davis

Ron Stacker Thompson, Vice President

Eden Lane

Alyson Williams

Kerry Michelle O’Brien Del Shores

OUR TEAM Christine Amen – Gift Bag Procurement Kelsey Basciano-Dye – Panel Moderator Kim Cain – Events Coordinator Rob Cotter – Gift Bag Procurement Dean Culler – Events Coordinator Mary Dossinger – Box Office Coordinator Amy-Ruth Hallet – Festival Guide Production Dr. Chad E. Harris – Curator, Short Films/Panel Moderator

Matt Jones – Technical Director Brent Patterson – Promo Reel Creator Jill Petras – Events Coordinator Alice Sanders – Program Book Designer Eric Self – Technical Director Angela Stewart – Transportation Coordinator Vikki Vassar – Program Cover Artist Brandon Yunker – Lead Projectionist

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In Winston-Salem, creativity is more than a trait; it’s our

identity. From live theater and music productions to dynamic galleries and inspiring museums, artistry thrives. As the

City of Arts & Innovation, we proudly support OUT at the Movies International Film Festival and its honorees.

Find inspiration and more at VisitWinstonSalem.com.

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FESTIVAL GUESTS Odu Adamu, director, THE DIVINE FEMME, Brooklyn, NY Blake Alley, director of photography, Scrub Daddy, Winston-Salem, NC Emily Allgair, director, Pretty Boy Roy, WinstonSalem, NC Alessandra Ford Balazs, actor, Plainclothes, New York, NY Davide Bianchi, moderator, Winston-Salem, NC Zach Brown, juror, Claudville, VA Parker Chapin, co-director, Scrub Daddy, Winston-Salem, NC Michael Christensen, editor, Period, New York, NY Tim Dahms, director/producer, No Closet Space: The History of Gay Key West, Key West, FL Meg Daniels, juror, Pittsboro, NC Genesis de Vil, subject, Welcome to the Yacht House, Winston-Salem, NC Benjamin DiGiacobbe, co-director, Scrub Daddy, Winston-Salem, NC Reena Dutt, director, Crossing The Desert, Los Angeles, CA Kelsey Rae Dye, panel moderator, Norwalk, CT Reagan Ellis, juror, Davidson, NC Carmen Emmi, director, Plainclothes, Syracuse, NY Andrea Estrada, editor, Scrub Daddy, WinstonSalem, NC Ryan Harman, director/writer, Your Cookie, Brooklyn, NY Matt Hartman, co-showrunner/co-director, Open to It – Pride Special, Los Angeles, CA Sanath Hedge, director, Braid Crowns, WinstonSalem, NC Craig Hunter, executive producer, Your Cookie, Brooklyn, NY Katherine Kamhi, actor, Unspoken, Los Angeles, CA

Riley Kayton, producer, Pretty Boy Roy, WinstonSalem, NC Sowjanya Kudva, juror, Durham, NC Mekhai Lee, director/writer, Them That’s Not, Brooklyn, NY Debra Madsen, subject, Row of Life, Long Beach, CA DW McCrary, director/editor, Tending to the Soul, Los Angeles, CA Judy Christensen McGrath, subject, No Closet Space: The History of Gay Key West, Hillsborough, NC Katie Murawski, subject, Pretty Boy Roy, Winston-Salem, NC Max Nardari, director, Accidental Friends, Rome, Italy Kat Olson, writer/director, Period, New York, NY Sage Park, production designer, Scrub Daddy, Winston-Salem, NC Liz Richman, actor, Unspoken, Los Angeles, CA Bella Roll, producer, Scrub Daddy, WinstonSalem, NC Skye Schoenhoeft, director/writer, The Curtains Glow at Night, Los Angeles, CA Soraya Simi, director, Row of Life, Santa Barbara, CA Alissa Simone, juror, director, All That We’ve Done, Charlotte, NC Frank Arthur Smith, co-showrunner/co-director, Open to It – Pride Special, Los Angeles, CA Marina Suma, actor, Accidental Friends, Rome, Italy Asahni Williams, director, Against A Sharp White Background, Winston-Salem, NC Anna Yacht, subject, Welcome to the Yacht House, Winston-Salem, NC Chris Zaluski, juror, Winston-Salem, NC Michael Zapestosky, actor, Unspoken, New York, New York

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SHORTS SELECTED SHORTS PREVIEW NIGHT Thursday, October 2, 7:00 pm | WFU Byrum Welcome Center | 1834 Wake Forest Rd. Winston-Salem NC 27109

1 TENDING TO THE SOUL

Directed by DW McCrary | USA | 2025 English | Documentary Short | 19 mins

3 PRETTY BOY ROY

Directed by Emily Allgair and Riley Kayton | USA | English | 2025 Documentary Short | 10 mins

In rural Alabama, Freedom Farm Azul stands as a sanctuary for nourishment, education, and healing. Through intimate interviews and lush imagery, this poetic documentary explores how land stewardship becomes an act of resistance, restoration, and collective care.

In a world where drag queens often take center stage, Pretty Boy Roy turns the spotlight on drag king Roy Fahrenheit and the vibrant community that surrounds them. This short documentary celebrates resilience, artistry, and the power of redefining what it means to rule the stage, and of course, to be a pretty boy.

First-place winner of OATM’s 2024 Emerging Artist Film Grant.

Original “Queer History Project” documentary, in collaboration with students from the Documentary Film Program at Wake Forest University.

TO THE YACHT 2 WELCOME HOUSE Directed by Carrie Hart and Rick Dillwood | USA | 2024 | English | 11 mins | Documentary Short With drag queen Anna Yacht at the helm, a crew of drag performers come together to create a recurring drag brunch in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This short documentary highlights Anna’s work as a drag photographer, performer, and show curator who brings her vision to life with the help of her friends and co-stars. From performances that range from scrappy to polished and always on theme, the Yacht House shines bright as a feature of the Winston drag scene.

THAT WE’VE DONE 4 ALL Directed by Alissa Simone | USA

English | 2025 | Documentary Short | 9 mins All That We’ve Done traces the fight for queer visibility in Winston-Salem, where families, organizers, and everyday people transformed discrimination into pride, resilience, and lasting change. Original “Queer History Project” documentary, in collaboration with students from the Documentary Film Program at Wake Forest University.

OUT at at the Movies International Film Festival 2024 OUT the Movies International Film Festival 2025| 7| 7

Edward, a novelist saddled with caring for his elderly mother, finally finds himself on the brink of literary success. With pressure to go on a U.S. book tour mounting, the last thing that Edward needs is his friends jetting off to Spain for an impromptu Pride holiday, leaving their mothers on his doorstep! Over a chaotic weekend, he has to juggle his burgeoning career with the care of four eccentric, combative, and wildly different ladies. This film is sponsored by Visit Winston-Salem.

In 1965, Janis Ian, a 14-year-old singer-songwriter from New Jersey, wrote “Society’s Child” about an interracial relationship. Recorded and released a year later, the song launched Ian’s career, but its subject matter ignited controversy, even resulting in death threats. The fallout plunged Ian into an emotional tailspin– and yet a few years later she emerged from the ashes with an even bigger hit, “At Seventeen.” Over six decades, Janis Ian gained ten Grammy nominations in eight different categories, saw her song “Stars” recorded by such luminaries as Nina Simone and Cher, and overcame homophobia, misogyny, and a life-threatening illness to produce an indelible body of work that continues to draw audiences around the globe. Featuring Janis Ian, Joan Baez, Jean Smart, Arlo Guthrie, Lily Tomlin, and Tom Paxton, among other icons. This film is sponsored by Mary Jamis and Starr Johnson. 8 | OUT at the Movies International Film Festival 2025

On a cold night in 1961, a young record store owner walked into Liverpool’s Cavern Club and discovered the greatest pop act the music world would ever see. So begins the story of Brian Epstein, the man who found The Beatles. Featuring a star-making performance by Jacob Fortune-Lloyd (The Queen’s Gambit) as Epstein, as well as the familiar faces of Emily Watson, Eddie Marsan, Jay Leno and Eddie Izzard, this funny, thrilling and occasionally heartbreaking film charts Epstein’s life as he guides the scrappy four-piece band’s rise from dingy bars to the hallowed halls of The Ed Sullivan Show and beyond—a story of one man’s radical faith in talent and the sacrifices he made to champion it. This film is sponsored by IGC Studio.

Odd Fish is a feel-good film that follows childhood friends Hjalti and Björn, who run a seafood restaurant in their hometown during the summer. They dream of keeping the restaurant open year-round, and when an unexpected opportunity arises, Björn reveals to Hjalti that she is a transgender woman and will be known as Birna from now on. These changes test their friendship, and both must face life with a new perspective to preserve what matters most.

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Lights, Camera, Support! womblebonddickinson.com

LGBTQIA+ equality matter to you—and to us. Knowing our individual differences make us a more powerful whole, we support OUT at the Movies International Film Festival. Womble Bond Dickinson is the trade name of Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP and Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP. For more information, please see www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/legal-notices. One West 4th Street, Winston-Salem, NC US 27101 ©2025 Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP

10 | OUT at the Movies International Film Festival 2025

No Closet Space is an insightful and often hilarious journey through the LGBTQ+ history of Key West — an island unlike any other. Through rare footage and unforgettable personal stories, the film celebrates the misfits, creatives, and rulebreakers who helped revitalize the island, transforming it from a failing small town into a thriving center of art, culture, and community. Along the way, we see how luminaries like Tennessee Williams, Leonard Bernstein, and Truman Capote were drawn to Key West’s energy and spirit — and how the island made history by electing the nation’s first openly gay mayor, Richard Heyman. With eccentric characters and iconic places like The Monster, The Copa, and Captain Tony’s— it is the inside story of an island we all think we know — told by the locals who actually lived it. Q&A to follow the screening. This film is sponsored by Brad Moss and Rex Welton.

A comedy about chosen family. Sisters follows best friends Lou and Esther, who often bond about wishing they grew up with a sister. But when Lou’s father unexpectedly dies and she learns she has a very real, very chic half sister, her and Esther’s co-dependent bliss is rudely interrupted. This film is sponsored by The Porch.

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SHORTS PROGRAM 1 Nonfiction/Bold Statements

Distinct documentary visions that invite and challenge. Saturday, October 4, 12:15 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | 101 mins

TO THE YACHT 1 WELCOME HOUSE Directed by Carrie Hart and Rick Dillwood | USA | 2024 | English | 11 mins | Documentary Short With drag queen Anna Yacht at the helm, a crew of drag performers come together to create a recurring drag brunch in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This short documentary highlights Anna’s work as a drag photographer, performer, and show curator who brings her vision to life with the help of her friends and co-stars. From performances that range from scrappy to polished and always on theme, the Yacht House shines bright as a feature of the Winston drag scene.

A SHARP WHITE 2 AGAINST BACKGROUND

Directed by Asahni Williams | USA | 2025 | English | 19 mins | Documentary Short An exploration of the effects of integration in education, through the eyes of Zora Neale Hurston. Looking at the good, the bad and the ugly effects on the education and experiences of black students.

Student Film – UNC School of the Arts

THE DIVINE FEMME Directed by Odu Adamu | Canada | 2025 | English | 16 mins | Documentary Short Black. Brown. Trans. Cis. Queer. Immigrant. Full Bodied. Embodied. Femme. The Divine Femme is a conversation between Black and Brown cis and trans women in Toronto’s ballroom scene. They share their personal identity intersections, and how ballroom is a space for them to express their womanism in its fullness! While the Storytellers represent Toronto’s ballroom

scene, their voices have a universal relevance that extends beyond borders.

I HAVE SOMETHING TO 4 MOM, TELL YOU Directed by Rick Miller | USA | 2025 | English | 31 mins | Documentary Short Mom, I Have Something To Tell You is a short documentary depicting the profound impact that mothers have on their gay sons’ wellbeing. These experiences can also be applied to the larger LGBTQ+ community, emphasizing acceptance by family members and by communities. The film offers optimistic models for coping and thriving. First-time filmmaker

5 THE LIBRARY PROBLEM

Directed by Mell Packard | Canada | 2025 | English | 5 mins | Documentary Short A short student documentary examining the history and current status of the ongoing battle over LGBTQ+ content in the children’s section of Alabama public libraries. Student Film – University of Alabama at Birmingham

6 TENDING TO THE SOUL

Directed by DW McCrary | USA | 2025 | English | 19 mins | Documentary Short In rural Alabama, Freedom Farm Azul stands as a sanctuary for nourishment, education, and healing. Through intimate interviews and lush imagery, this poetic documentary explores how land stewardship becomes an act of resistance, restoration, and collective care. First-place winner of OATM’s 2024 Emerging Artist Film Grant Q&A to follow the screening.

OUR SPONSORS

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SHORTS PROGRAM 2 Artful/Dramatic/New Dimensions

Perspectives on (dis)connection and (re)connection via transportive film worlds. Saturday, October 4, 3:00 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | 100 mins

1 GALILEE

2 HOME COOKED MEALS

5 PARALLEL LINES

Directed by Natalie van Gelder | USA | 2024 | 5 mins | Narrative Short Ren, a lonely amateur chef cooking in a postapocalyptic world, feels isolated through his otherness. He ends up meeting people like him, and finds community through the unifying power of cooking and eating together.

but also at the infinite possibilities of their past and future. A beautifully crafted short film that captures the delicate intricacies of love and the fleeting nature of time.

First-time filmmaker. Student Film – UNC Greensboro

Over the course of one night, two strangers meet in line at a bar and embark on a journey of discovery — exploring missed opportunities, fate, and the strange twists of destiny.

6 THE CURTAINS GLOW AT NIGHT

BRAID CROWNS

First-time filmmaker. Student Film – UCLA

4 20:15 MÉXICO DF

Directed by Alejandro Di Meglio | Argentina | 2025 | Spanish | 7 mins | Narrative Short In the vibrant heart of Mexico City, two women meet and begin a tender, reflective journey together. Through intimate conversations, they explore themes of memory, love, and the passage of time. Their connection becomes a window through which they gaze not only at their present

7 THEM THAT’S NOT

Directed by Mekhai Lee | USA | 2025 | English, American Sign Language | 19 mins | Narrative Short Andrea “Drea” Stoney, a down-on-her-luck poet, finds herself at her grandmother’s repass, along with her seditty larger-than-life family. But Drea is sticking out like a sore thumb; she’s introspective, Queer, artistic and proudly Deaf, albeit surrounded by her distant family members who don’t care to know ASL. So Drea resorts to finding solace in hidden, lonely moments that she can steal in the pockets of her grandmother’s generational brownstone. First-time filmmaker Q&A to follow the screening.

Pietro, a rough and passionate Roma football fan, is suddenly dumped by his girlfriend Lolly, who is fed up with being second to football and his friends. Omero, a serious, and refined young gay man, is also left by his partner Andy, who proposes to him in a public flash mob, putting him on the spot. Omero, now alone in a house that is too big and financially burdensome, is forced to find a roommate. Pietro, who is also looking for a place to stay, ends up living with Omero due to a humorous misunderstanding. Their unusual cohabitation goes well until Omero realizes he is living with a homophobe full of prejudices, at which point he reveals to Pietro that he is gay. Pietro starts questioning his friendship with Omero. However, when he discovers Lolly in the arms of someone else, Omero offers him unexpected help to win her back. Maybe having a gay friend has some positive aspects that Pietro had never considered. Q&A to follow the screening. This film is sponsored by Christopher Page.

Row of Life follows renowned ocean rower, Marine Corps veteran, three-time Paralympian, and fourteen Guinness World Record holder Angela Madsen in her attempted solo and unassisted row across the Pacific Ocean, 2400 miles from Los Angeles to Hawaii. A poetic story of bravery, resilience, and love between Angela and her wife, Deb as they support each other’s dreams while separated by a vast ocean. Q&A to follow the screening. This film is sponsored by Steven Montgomery, Berkshire Hathaway Carolinas Realty. OUT at the Movies International Film Festival 2025 | 15

NARRATIVE

DOCUMENTARY

SHORTS

PARTY

Thursday, October 2 7 pm 7:30 pm 8 pm

FREE FESTIVAL SHORTS PREVIEW SCREENING 7pm | WAKE FOREST BYRUM THEATRE | 1834 Wake Forest Rd

Parties

8:30 pm

FREE RECEPTION TO FOLLOW

Saturday, October 4 UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex 10:30 am 11:00 am 11:30 am 12:00 pm

JANIS IAN: BREAKING SILENCE

12:30 pm

12 pm | Gold Theatre | 114 mins

1:00 pm 1:30 pm

SHORTS 1: NONFICTION/ BOLD STATEMENTS 12:15 pm | Babcock Theatre | 101 mins

2:00 pm 2:30 pm 3:00 pm 3:30 pm

MIDAS MAN SHORTS 2: ARTFUL / DRAMATIC / NEW DIMENSIONS

4:00 pm 3:00pm | Main Theatre | 99 mins 4:30 pm 5:00 pm 5:30 pm 6:00 pm

2:15pm | Gold Theatre | 112 mins

ODD FISH 2:45pm | Babcock Theatre | 104 mins

NO CLOSET SPACE: THE HISTORY OF THE GAY KEY WEST 4:30pm | Gold Theatre | 105 mins

6:30 pm

SISTERS 5:30pm | Babcock Theatre | 88 mins

7:00 pm 7:30 pm 8:00 pm

ACCIDENTAL FRIENDS 7pm | Gold Theatre | 94 mins

Parties

8:30 pm

ROW OF LIFE 7:15pm | Babcock Theatre | 82 mins

EVENING RECEPTION 9 pm | Project Space 411 | 411 W 4th St Late Night OUT Party 11 pm | Euphoria | 701 Trade St NW

16 | OUT at the Movies International Film Festival 2025

WORKSHOP: “SCRIPTED: IDEATING AND DEVELOPING YOUR SHORT FILM” 12:30 pm | Archives Theatre | 90 mins

WORKSHOP

2025 OUT at the Movies International Film Festival Schedule Friday, October 3 FOUR MOTHERS

7 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | 1640 Hollywood Blvd | 89 mins Q&A SESSION TO FOLLOW

EVENING RECEPTION 9 pm | Jeffrey Adams on Fourth | 321 W 4th St Late Night OUT 11 pm | Euphoria | 701 Trade St NW

Sunday, October 5 Filmmaker / Donor Brunch 10:15 am

BEAUTIFUL EVENING, BEAUTIFUL DAY

SHORTS 3: CONFRONTATIONS / CONSEQUENCES

12pm | Gold Theatre | 131 mins

12:15 pm | Babcock Theatre | 99 mins

FALLEN FRUIT 12:45pm | Archives Theatre | 87 mins

ONLY GOOD THINGS 2:30pm | Babcock Theatre | 104 mins

THE LIBRARIANS 2:45pm | Gold Theatre | 92 mins

UNSPOKEN 4:30pm | Gold Theatre | 91 mins

SHORTS 4: PERSONAL / SOCIETY/ IDENTITY 4:45pm | Babcock Theatre | 80 mins

PLAINCLOTHES

SALLY

6:45pm | Gold Theatre | 95 mins

6:45pm | Babcock Theatre | 103 mins

AWARDS PARTY 9pm | The Dutch Light | 450 N Patterson Ave Ste 230

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WORKSHOP WORKSHOP: “SCRIPTED: IDEATING AND DEVELOPING YOUR SHORT FILM Saturday, October 4, 12:30 pm. | UNCSA Archives Theatre | 120 mins

Join us for an exciting panel-based workshop featuring industry professionals. We will dive into the earliest (and sometimes hardest) phase of production for a first time or emerging filmmaker: story development. With a focus on how to approach brainstorming, developing, and screenwriting a short film, we will provide tips and guidance for early-stage filmmakers.

VISIT US AT 104 WEST FOURTH STREET 18 | OUT at the Movies International Film Festival 2025

Four close friends, Lovro, Nenad, Stevan, and Ivan, fought against the Ustashas and Nazis by joining the partisans in WWII. Sixteen years later, they became renowned filmmakers. In 1957, in Communist Yugoslavia, their sexual orientation raised suspicion, and a communist party loyalist named Emir was assigned to sabotage their careers and lives. The pursuit of freedom becomes a fight for survival for the artists, while Emir’s beliefs are challenged. This film contains scenes of brutality, violence and explicit sexual content.

Alex (Ramiro Batista), is a 20-something-year-old who begrudgingly moves back to his childhood home in Miami from New York after a breakup. Blinded by his optimism of returning to New York after the Summer, Alex underestimates the inevitable hurricane that is adulthood. As his Miami life takes its turns, Alex documents his version of rock bottom with an old camcorder found in his bedroom-turned-storage closet. Looking for an escape, he soon finds comfort in Chris (Austin Cassel), a random hookup, who shows him what a life in Miami might have to offer. Blinded by optimism and lust, the reality of adulthood comes flooding in, forcing him to begin to grow up. This film is preceded by SCRUB DADDY.

SCRUB DADDY Directed by Parker Chapin and Benjamin DiGiacobbe | USA | 2025 | English | Narrative Short

Ronnie, long time janitor for the nightclub “The Greasy Pole,” is forced to take a second job when his partner, Ivan, falls sick. OUT at the Movies International Film Festival 2025 | 19

UNCSA.EDU/FILMMAKING

MAKE A STATEMENT

CELEBRATING OUT AT THE MOVIES FOR THEIR 12 YEARS OF BOLD STORYTELLING AND CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR EMERGING FILMMAKERS.

20 | OUT at the Movies International Film Festival 2025

SHORTS PROGRAM 3 Confrontations/Consequences Evocative takes on old patterns and (possible) new potential. Sunday, October 5, 12:15 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | 89 mins

BEAUTIFUL ROOM IS 1 THE EMPTY (O LINDO QUARTO ESTÁ VAZIO)

Victor and João were in love with each other as teenagers, but didn’t really know it. Reuniting by chance six years later, they’ll spend one night together to find out what has changed and where they’ll go from now. Student Film – Universidade de Brasília

COOKIE 2 YOUR Directed by Ryan Harman | USA |

2025 | English | 9 mins | Narrative Short

A young fashion stylist treats a friend to lunch with his boss’s credit card. The rest of the day does not go as planned. Student Film – Stony Brook University

3 CLEMENTINE

A late-blooming trans woman grapples with a life-altering, assigned-male-at-

birth Trans specific dilemma, and with the help of her besties, navigates the complexities of this debacle as she defines her womanhood on her own terms. First-time filmmaker

When lesbian writer Audrey runs into her male ex, Julian, she must confront her bisexual panic or risk losing her sense of identity.

5 CROSSING THE DESERT

Crossing the Desert is a short film that explores the complex relationship between a South Asian immigrant woman and her queer American daughter. This tender story asks us to re-examine our expectations of our loved ones. Can we accept them for who they really are, not who we want them to be? Q&A to follow the screening.

In 1984 rural Brazil, a solitary farmer’s life changes when he helps an injured motorcyclist who crashes near his property. Their unexpected connection leads to a profound romance that challenges both men’s worlds. This film contains sexually explicit content.

As an unprecedented wave of book banning largely addressing race and LGBT issues is sparked in Texas, Florida, and beyond, librarians under siege join forces as unlikely defenders fighting for intellectual freedom on the front lines of democracy. Filmmaker Kim A. Snyder (Newtown, Us Kids, and 2025 Oscar-nominated Death by Numbers) takes us to an unexpected front line where librarians emerge as first responders in the fight for democracy and free access to information. This film is sponsored by Oasis at the Mill.

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When a closeted, religious teenager finds a love letter from before the Holocaust written to his grandfather by another man, he discovers that he might not be alone. With the help of his high-school crush, he sets out to find the mysterious author of the letter and uncover both his grandfather’s identity as well as his own. Q&A to follow the screening.

Sally Ride became the first American woman to blast off into space, but beneath her unflappable composure, she carried a secret. Revealing the romance and sacrifices of their 27 years together, Sally’s life partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, tells the full story for the first time of this complicated and iconic astronaut. Q&A to follow to the screening. This film is sponsored by RiverRun International Film Festival.

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SHORTS PROGRAM 4 Personal/Society/Identity Affecting comedic and dramatic tales in which the intimate, unavoidably, meets the social. Sunday, October 5, 4:45 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | 81 mins | Includes a post-screening Q&A

1 PERIOD

2 A MATTER OF POULTRY

Directed by Nandini Bapat | USA | 2025 | English | 13 mins | Narrative Short When an ordinary guy on the cusp of starting his dream job finds out he’s pregnant with an alien parasite, he flashes back to the time he told his teenage girlfriend to not get an abortion. First-time filmmaker. Student Film – Los Angeles City College

3 JUST BETWEEN US

Directed by Zac Hug | USA | 2025 | English | 16 mins | Narrative Short Sam and Dustin’s open marriage works… until a nosy friend asks if they ever have sex just the two of them. Sam spirals. Cue one pool, one himbo, and several bad decisions. As lines blur and intentions backfire, Sam is forced to reckon with what intimacy looks like when love isn’t so black and white. First-time filmmaker

TO IT – PRIDE SPECIAL: 4 OPEN “OPEN TO DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR”

Directed by Frank Arthur Smith and Matt Hartman | USA | 2024 | English | 18 mins | Narrative Short A family-friendly episode – believe it or not!!! Cam and his drag-family read for drag queen story hour – but unwelcome visitors aren’t so excited about the idea. Elsa brings her nephew, Georgie, shielding him from her friends’ bawdy comedy. Princeton goes to support his classmate Jasper’s Deaf drag queen friends, despite Princeton’s disdain for anyone younger and cuter than him (which is all children).

5 A SIMPLE ASK

Directed by Nadya Naumaan | USA | 2024 | English | 9 mins | Narrative Short Nida is a young Muslim who can’t bring themself to confess a crush. In asking for assistance from Allah on one of their forest walks, they inadvertently summon a fearsome ancestor who gives them the push they’ve been waiting for through some unconventional means.

6 SORORITY

Directed by Ashley Gianni | USA | 2025 | English | 14 mins | Narrative Short A trans woman of color in the early stages of her transition learns to accept herself when welcomed into the sorority of sisterhood in the most sacred of places, the women’s restroom. Q&A to follow the screening.

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At his mother’s New Year’s Eve party Lucas, a young police officer, loses a letter no one was ever meant to read. Amid the backdrop of the suffocating family party, the search for the letter unlocks memories of a past he’s tried to forget: months earlier, while working undercover in a mall bathroom, Lucas arrested men by seducing them. But when he encounters Andrew, everything changes. As their secret connection deepens and police pressure to deliver arrests intensifies, Lucas finds himself torn between duty and desire. Q&A to follow to the screening.

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Cheers to another great year!

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THE PORcH EAT. SIP. STAY A WHILE. Young Cardinal

(336) 893-8361 840 Mill Works St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 Follow us on Instagram @Theporchws 26 | OUT at the Movies International Film Festival 2025

28TH FILM FESTIVAL · APRIL 17–25, 2026 A 9-day Academy Award qualifying film festival with screenings in Winston-Salem & Greensboro

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FESTIVAL JURORS NARRATIVE JURORS

Narrative Jurors will Choose: Best Directing, Best Narrative, Best Screenwriting, Best Performance in a Leading Role, Best Performance in a Supporting Role

Alissa Simone Alissa Simone is a multidisciplinary artist based in Charlotte, NC, whose work centers on authentic storytelling within the LGBTQ+ community, particularly through the perspectives of Black women. With a deep commitment to honoring both the beauty and complexity of marginalized experiences, her films interweave advocacy, education, and love through a distinctly artistic lens. Alissa’s work aims to dismantle social stigmas and amplify voices often overlooked. Most recently, she was awarded 1st Place at the RiverRun International Film Festival’s Annual Student Pitch Fest for her short vérité film Where We Belong, which explores Black burlesque in the American South through the story of performer Lucy Risqué, navigating the intersection of creative expression and economic survival.

Zach Brown Zach Brown is a writer, director, and actor who’s best known for his awardwinning feature film Hard Surfaces, which he wrote, co-produced, and directed. He has also written seven feature scripts, written and produced six short films, and directed the lengthy short film (39 min), The Mountain Man. Born in Winston Salem, North Carolina, he attended East Forsyth High School in Kernersville, North Carolina before relocating and graduating from Patrick County High School in Stuart, Virginia in 2001. After graduating high school, Zach attended Virginia Polytechnic and State University (Virginia Tech) where he graduated with a Bachelor of the Arts in 2007. Shortly after college, Zach relocated to San Francisco and studied acting for a year under Matthew Shelton at Gene Shelton Studios followed by a one year film acting program with acting coach Jeffrey Weissman.

Reagan Ellis Reagan Ellis is in her second year at Savannah College of Art and Design as a film major and gender studies minor. She is on track to graduate a year early; with a published book, Lilith’s Haven, and two short films, Blind (2024) and The Beauty Shop (2025) under her belt as the director and writer. She currently has a film, novel, and music project in the works. After graduating, Reagan plans on pursuing a PhD in gender studies to deepen her understanding of the content she creates, pioneer the conversation of women in media, and continue her life’s passion of representing women through her stories and raising awareness for gender based violence. You can keep up with Reagan through her blog Love Letters by Reagan Ellis that is devoted to gratitude and activism.

28 | OUT at the Movies International Film Festival 2025

DOCUMENTARY and SHORTS JURORS

Documentary Jurors will Choose: Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short, Best Narrative Short, Best Performance in a Short

Chris Zaluski Chris Zaluski is the Program Director of the Wake Forest University Documentary Film Program. Prior to higher education, he worked as a multimedia journalist for The St. Louis Post-Dispatch and The Roanoke Times and spent time as the Director of Video at Teach For America. His documentaries have earned distinctions from such organizations as the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Webby Awards, Broadcast Education Association, and the Online News Association and have screened at film festivals, museums, and universities around the world.

Megan Q. Daniels Educator and filmmaker Meg Daniels has been telling people’s stories from around the globe for over 30years. Over the course of her career, she became a photo essayist, filmmaker and educator. After a brief career as a newspaper and freelance magazine photographer, she received her Master of Science degree in Adult and Community College Education from North Carolina State University in 2005 and entered the field of higher education, teaching as an adjunct photography professor in colleges and universities around North Carolina. In 2019, Meg graduated with her Master of Fine Arts degree in documentary filmmaking from Wake Forest University. Her thesis film, Proper Pronouns, has garnered accolades since its premiere in 2020 and is now available on Prime. She recently completed her second feature, I’m Still Here, Love, and is currently working on her impact campaign screening schedule. Meg is now an Assistant Professor in the Communications Department at Elon University where she teaches multimedia and cinema production courses.

Sowjanya Kudva Sowjanya Kudva (they/them) has worked as a filmmaker for 22 years, specializing in producing and editing across a variety of independent, broadcast, and online media. Their work has screened nationally and internationally at festivals, conferences, and major media outlets. In their current role as an assistant professor of Cinema & Television Arts at Elon University, Sowjanya focuses their scholarship on production studies, media literacy, and the intersection of cultural studies and the political economy of communications.

OUT at the Movies International Film Festival 2025 | 29

OUT AT THE MOVIES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SCREENING COMMITTEE Zach Birtsch

Mat Hayes

Sue Rupp

Susan Birtsch

Connor Higgins

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Doug Chapman

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Brigith Davila

Kendra Johnson

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Garry DunnLightbourne

Judy Jordan

Ron Stacker Thompson

Camden Factor

Isabella Lenchik

Mark Fullerton Andrew Golden Tim Gupton Chad E. Harris Rob Hartley

Jim Knight Yamile McBride Maya Mills Brent Moore Robert Rocco Gracie Rodgers

Carrie Varnedore Rex Welton Kenny Weschler Rick Wicker Sabra Wilson Tim Yersin

Thank you to our volunteers: 2025 Volunteers (as of 9.24.25)

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30 | OUT at the Movies International Film Festival 2025

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THANK YOU!

The 2025 OUT at the Movies International Film Festival would not be possible without the generous support of our donors.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Christoper Page Howard Upchurch and John Hoemann

PRODUCER Michael Carter Adrienne Amos Livengood Steven Montgomery

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Tim Gupton and Brent Moore Doug and Sue Henderson Sharolyn Grant Ken Labrie and Clint Cedillo Labrie Janie and J. D. Wilson

Jody Cervenak Anne Cullen Chelsea Cullen Max Cullen Noelle Culler

Mary and Cal Adams

Rob Davis

Claire Calvin Doug Chapman

David Miner

Andrew Golden

Frances and Steve Porter

Betsy Hamilton

Rick Wicker and Jim Knight

Marian Bell

SUPPORTING ACTOR

DeWitt and Geoff Kierstead

Sunday Tea League

Sanjay Aher

Dean Culler

Karen and Matt Coleman

Brad Moss and Rex Welton

AFICIONADO

Clare Fader

Fran and Walter Holder Mary Jamis and Starr Johnson Frank Johnson Amy Taylor North

Brigith Davilla Mary Dossinger Sabrina Hall Julie Hutton Mary Jamis Aaron Johnson Anne Jones Joshua Kandy Gary Norcross Charles Payne Er and Cathy Ralston Janiah Rory

Greg Wright and Alex Wright

Louise Pollard

LEAD ACTOR

Shannon Rosato

Matthew Szczygiel

Rebecca Currin and Lee Ann Manning

Betty Simpson

Kenny Weschler

Liz and Bruce Walley

Diana and Doug Woolard

Dirk Robertson and James Sands

Frank and Gary

Margaret Scales Emmy Schwartz

Nancy Young Brad Zabel

*2025 Donor Program Listing (as of 9/21/25) 32 | OUT at the Movies International Film Festival 2025

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