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2026 Digital Guide: OUT at the Movies International Film Festival

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OUT AT THE MOVIES 13TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL  FILM FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 24TH-27TH 2026


FROM OUR LEADERSHIP Welcome to the 13th Annual OUT at the Movies International Film Festival!

We’re proud to partner with OUT at the Movies in strengthening our community through film. Rex Welton

Greetings! Whether you are attending your first OUT at the Movies screening or you have joined us for many of our five hundred 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 six students in the UNCSA School of Filmmaking. We will recognize another deserving student with our 2026 scholarship. Speaking of UNCSA, their ACE Theatre Complex has been our primary home for the last twenty-three 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. Brandon Yunker will be this year’s lead projectionist. Thanks to each of you!

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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 twenty-three years of movies, Q&A’s, 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

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WELCOME LETTERS

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 chronicles the complexities of our times as well as entertain audiences with a diverse slate of movie-going experiences.

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 13th Annual Festival. Allen Joines

Deborah LaVine

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 300 artists, filmmakers, actors, and film industry professionals to Winston-Salem for the weekend of events.

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.

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.

I hope you enjoy the experience of sitting in the theatre sharing the magic of the flickering screen with fellow movie lovers. Best wishes, Deborah LaVine, Dean, The UNCSA School of Filmmaking

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

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. Our two organizations also recently launched an annual artist residency that brings a filmmaker who has screened at this festival back to campus for a semester, allowing our students to learn from the experience, insight, and unique perspective of a working LGBTQ+ film professional.

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 facilitate 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

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WHO WE ARE OUR LEADERSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STAFF

Zach Birtsch

Rex Welton, Founder and Executive Director

Clint Cedillo Dean Culler, President Becky Currin Andrew Golden, Vice President Brigith Dávila

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

Rob Hartley, Treasurer

Marisa Calin

Mike Majett, Secretary

Crystal Chappell

Gracie Rodgers

Barney Cheng

Sue Rupp

Nicole Conn

Alissa Simone

Rob Davis

Ron Stacker Thompson

Eden Lane

Alyson Williams

Kerry Michelle O’Brien Del Shores

FESTIVAL TEAM

WIDE FORMAT PRINTING Posters ● Banners ● Blueprints Canvas ● Laminated Posters Large Photo Prints ● & More!

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

EVENTS & CELEBRATIONS

PERSONALIZED GIFTS

Big or small, we can help with the things you need to keep your business running smoothly!

Celebrate in style or enhance your event with banners, signs, invites, & more!

Give an unforgettable gift with our canvas prints, photo restoration, specialty items, & more!

Zach Birtsch – Event Coordinator

Brent Hodges – Event Coordinator

Michael Briggs – Event Coordinator

Matt Jones – Technical Director

Rob Cotter – Gift Bag Procurement

Leo Martin – Festival Guide Production

The UPS Store Downtown W-S

Gracie Rodgers – Event Coordinator

(336) 448-3000 store6702@theupsstore.com

Max Cullen – Director of Marketing and Operations Dean Culler – Event Coordinator

Angie Roney – Program Designer

Becky Currin – Event Coordinator

Alice Sanders – Program Designer

Mary Dossinger – Box Office Coordinator

Eric Self – Technical Director

Andrew Golden – Event Coordinator Amy-Ruth Hallett – Festival Guide Production

Angela Stewart – Transportation Coordinator Rex Welton – Executive Director

550 N Liberty St Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Call or email with your print requests today!

Brandon Yunker – Lead Projectionist

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FESTIVAL GUESTS Garrett Abdo, Director/Writer, Exit Interviews, Atlanta, GA Odu Adamu, Juror, Brooklyn, NY Tiffany Albright, Juror, Greensboro, NC Amanda Almodovar, Crew, In This Moment, Charlotte, NC Julia Applegate, Director/Producer, Free Beer Tomorrow, Columbus, Ohio Noam Ash, Actor/Writer, Bookends, Los Angeles, CA Amy Barber, Merchandise Coordinator, Free Beer Tomorrow, Washington, D.C. Alex Brewer, Actor, In This Moment, Stafford, VA Susan Brittain, Juror, Associate Producer, Love Loaded, Advance, NC Austin Busbin, Actor, In This Moment, Athens, GA Mike Doyle, Director, Bookends, New York, NY Erin Ann Elliott, Actor, In This Moment, Myrtle Beach, SC Walker Forshee, Cinematographer, Summer Lost, Raleigh NC Jennifer Frances, Actor, In This Moment, Greenville, SC Timothy Hall, Writer/Director, Summer Lost, Mableton, GA Daniel Hansen, Producer, Summer Lost, Winston-Salem, NC Chad Harris, Juror, Roanoke, VA Talia Kimelman, Juror, Winston-Salem, NC Heidi McIver, Juror, High Point, NC Brian McManamon, Actor/Producer, Bad Dad, Brooklyn, NY Miralee Menzies, Producer, In This Moment, Pasadena CA Lisa Merritt, Actor, In This Moment, Wake Forest, NC

SHORTS SELECTED SHORTS PREVIEW NIGHT

Andie Morgenlander, Director/Co-Writer/ Producer, Whistle Down Wind, Asheville, NC

Thursday, September 24, 6:00 pm | WFU Byrum Welcome Center 7:00pm 1834 Wake Forest Rd. Winston-Salem NC 27109

Lyle Del Mundo, Crew, In This Moment, San Francisco, CA

1 IN KIND

Zeus Oira, Actor, In This Moment, Los Angeles, CA

Directed by Katherine Gunning (Student filmmaker) | USA | 2025 | English Documentary Short | 18 mins

Jeremy Ong, Actor/Producer, In This Moment, Los Angeles, CA

3 AMISH COUNTRY QUEER

Directed by Colleen C. Brady | USA English | 2025 | Documentary Short 14 mins

In the Appalachian hills, a queer-led farm cultivates community and soil, showing us what good humans can be.

Adam Plant, Actor, Whistle Down Wind, Winston-Salem, NC Susie Pratt, Actor, In This Moment, Raleigh, NC

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Zohaib Rauf, Actor, In This Moment, Raleigh, NC

WE ARE NOT UNICORNS Directed by Valentina Quintero | USA 2026 | English | Documentary Short 15 mins

Five queer women, tied together by the only open lesbian bar above New York City, show the outside world what a lesbian space looks like and how it can change your life.

Alan Richmond, Actor, In This Moment, Atlanta, GA Michael Hsu Rosen, Actor, Bookends, New York, NY

A queer photographer documents nightlife, drag culture, and chosen family in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, revealing a thriving LGBTQ+ community and challenging assumptions about where queer joy can exist in small-town America.

4 OUR SPACE

Directed by Max Cullen | USA English 2026 | Documentary Short | 11 mins

The 2026 OATM Queer History Project documentary is an intergenerational convesation that addresses the question: “What is Queer space?” Featuring community members, performers, DJ’s, and small business owners, this film doesn’t give an answer, but opens a conversation.

Anthony Sforza, Crew, In This Moment, Charlotte, NC LuSter P. Singleton, Director/Producer, Free Beer Tomorrow, Columbus, OH Maria Sokar, Crew/1st AD, In This Moment, Raleigh, NC Jonathan H. Soulen, Actor, In This Moment, Winterville, NC Zach Strum, Actor, Summer Lost, Durham, NC Mike Talplacido, Writer/Director, In This Moment, Gig Harbor, WA

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Mona Taylor, Crew, In This Moment, Charlotte, NC Brice Thomas, Actor, In This Moment, Surfside Beach, SC John Wilkins, III, Actor, In This Moment, Norfolk, VA Ellen Williams, Actor, In This Moment, Raleigh, NC Curt Wrenn, Crew, In This Moment, Raleigh, NC

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FEATURE FILMS

FEATURE FILMS

IN THIS MOMENT

LOVE LETTERS

Friday, September 25th, 7:00 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | Gold Theatre Directed by Mike Talplacido USA | 2026 | English | 82 mins | Narrative Feature

Saturday, September 26th, 12:15 pm | a/perture cinema | Studio 3 Directed by Alice Douard France | French | 2025 | 97 mins | Narrative Feature

After a betrayal shatters their marriage, a Filipino American writer and his husband must navigate guilt, grief, and the quiet labor of care as they face the long road back to one another, one fractured moment at a time.

Paris 2014. Lesbian DJ Céline eagerly awaits the arrival of her first child–though it’s her wife, Nadia, who is 6 months pregnant. Under French law, Céline must collect letters of testimony to adopt their child once she’s born. As she navigates this arduous process and reconnects with her eccentric mother, Céline is forced to confront her own ideas of what makes a good parent. What begins as bureaucratic red tape evolves into a heartfelt journey of self-discovery and love, as Céline and Nadia redefine motherhood for a modern world. LOVE LETTERS is a moving, deeply personal drama direct from the Cannes Film Festival.

Brought to you by the RiverRun International Film Festival. Q & A to follow

MINESHAFT: THE CRUISING MURDERS Saturday, September 26th, 2:15 pm | a/perture cinema | Studio 1 Directed by Jeffrey Schwarz USA | 2026 | English | 84 mins | Documentary Feature “Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders” peels back the layers of controversy surrounding the making of the 1980 thriller, “Cruising.” Directed by William Friedkin, CRUISING triggered fierce protests from the LGBTQ+ community for its portrayal of a serial killer targeting gay men in New York’s leather bars. Friedkin drew inspiration from the brutal murder of Variety reporter Addison Verrill, blurring the boundaries between cinematic fiction and real-life tragedy, and MINESHAFT director Jeffrey Schwarz (VITO, I AM DIVINE, TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL, etc.) brings his own signature piercing deep dive flair to unearth a thrilling “commercial” story and a political relevance rarely seen in combination today.

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MASPALOMAS Saturday, September 26th, 12 pm | a/perture cinema | Studio 1 Directed by Aitor Arregi and Jose Mari Goenaga Spain | 2025 | Basque | 116 mins. | Narrative Feature Vicente, a gay man, enjoys a carefree retirement in Maspalomas. When he has to move into a nursing home after a stroke, he decides to hide his sexual orientation and must confront his own fears.

Contains nudity and explicit sexual situations.

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FEATURE FILMS FREE BEER TOMORROW Saturday, September 26th, 4:00 pm | a/perture cinema | Studio 1 Directed by Julia Margaret Applegate and LuSter P. Singleton USA | 2025 | English | 77 mins | Documentary Feature Free Beer Tomorrow is a documentary film project that tells the story of Jack’s/Summit Station, Ohio’s longest running lesbian owned and operated bar. With interviews from Peter Brown-a classically trained musician turned bar owner- to pioneering LGBTQ+ lawyer and legal scholar, Rhonda R. Rivera, and former patrons running the gamut of tap dancers, professional women’s football players, feminist activists, bartenders and drag kings, the film explores lesbian culture in an era where bars were one of the few safe-havens from an oppressive and homophobic world.

YOU UNBOUND CREATIVITY Visit Winston Salem proudly celebrates the 13th annual OUT at the Movies International Film Festival and its commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive community through film. Since 2004, OUT at the Movies has created space for stories, perspectives, and voices that bring people together.

Q & A to follow

Discover more at

TIME WARP Saturday, September 26th, 7:00 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | Babcock Theatre Directed by Allison Berg USA | 2026 | English | 112 mins. | Documentary Feature

“If a million people see my movie, I hope they see a million different movies. – Quentin Tarantino

50 years after The Rocky Horror Picture Show electrified audiences, a drag theatre company in Rock Springs, Wyoming stages a shadow cast. Led by 25-year-old Kenny Starling, they fight for visibility in their community.

restaurant on fourth

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SHORTS PROGRAM 1

OUR SPONSORS

SCREAM QUEENS ONLY

Presented in partnership with Queer Fear Film Festival, our horror shorts will leave you screaming for more. Saturday, September 26, 2:15 pm | a/perture cinema | Studio 3 | 88 mins

1 SCISSORS

Directed by Hannah Alline | USA | 2026 | English | 13 mins | Narrative Short

A slasher with a grudge meets his match when a group of queer friends on a weekend getaway turns his killing spree into a bloody night he never saw coming.

2 ONE NIGHT CHERUB

Directed by Austin King | USA | 2024 | English | 7 mins | Narrative Short

While Nick waits for his app hookup, Rod, to show up, a demonic cherub tries to kill him.

3 BAD DAD

Directed by Chisa Hutchinson | Canada | 2026 | English | 12 mins | Narrative Short

With his divorce barely finalized, Warren retreats from the city he always resented to a quiet lake house, hoping to find some peace with his young son, KJ. But when a stranger named David turns up at the door asking for help, the night takes a turn Warren never could have anticipated.

THE VALLEY: A COSMIC 4 INQUEER ABDUCTION

Steve Montgomery

Directed by Adam Van Dyke | USA | 2025 | English | 28 mins | Narrative Short

Lost in the vast Southern California desert, Josh wakes alone after a night with a mysterious Cowboy. As the landscape twists into a waking nightmare, Josh must uncover the truth about the Cowboy, the cloaked figures watching him, and his own forgotten past—before the desert claims him forever.

5 STAY WITH ME

Directed by Kristen Laffey | USA | 2025 | English | 10 mins | Narrative Short

Miles is finally opening his heart to a new love a year after an unspeakable event. But just when he feels ready to take his budding romance with Ben to the next step, shadows of his past begin to creep into his present. This is contact with a ghost like you’ve never seen…

6 THE GHOST AT SKELETON ROCK Directed by Bobby Abate | USA | 2026 | English | 20 mins | Narrative Short

In the summer of 1992, at the height of the AIDS crisis, 18-year-old Vinny is reeling after being with another boy for the first time. In the tiny enclave of Callicoon, New York, his only confidant is Chris, a ghost he’s been secretly communicating with through a handmade Ouija board.

Q &A to follow

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SHORTS PROGRAM 2

FEATURE FILMS

CAMPING OUT

BEFORE I DO

From surreal settings to a Missouri diner. These films have never heard of “doing too much,” centering over-the-top characters and out-of-the-box film styles. Saturday, September 26, 4:15 pm | a/perture cinema | Studio 3 | 65 mins

LATE IN LIFE GUIDE TO 1 THE MODERN DAY LESBIANISM

Directed by Emelie Claxton, Molly Rangel USA | 2026 | English | 8 mins | Narrative Short

3 ONLY BEARS

Directed by Billy Clift | USA | 2026 | English 18 mins | Narrative Short

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 modernday lesbianism. Please adjust your VCR tracking..

Only Bears follows Jeff and Adam, a married gay couple in their 40s, who set out to spend one uninterrupted day reconnecting in Los Angeles. But as unexpected encounters, comic distractions, and mounting emotional misunderstandings derail their plans, the couple must navigate the messy reality of long-term love.

Directed by Kylie Mungenast | USA | 2026 English | 19 mins | Narrative Short

Directed by Michael Doshier | USA | 2025 English | 13 mins | Narrative Short

In a luscious 1950s hellscape, a waitress named Shirley May Holmes’s ultimate sexual fantasy manifests into Dorothy: the Peppermint Pixie Dream Girl. They plan a date to the drive-in movies, but Shirley has much to conquer if she wants to land a kiss from Dorothy’s candy lips. Transphobic greasers, hetero-nonsense, and the nuclear blast itself will all come crashing down upon Shirley on this pivotal night... She may just need a little help to make it to sunrise alive.

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..

Saturday, September 26, 7:15 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | Gold Theatre Directed by Gary Jaffe USA | 2026 | English | 85 mins. | Narrative Feature Brought to you by Fader Real Estate | Q & A to follow A lakeside bachelor party weekend devolves into chaos when the groom and his best man’s past romantic feelings reunite, entangling the wedding party in pre-wedding drama. Brought to you by Fader Real Estate Q & A to follow

2 PEPPERMINT PIXIE DREAM GIRL 4 RONITA RAMBO

5 BRAD

Directed by Eugene Kolb | USA | 2024 English | 7 mins | Narrative Short

Reeling from a sudden break-up, Greg returns home to crash with his parents.

ON THE SEA Sunday, September 27th, 12:30 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | Babcock Theatre Directed by Helen Walsh United Kingdom | 2025 | English | 111 mins. | Narrative Feature Rugged romance that finds two salty fishermen falling in love and facing the elements.

Q & A to follow

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NARRATIVE

DOCUMENTARY

PARTY

SHORTS

2026 OUT at the Movies International Film Festival Schedule

PANEL WORKSHOP DISCUSSION

Thursday, September 24

Friday, September 25

7 pm 7:30 pm 8 pm

SELECTED SHORTS: FREE ADMISSION

In This Moment

7 pm | Wake Forest University Byrum Welcome Center | 1834 Wake Forest Rd

7:15 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | Gold Theatre | 82 mins Q & A TO FOLLOW

Parties

8:30 pm

OPENING NIGHT PARTY

COMPLIMENTARY RECEPTION TO FOLLOW

9:15 pm | Young Cardinal | 424 W Fourth St

Saturday, September 26

Sunday, September 27

a/perture cinema

UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex

11:30 am 12:00 pm 12:30 pm 1:00 pm

WORKSHOP: “FROM ROUGH CUT

MASPALOMAS

TO FINISH LINE” 12:00 pm | Classroom | 90 mins

12 pm | Studio 1 | 115 mins

LOVE LETTERS 12:15 pm | Studio 3 | 97 mins

1:30 pm

ON THE SEA

SHORTS 3: “KIN/UNKIN”

12:30 pm | Babcock Theatre |

1:00 pm | Gold Theatre | 94 mins

111 mins

THE 50TH INVASION OF THE PINES

Q & A TO FOLLOW

2:00 pm

1:15 pm | Archives | 38 mins THE CRUISING MURDERS 2:15 pm | Studio 1 | 84 mins

3:00 pm

preceded by ONLY BEARS 18 mins

SHORTS 1:

MINESHAFT:

2:30 pm

“SCREAM QUEENS ONLY” 2:15 pm | Studio 3 | 88 mins

3:30 pm

Q & A TO FOLLOW

MY BROTHER’S KILLER 2:45 pm | Babcock Theatre | 95 mins Q & A TO FOLLOW |

4:00 pm

FREE BEER TOMORROW

4:30 pm

4:00 pm | Studio 1 | 78 mins

5:00 pm

Q & A TO FOLLOW

3:00 pm | Gold Theatre | 85 mins

4:15 pm | Studio 3 | 65 mins

6:00 pm

SUMMER LOST

4:45 pm | Gold Theatre | 87 mins

5:00 pm | Babcock Theatre | 82 mins

Q & A TO FOLLOW 5:15 pm | Main Theatre | 101 mins

UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex 7:30 pm 8:00 pm

Parties

8:30 pm

BEFORE I DO

TIME WARP 7:00 pm | Babcock Theatre | 112 mins

Q & A TO FOLLOW

WE’LL FIND HAPPINESS

Q & A TO FOLLOW

7:00 pm

EXIT INTERVIEWS 3:15 pm Main Theatre 90 mns

WHISTLE DOWN WIND SHORTS 2: “CAMPING OUT”

5:30 pm

SHORTS 4: “UNDER CONSTRUCTION”

7:15 pm | Gold Theatre | 85 mins Brought to you by Fader Real Estate

Q & A to follow

SATURDAY NIGHT SHOWCASE PARTY 9:15 pm | Project Space 411 | 411 W 4th St

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BOOKENDS

LOVE LOADED 7:00 pm | Babcock Theatre | 99 mins Q & A TO FOLLOW

7:15 pm | Gold Theatre | 98 mins Brought to you by Fader Real Estate

Q & A TO FOLLOW

CLOSING NIGHT AWARDS PARTY 9 pm | Tuscani by Sage & Salt | 450 N. Patterson Ave

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WORKSHOP

WORKSHOP: FROM ROUGH CUT TO FINISH LINE Saturday, September 26, 12:00 pm. | a/perture cinema | classroom 90 mins You shot the thing, now what? This session picks up where most filmmaking advice drops off, covering the stretch between a rough assembly and a festivalready film: cutting with clear eyes, finishing sound and color on a shoestring, knowing when to stop, and getting deliverables right so your work doesn’t stall at the submission window. An emerging filmmaker, an established filmmaker, and a festival programmer bring three vantage points on the same process: the one living it, the one who’s been through it, and the one on the receiving end of the submission pile. Bring your questions and your worksin-progress problems; the second half of the session belongs to the room.

FEATURE FILMS THE 50TH INVASION OF THE PINES Sunday, September 27th, 1:15 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | Archives Directed by Michael Fisher USA | 2026 | English | 38 mins | Documentary Feature Each summer, a flotilla of drag queens crosses the bay from Cherry Grove to the Pines in a ritual known as the Invasion. What began as an act of protest in the 1970s has become one of the most iconic LGBTQ+ traditions in the country. At its 50th anniversary, The 50th Invasion of the Pines captures the spectacle, history, and deeply personal stories behind the event. Through intimate interviews with legendary figures and participants—alongside present-day footage of the milestone celebration—the film explores how a single act of defiance evolved into a lasting symbol of queer identity, community, and resilience. *Preceded by the narrative short Only Bears.

Lights, Camera, Support! 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.

womblebonddickinson.com

VISIT US AT 104 WEST FOURTH STREET 18 | OUT at the Movies International Film Festival 2026

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

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SHORTS PROGRAM 3

UNCSA.EDU/FILMMAKING

KIN/UNKIN

Families, biological and chosen, shape how we connect to the world.. Sunday, September 27, 1:00 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | Gold Theatre 93 mins

1 I’M DOING FINE

Directed by Aleks Arsin | USA | 2025 | English | 14 mins | Narrative Short

I’m Doing Fine follows a home aide in his 50’s forced to face his own mortality, the passing of his closest confidant, and losing the keys to his apartment all in the span of one day.

2 A HOMECOMING

Directed by David Bryan Caudle | USA | 2025 | English | 18 mins | Narrative Short

MAKE A STATEMENT

A newly transitioning trans woman returns home with her pregnant partner for her parents’ 40th Anniversary.

3 AMID THE NOISE AND HASTE

CELEBRATING OUT AT THE MOVIES’ 13 YEARS OF BOLD STORYTELLING AND CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR EMERGING FILMMAKERS.

Directed by Julie Goldstone | USA | 2025 | English | 20 mins | Narrative Short

A trans woman seeks her true voice through vocal training while bracing to meet her boyfriend’s parents.

WI N STO N S ALE M SYMPHO NY

5 YOU AND ME MAKES THREE

Directed by Emmalie El Fadli | UK | 2025 | English | 19 mins | Narrative Short

When Alannah finally decides she’s ready for a baby, she and her wife Amara dive headfirst into the wild world of sperm donors, DIY insemination, and awkward conversations, all while trying to keep their sanity (and dignity) intact.

6 BLUE GIRL

Directed by Sophia Moore | USA | 2026 | English | 8 mins | Narrative Short Student filmmaker, UNCSA

Teenager Olivia lives a double life to protect her relationship with Emma. When her mother’s comments spark fear, Olivia must choose between hiding or trusting her family. A mother’s love eventually proves stronger than Olivia’s fears.

4 METANOIA

Season Highlights:

Directed by Martin Callo | USA | 2026 | Spanish | 16 mins | Narrative Short

Pianist Sara Davis Buechner in Jared Miller’s Shattered Night Nov 14 & 15, 2026

Student filmmaker, UNCSA

Mariana, a Latin American teenager grappling with her identity, travels to the US to visit her older brother. As they celebrate their last day together at a vibrant Latin Dance club, Mariana is given the courage to embrace her feelings for another girl.

CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE Nov 28 & 29, 2026 ROMEO & JULIET A Theatrical Concert Mar 6 & 7, 2027

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Q&A to follow the screening.

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CARMINA BURANA May 29 & 30, 2027

Discover your city’s orchestra. There’s no sound like home.

wssymphony.org 336.464.0145

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FEATURE FILMS

FEATURE FILMS

MY BROTHER’S KILLER

WHISTLE DOWN WIND

Sunday, September 27th, 2:45 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | Babcock Theatre Directed by Rachel Mason USA | 2026 | English | 95 mins | Documentary Feature

Sunday, September 27th, 4:45 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | Gold Theatre Directed by Andie Morgenlander USA | 2026 | English | 87 mins | Narrative Feature

Expanding upon the world of documentarian Rachel Mason’s 2019 Netflix hit Circus of Books, MY BROTHER’S KILLER details the remarkable effort by members of the LGBTQ community in Los Angeles to solve the 1990 murder of adult film performer Billy London. Following a haunting urban legend that lingered for decades as a cold case, the documentary reopens the case and uncovers new perspectives, connections, and a startling resolution.

When a drunken teenage kiss propels Janie and Alex’s quirky friendship into a hidden love affair, the conservative ideologies of their hometown force them to confront the truth about their sexualities, and the bitter future of their relationship. Q&A to follow

Q & A to follow

EXIT INTERVIEWS

SUMMER LOST

Sunday, September 27th, 3:15 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | Main Theatre Directed by Garrett Abdo USA | 2025 | English | 90 mins. | Narrative Feature

Sunday, September 27th, 5:00 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | Babcock Theatre Directed by Timothy Hall USA | 2026 | Catalan, English | 88 mins | Narrative Feature

Robert (Tuc Watkins) launches a personal documentary to unpack his long trail of failed relationships by interviewing six ex-boyfriends. With sister, Deborah’s support, he seeks answers and growth – if he is truly ready for the truth. Q & A to follow

A man attempts to keep his terminal illness a secret while attending a wedding, but an unexpected romance reshapes his future as well as his past. Q & A to follow

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FEATURE FILMS

SHORTS PROGRAM 4 UNDER CONSTRUCTION

WE’LL FIND HAPPINESS

These films reflect the universality of the queer struggle and the sacrifice it takes to reach the joy and power of living authentically.

Sunday, September 27th, 5:15 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | Main Theatre Directed by Léa Pool Canada, Luxembourg | 2025 | French, English, Arabic, Persian | 101 mins Narrative Feature

Sunday, September 27, 3:00 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | Gold Theatre 83 mins

1 I WANNA HOLD YOUR HAND 4 GAME OVER Directed by Conor Larsen, Zachary Kornblum | Canada | 2026 | English 3 mins | Animated Short

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

2 RAINBOW RIDER

Directed by Cleo Samoles-Little | USA 2026 | English | 14 mins | Narrative Short

Game Over looks at how it feels to be a lesbian couple constantly sexualized and threatened by men.

5 BOY

We’ll Find Happiness is a passionate and sexually-charged romance between two immigrants, juxtaposing their past journey to the West with the fraught realities of their present in a new country. Moroccan refugee Saad lives in Canada with his lover Reza, an Iranian asylum-seeker, but their bliss is shortlived: Reza suddenly faces deportation back to Iran.

Directed by Ben & Ruth Rusnak | UK | 2026 English | 13 mins | Narrative Short

Directed by Georgia Krause | USA 2025 | English | 26 mins | Documentary Short

Rainbow Rider follows Shelle Lichti, an outspoken lesbian truck driver hauling freight across the country in her eponymous and iconic rainbow semi-truck. With her chihuahua sidekick in tow, Shelle encounters the joys of the open road, grumpy dispatchers, and lots of middle fingers sent in her direction.

3 JACOB IN TEXAS

Directed by Rebecca Adler | USA | 2025 English | 10 mins | Documentary Short

After undergoing conversion therapy as a teen, Jacob must flee Texas’ anti-trans climate.

Q&A to follow the screening.

While housesitting alone, Danny invites an older stranger over for a casual hookup. The charged encounter pushes Danny out of his comfort zone and into a world of confusion, forcing him to face the mismatch between who he is and who he appears to be.

6 NEVER NEVER NEVER

Directed by John Sheedy | UK | 2025 Welsh | 18 mins | Narrative Short

In a quaint Welsh fishing village, aspiring drag queen Henrick secretly longs for Arwyn, a fisherman whose quietness masks a storm of emotions. As Henrick dazzles the local stage alongside his mother, Frida, their glittering acts ignite tension with his tradition-bound father, Clive. Arwyn, caught between love and obligation, wrestles with his heart. When Henrick contemplates leaving the only home he has ever known in search of acceptance, the fate of their forbidden love hangs in the balance.

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LOVE LOADED Sunday, September 27th, 7:00 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | Babcock Theatre Directed by Jan Miller Corran USA | 2026 | English | 98 mins | Narrative Feature

A sultry 1958 Los Angeles nightclub becomes a powder keg of secrets when famed torch singer Didi Scanlon is drawn into a web of betrayal and murder - where every lover, every rival, and everyone in the room is armed. Someone attempts to murder Dr. Jack Scanlon just as former singing partner of Didi Scanlon returns. Q & A to follow

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FEATURE FILMS BOOKENDS Sunday, September 27th, 7:15 pm | UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex | Gold Theatre Directed by Mike Doyle USA | 2026 | English | 98 mins | Narrative Feature Unceremoniously dumped by his boyfriend and forced to flee his fabulous city life, Nate is mortified to find himself living with his meddlesome grandparents in a suburban retirement community. He initially resolves to escape, but when his Holocaust-surviving grandfather shows signs of cognitive decline and his grandmother refuses to acknowledge her husband’s early dementia, Nate finds himself torn between family responsibilities, regaining his independence, and an unexpected romance with his grandparents’ handsome doctor. Brought to you by Fader Real Estate Q & A to follow

We are proud to support OUT at the Movies International Film Festival.

Cheers to another great year!

336.558.5214 igc-creative.com 939 burke street, ste e winston-salem . nc 27101 26 | OUT at the Movies International Film Festival 2026

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FESTIVAL JURORS NARRATIVE JURORS

DOCUMENTARY and SHORTS JURORS

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

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

Odu Adamu, Brooklyn, NY

Susan Brittain Advance, NC

Odu Adamu is an award-winning creative who expresses his vision through film. Odu’s work centers indigenous Black LGBTQ/SGL experiences, and his films have screened on four continents. Odu also stays connected with community through service. He is the founder of GOT TO BE REEL, a nonprofit project that brings Black queer film into community spaces, and mentors with Reel Works Documentary Lab. As a Musagetes Foundation Artist Fellow, he co-founded the Black Queer Filmmakers Summit and co-created the Canadian Ballroom Leadership Cohort.

Susan Brittain is a filmmaker and writer who lives in Davie County, NC. Her first documentary, Afterlife: Beyond the Light, is out now. She has two other films as an Associate Producer, Concerto for Abigail and Love Loaded, with her friend, Jan Miller Corran. She’s currently working on a narrative film with her film partner, Constance Brenneman. Together, they are the principals of Blue Lane Entertainment.

Whether it’s community or culture, Odu only dedicates his head and heart to projects produced from a place of power!

Tiffany Albright, Greensboro, NC Tiffany Albright (she/her) is a writer and producer based in Greensboro, NC. Her work centers on women and LGBTQ+ stories, and explores identity, gender, sexuality, and class through a genre lens. Seeking to make the queer dark genre community more visible and connected, she founded Queer Fear Film Festival in 2021.

Heidi McIver, High Point, NC Heidi is an Adjunct Professor for Improvisation and Theatre & Culture at the UNCSA School of Drama. A current MFA student in Screenwriting at the UNCSA School of Filmmaking, Heidi graduated from the UNCSA School of Drama with a BFA in Directing (theatre), and from the High School Drama program. In addition, Heidi is Associate Program Director of Filmmaking & Animation Summer Intensives at the UNCSA School of Filmmaking.

28 | OUT at the Movies International Film Festival 2026

Chad Harris, Roanoke, VA Chad E. Harris, Ph.D., is a philosopher of film and film reception, an educator, and an academic editor. To date, his favorite career is teaching high school English, which he did from 2007–2017. A professional academic turned independent scholar, he has taught cultural foundations of education, social justice education, philosophy of education, cultural studies, and interdisciplinary and feminist research. As a film curator, programmer, and panel moderator, he founded and headed the shorts programs at OUT at the Movies from 2021–2025 and is a former OUT at the Movies board vice president. Since 2021, he has served on the board of directors of a/perture cinema, and he is the current executive at large.

Talia Kimelman, Winston-Salem, NC Talia Kimelman is a second year MFA candidate at the Wake Forest University Documentary Film Program. She is from Tallahassee, Florida, where she got her BA in History from Florida State University with a minor in film studies in 2025. Her work focuses on archival documentaries at the intersection of history, politics, and culture that inform our shared American experience today.

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2026 SCREENING COMMITTEE Zach Birtsch

Andrew Golden

Charlie Musco

Susan Brittain

Chad Harris

Gracie Rodgers

Max Cullen

Janice Jennings

Sue Rupp

Patrick Dail

Judy Jordan

Carrie Varnedore

Brigith Dávila

Talia Kimelman

Rex Welton

Garry Dunn-Lightbourne

Jim Knight

Kenny Weschler

Camden Factor

Nancy Minor

Rick Wicker

Mark Fullerton

Brent Moore

Tim Yersin

Thank you to our volunteers: Mark Biggam

Harold Fite

Scott Neeley

Joseph Blanco

Mark Fullerton

Rob Norwood

Derek Bomberger

Bob Goodman

Patti Petree

Ashley Clinard

Kennard R. Joel

Robert Rocco

Dagmar Cosby

Jim Knight

Sue Rupp

James Crosslin

Aaron LaVallee

Amy Slusher

Rachel Crosslin

Garry Lightbourne-Dunn

Bob Slusher

Becky Currin

Lee Ann Manning

Kurt Spitz

Tyler Dease

Andrew Martin

Jackie Torrieri

Lynn Felder

Vickie Myers

Rick Wicker

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2026 DONORS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER R. Jackson Smith

AFICIONADO Sanjay Aher

Howard Upchurch and John Hoemann

Marian Bell

PRODUCER

Jody Cervenak

Christopher Page Rick Wicker and Jim Knight Janie and J. D. Wilson ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Mark Chiarello Frank and Gary Brad Moss and Rex Welton Steve and Frances Porter Andy and Nancy Schneider Pete Smith

Robert Beseda Dagmar Cosby Anne Cullen Chelsea Cullen Max Cullen Noelle Culler Brigith Davilla Rob Davis

YOUR LOCAL REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL

Mary Dossinger Sabrina Hall Julie Hutton Mary Jamis

LEAD ACTOR

Aaron Johnson

Bob Conn and Craig Hancock

Anne Jones

Rebecca Currin and Lee Ann Manning

Joshua Kandy

Clint Cedillo Labrie and Ken Labrie

Gary & Amy Norcross

Dr. Mark Maxwell and Timothy Young-Maxwell

Charles Payne

Richard D. Smith

Janiah Rory

SUPPORTING ACTOR Cal and Mary Adams Mark Biggam Karen and Matt Coleman Dean Culler Rob Davis Andrew Golden Doug and Sue Henderson Carol Kutteh Louise Pollard Betty Simpson Bruce and Liz Walley

SERVING THE TRIAD & BEYOND

Er and Cathy Ralston Graydon Pleasants and Margaret Scales Sue Rupp

For more than 9 years, I’ve helped buyers and sellers across the Triad make confident moves. I love calling the Triad home, and I’d be honored to help you find your place here too.

Margaret Scales Emmy Schwartz Alissa Simone Matthew Szczygiel

STEVEN MONTGOMERY

Kenny Weschler Diana and Doug Woolard Nancy Young Brad Zabel

336-817-9142 TriadNCAgent.com @StevenMontgomeryRealtor

Zach Birtsch Brigith Dávila

Dirk Robertson and James Sands

*2026 Donor Program Listing (as of 9/16/26)

32 | OUT at the Movies International Film Festival 2026

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Cover art: Bow to the Sunset is an exploration of surrender, transformation, and the freedom found in allowing oneself to fully exist in the present moment. The image captures a shoreline where earth, water, sky, and light dissolve into one another. The intense oranges and reds of the setting sun transition into violet, green, and muted sand tones, creating a landscape that feels both familiar and otherworldly. Like many LGBTQ+ stories, this image exists in a space between what has been and what is emerging. The sunset becomes a metaphor for life’s transition - not an ending, but a threshold between one state of being and another. The artist: Scott Sanders is a Winston-Salem based photagrapher and digital artist. Scott transforms everyday photographs into expressive, impressionistic works of art. Blending photography with digital techniques, he explores color, texture, light, and movement to create images that feel both familiar and dreamlike.


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