Highlights from Leeds Queer Short Film Competition 1

Spanning a range of genres, moods, and subject matter, the diversity and emotional complexity of the Leeds Queer Short Film Competition 1 strand of Leeds International Film Festival’s short films programme reflects the breadth of stories longing to be told by the LGBTQ+ community around the world. This global selection offers a bold look into the joys and struggles of being a member of this community in the modern era, sidelining stereotypes to dig at the truth of the queer experience and strive towards tearing down preconceived notions of what living that experience means.

While the entire lineup comes together to a form a stirring representation of LGBTQ+ identities, a few of the shorts stand out as radically empathetic, vital watches that highlight the strength of international queer cinema. First up is Martina Matzkin’s The Name of the Son (Argentina, 13 mins.), which follows a young trans boy forced to confront his father’s feelings about his transition while visiting him on a summer holiday. What potentially seems like yet another tragedy of trans exclusion turns out to be a refreshingly tender, multifaceted story of acceptance. The strength of Matzkin’s direction comes from her attention to detail; that in no way means her eye is clinical. Warmth radiates from every line of dialogue and shot choice, illuminating how empowering and reassuring even the use of the word “son” can mean to a young trans boy. Matzkin goes to great lengths to realize the actual complexities of coming out as trans, especially in youth, and as a result creates a short that leaves a lasting impact long after the credits roll.

Taking the notion of unabashedly living your truth and cranking the energy up to 11, Naures Sager’s sexy, charming 1-1 (Sweden, 7 mins.) follows a budding romance between two gay men whose chemistry ignites when they start to pull pranks on each other during their first date. Sager’s witty script is thrilling brought to life by his electric cast; Robert Hannouch, Siham Shurafa, Rojan Telo, and Jonatan Öhlin have a rapport as an ensemble that naturally sets of comedic fireworks. It helps Sager’s direction frames them with an equal amount of enthusiasm, the camera matching their bodies with every laugh and impassioned embrace. In one brief short Sager captures the depth of possibilities if LGBTQ+ stories were allowed to lead the way in reinvigorating the romantic comedy genre.

The centerpiece of the programme and perhaps its most radical inclusion, Agustina Comedi’s documentary short Playback (Argentina, 14 mins.) reshapes home video footage of drag queens and trans women in 80s/90s Argentina into a moving document on the triumphs and tribulations of a queer community underexplored in cinema. What makes the film so remarkable is its kinship with Jennie Livingston’s landmark Paris is Burning, set in the same era and following similar subject matter. The exception here is the story is actually filmed and narrated by the community members who lived through that era, reshaping a type of documentary sometimes deemed as exploitative into something deeply personal and brimming with honesty. The film is an equal parts harrowing and touching look back at the joys of queer community in that era and how the ravages of the AIDS crisis threatened to tear it apart. It’s importance, like much of the Leeds Queer Short Film Competition 1 programme itself, stems from its refusal to give into despair. It knows the love and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community will long outlive whatever obstacles stand in their way.

The Leeds Queer Short Film Competition 1 programme can be accessed via the Leeds International Film Festival’s viewing platform Leeds Film Player. All of the festival’s shorts programmes and features are available to rent via the player until November 19th.

Leeds International Film Festival: Highlights from Leeds Queer Short Film Competition 1