OutReels Cincinnati

2025 films... 

GRIFFIN IN SUMMER

Director: Nicholas Colia 

90 Minutes  

Griffin is 14, but instead of sneaking sips of hard seltzer with his friends, all he wants to do is stage far-too-mature original plays in his family's basement. He is desperately attempting to self-produce his new divorce drama, “Regrets of Autumn”, starring his unenthusiastic friends. But all bets are off when he develops a crush on his mom's new handyman, who shares Griffin's love of the performing arts.  This surprise summer friendship with the handsome 25-year-old  handyman Brad flips Griffin’s life (and play) upside down!  

 

DIVIDE

Director: Jeanette Buck 

9 Minutes   

Two estranged siblings of opposing political persuasion clean out their mother’s home after her death. They feel closer until a fight over a sentimental heirloom triggers unresolved childhood issues. 

 

SEXY GRANDMA

Director: Jonathan Wolfe 

14 Minutes  

When a widowed grandma is challenged by her gay grandson to start dating online, she must reignite her passion for life and  overcome a painful secret in her past. 

 

DYKE

Director: Zoey Whittington 

9 Minutes   

What does it mean to be a dyke? In this student film, a high school student searches for where she fits in. Her journey goes from wanting to hide who is to learning to be her unapologetic self!  

 

discreet

Director: Kevin Lewis 

13 Minutes  

A young man’s desire turns into an obsession as he tries to reshape himself into the image of someone else.  

 

ALWAYS AZIZAM

Director: Shayan Ebrahim 

11 Minutes  

Mahsa, a transgender Iranian women, agrees to meet her partner’s family. She is hoping for their blessing and acceptance against all odds. 

 

MAN CURED

Directors: 

Kyle Heiner & Johan T Anderson 

17 Minutes  

Lucas, an insecure, closeted 22-year old is stuck babysitting for a wealthy family to make ends meet. One night he arrives at the house only to find another babysitter there. This chance encounter spirals into a weekend of self-discovery and acceptance.  

 

FIRST CONTACT

Director James Crang 

United Kingdom 

8 Minutes   

In isolation on the moon, a gardener tends to his small patch of life. When another person appears, he is forced to confront his fears of connection.   

 

FREE BEER TOMORROW Teaser

Directors: Julia M Applegate & LuSter P Singleton 

12 minutes  

This teaser, for the upcoming full-length documentary, tells the story of Jack’s/ Summit Station - Ohio’s longest running lesbian bar

 

OUTLIERS and OUTLAWS

Director: Courtney Hermann  

65 minutes  

This documentary uncovers the fabulous history of a large and vibrant lesbian community in Eugene, Oregon. Women who migrated to this small town in the 1960-80s candidly share their stories.  The film includes a rich archive of images documenting this groundbreaking community. 

 

SHE’S THE HE

Director: Siobhan McCarthy 

81 Minutes 

First-time director Siobhan McCarthy turns the gender-swap comedy inside out in this hilarious, heartfelt, BOTTOMS-esque teen satire. Set during the final week of high school, best friends Alex and Ethan hatch a plan to shut down rumors that they're gay and get Alex closer to his crush — by pretending to be trans girls. But when Ethan finds unexpected clarity in her new identity, the line between the joke and real life blur in ways for which neither of them is ready. The film is both a biting satire and a sincere coming-of-age film about what happens when you stop pretending and start accepting who you really are. 

 

DRIVE BACK HOME

Director: Michael Clowater 

Canada 

103 Minutes   

In the winter of 1970, a cantankerous, small-town plumber from rural New Brunswick must drive his beat-up work truck 1,000 miles to Toronto to get his estranged, gay brother (Alan Cumming) out of jail after being arrested for having sex in a public park. The two men are then forced to drive back home together at the behest of their hard-nosed mother before they kill each other in this winning comedy-drama. 

 

MOM, I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU

Director: Rick Miller 

30 Minutes   

The  documentary explores the unique and life-changing bond that exists between women and their gay sons through interviews that inspire audiences with these stories about acceptance and love.  

 

Tippi & Barb

Director: Brad Burleson 

12 Minutes  

In Arkansas, Tippi, a beloved teacher, and Barb, a prosecuting attorney, built a life together. But their lives are shattered with a single phone call on their wedding day. The two refuse to be silent and soon become champions for LGBTQ+ rights.  

 

JACOB IN TEXAS

Director: Rebecca Adler 

9 Minutes  

After undergoing conversion therapy as a teen, Jacob makes the decision to flee Texas and its anti-trans climate. 

 

DON’T CRY FOR ME ALL YOU DRAG QUEENS

Director: Kristal Sotomayor 

9 Minutes  

Honoring legendary drag queen Mother Cavallucci, blending past and present to explore belonging and memory. 

 

Through archival photos and footage from community drag shows, the film reflects on the lasting impact of her iconic wedding fundraisers and the issues she helped pioneer in New Hope, PA. 

 

SCATTERED PICTURES

Director: Ibai Vigil-Escalera & Jose Andre Sibaja 

8 Minutes  

Through the grainy nostalgia of 8 mm film and the intimacy of voice-over narrator , Gabriel takes us on a deeply personal story of self-discovery.  

 

IN FULL BLOOM: THE STORY OF JESSICA DIMON

Director: Katie Dankworth 

10 Minutes  

This short doc follows local Cincinnati drag performer, Jessica Dimon, as she highlights the importance of queer spaces, love, acceptance and the art of drag.  

 

three courses

Director: Saul Francisco Ornelas Esparza 

Mexico 

12 Minutes  

Raul invites Diego, his childhood best friend, over with his family to unveil their biggest secret. Over dinner, the family will discover that they are not as different as they thought.  

 

IUS OF TIME

Director: Roberto F Canuto & Xiaoxi Xu 

Spain 

25 Minutes  

Luca, a young photographer, arrives in a village in Asturias to work on an artistic project. There, he stays with Xuan, an experienced cheesemaker with a past full of rumors and prejudices. Through Luca’s camera and Cuan’s craft; they discover unexpected connections.  

 

CLUTTER

Director: James Card 

United Kingdom 

14 Minutes  

Jean has a no nonsense attitude to both her cleaning job and her affluent clientele. But faced with the aftermath of a night of hedonism, she is forced to confront the pain of her own loss and the repercussions of a deep rooted prejudice.

 

I DONT KNOW IF ILL HAVE TO SAY EVERYTHING AGAIN

Director: Vitoria Fallovena & Thassilo Weber 

Brazil 

14 Minutes  

Fernando meets his mother weekly at a cafe. Today he is going to tell her he is getting married. Ann, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, has trouble remembering her son is gay. Does she really forget or would she rather not remember?  

 

Bi-Nocular Panic

Director: Anouk Witkowska Hiffler 

United Kingdom 

7 Minutes   

Cass & Jame spend their afternoons doing what all teen girls do: spy on boys! But when Melody appears, Cass realizes she might be interested in more than just boys!  

 

The Blame Silence

Director: Israel Córdova  

Brazil 

19 Minutes  

After his father’s death, Mauro, a rural farmer, finds himself facing a freedom he never dared to live. Caught between guilt and desire, he has to confront his fears to finally embrace who he truly is. 

 

THROUPLE

Director: Greyson Horst 

92 Minutes   

Michael stumbles into the street after a disappointing night out in the city and meets married couple Georgie and Connor. So naturally, the three decide to go home together. But what starts out as a frisky no-strings-attached encounter slowly evolves into a new, exciting and much more complicated relationship, replete with insecurities and judgment alongside the deep bond that they’ve formed. THROUPLE is an offbeat romantic comedy that equally celebrates and closely examines a new kind of relationship dynamic emerging in the queer community.  

---