Jack’d Film Festival is championing queer story telling through 15 short films highlighting the experiences and perspectives of Queer People Of Color
Jack’d, the largest dating app for queer people of color in the U.S., announced the official lineup for the inaugural Jack’d Film Festival, featuring 15 films that celebrate the stories, experiences, and perspectives of queer people of color.
The Jack’d Film Festival is a new, fully digital showcase and competition celebrating original films by queer creators, with a particular focus on films that center the experiences, stories, and/or perspectives of queer people of color. Through digital screenings, filmmaker programming, and community voting, the Jack’d Film Festival creates a platform for creators to share their stories, showcase their creativity, and connect with the unique audience on Jack’d.
Less than 10 percent of the 160 submissions – 15 films – were selected for this year’s programming lineup. The filmmakers explore a vast range of themes and shared experiences through the lens of queer people of color, including racism, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, homophobia, surrogacy, gender norms, father-son challenges and drag. The lineup features a mix of established and emerging talent, including Justice Singleton, screenwriter, director, and child of late Oscar-nominated filmmaker John Singleton; established filmmaker Q. Allan Brocka (Boy Culture, Eating Out); and award-winning playwright, filmmaker, and HIV/AIDS activist, Donja R. Love. The festival’s projects also spotlight notable talent including award-winning actresses Paula Jai-Parker (Hustle & Flow, The Proud Family, Friday) and Elise Neal (Hustle & Flow, The Hughleys), Tony Award-winning actor, director, and playwright John Cameron Mitchell (Rabbit Hole, How to Talk to Girls at Parties), and award-winning filmmaker Michael Sasaki (Grey’s Anatomy). A complete list of films and directors is below.
The selected films will compete for two of the festival’s distinguished awards, the Grand Jury Award and the Audience Choice Award. The festival’s jury features industry luminaries TS Madison (Outlaws with TS Madison podcast, Beauty in Black), Miss Lawrence (Fashion Queens, Empire), Bobby Ashley (The Ave, Single Man Problems), Mike Gauyo (Ginny & Georgia, Send Help), and Dyllón Burnside (Pose). The jury will select the Grand Jury Award winner while the Audience Choice Award will be determined by verified votes from Jack’d app members, who may vote for up to three films.
Discover more about the Film Festival in the Jack’d app now!
NARRITIVE SHORT FILMS IN COMPETITION
Cockroach (2025) (Director and Producer: Justice Singleton, Producers: Jordan Flaherty, John Cameron Mitchell, Liliana Padilla, Kelsey Scult) – A late-night hookup takes a surreal turn as a Black trans man and an older gay white man confront unexpected truths. Cast: Justice Singleton, John Cameron Mitchell, C.G. Taylor, Elise Neal.
EKG (2024) (Director: Q. Brocka Allan, Executive Producer: Ray Hsu, Producer and Screenwriter: Todd Lien, Producer: Peiyuan Xi) – An Asian American doctor explores queer nightlife while confronting the fear and guilt that keep him from connecting with his father. Cast: Michael Sasaki, Kay Bebe Queue, Todd Lien, Gary Hayashi, Anthea Neri Best, Lisa Cole, Eliza Shin, Alicia Clark, Jason Sun.
Don’t Hang Up (2025) (Director: Diamond Batiste, Executive Producer and Screenwriter: Ron McCants, Producers: Alain Fleury, Ramfis Myrthil, Alain Emile) – An unexpected call from a former student forces a Missouri matriarch to confront their shared past and seek redemption. Cast: Paula Jai-Parker, L.T. Hines II.
home (2024) (Director and Producer: Donja R. Love, Executive Producer: DaShawn Usher, Producers: Brandon Nicholas, Daniel D. Driffin) – On a cold night, a homeless queer teen faces a life-changing decision in his search for shelter. Cast: Justen Ross, Fernando Gonzalez, Ben Cherry, Dane Figueroa Edidi, Donja R. Love.
FLY (2026) (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Carlton Daniel Jr., Executive Producer: Evan Starling-Davis) – When a ballet company holds auditions for a competitive apprenticeship, a perfection-driven dancer has their world upended by a rival who rekindles their love for the craft. Cast: Jeremy Villas, Maxfield Haynes, Aldo Kattón, Guinevere Turner.
What Are We? Are We Going To Be? We Are. (2025) (Director: Ryan Murtha, Executive Producers: Amethyst O’Connell, Jacob Cook, Producer and Screenwriter: Brandon Foxworth, Producer: Kyle Christiansen) – A couple’s relationship hangs in the balance when buried secrets surface over one tumultuous night. Cast: Brandon Foxworth, Kyle Christiansen.
JARED (2026) (Director and Producer: Cleo Berry, Producer: Byron Thomas) – As his marriage ends, a fat Black millennial navigates shame, desire and fear on a sweltering day in Los Angeles. Cast: Cleo Berry, Alexandra Beres, Demarco Majors, Cassidy Barnes, Priyom Haider, Davi Stefond, Sarah Foret, Moses Tareen,Norah Tareen, Molly Zachmeier, Emilia M Todd, Corey Dorris, Yvoty Lisvada, Jaake Castro, Noé Morales, Jackson Stephan, Affan Tareen, Cynthia Tripp, Davide Pigliacelli.
The Process (2026) (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Ellis C. Dawson, Producers: Andrew Montgomery Coleman, Lamont Walker II) – While documenting their surrogacy journey, Justin and Ezra must confront their painful past. Cast: Lamont Walker II, Andrew Coleman.
PEPPER (2026) (Director and Producer: Taylor Ri’chard, Producer: Alexander Dawson) – A rising drag performer and his deaf veteran father confront fear and acceptance when a bitter conflict threatens their bond. Cast: A.J. Garrett, Juan Piña, Nicole Sky, Jack Lefebvre.
Boys Don’t Do That (2026) (Director, Screenwriter, and Executive Producer: Joshua Lipscomb, Producer: Dani Coleman) – Forced into boxing by his father, Jay must confront buried pain and learn to embrace love, identity and vulnerability. Cast: Joshua Lipscomb, Santana White, Kevin Caldwell, Darrel Jackson Jr, Zora Umeadi.
Mean Goals (2025) (Director and Executive Producer: Ahuatl Amaro, Co-Producers: Barbara Lettieri, Fanfan Zhoum Brian Bonilla, Dr. Guillermo Douglass-Jaimes, David Douglass-Jaimes, Associate Producers: Jacob Ortuño, Abraham Rodriguez, Bamby Salcedo, The TransLatin@ Coalition, Wesley Health Centers) – An adorkable gay Latino joins an LGBTQ soccer team to bond with his father struggling with Alzheimer’s over their shared passion for the sport. Cast: Abraham Rodriguez, Paloma Esparza Rabinov, Jack Murillo, Zack Rikito Harris, Brandon Papo, Indar Smith, Mark Saldana.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE IN COMPETITION
Tapestry: Reclaiming Our Past (2025) (Director: Kris Torres, Producers: Lorenzo Robertson, Denise Royal, Ederick Johnson, Christopher Barnhill, Derald Robertson) – Tapestry explores the lives of Black same gender loving men from different parts of the country who currently reside in South Florida. Looking at their lives as they navigated the AIDS epidemic, racism, homophobia, substance abuse, failed relationships, and other ills of society. Black same gender loving men in the film range in age from the early fifties to the early eighties. Cast: Timothy Moragne, Christopher Bates, Herbert Waters, Timothy Bouie, Terry Bowie, Tony Davis, Bill Peters, Billy Hunter, Stephen Bailous, Marc Bassett, Brandon Graham, Lorenzo Robertson.
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS IN COMPETITION
Miss Honey: The Catsuit (2024) (Director and Producer: Brandon R. Nicholas, Executive Producer: DaShawn Usher, Producer: Brit Fryer) – A fashion mishap inspires Douglas Says to create the cut-out catsuit made iconic by Moi Renee’s performance of Miss Honey. Cast: Douglas Says, Donja R. Love.
Fighting Spaces (2026) (Director and Producer: Patricio Matos, Producer: Niq Lewis) – A short documentary about Doc, a semi-professional boxer and military veteran from the Bronx, whose erotic curiosities at an early age, influenced and opened doors for others in the leather community. Cast: Doc.
Southern Son Shine (2025) (Director and Producer: Kevin D. Anderson, Producer: The T.R.U.T.H. Project, Inc.) –Black queer men living with HIV in the South confront stigma and reclaim their stories through vulnerability, joy and resilience. Cast: Damion Sam, Ken Williams, Amber David, Kevin Anderson, Dr. Andre Rosario, Dr. Ralston Lockett.
Award winners will be announced on the Jack’d app. To participate in festival voting, audience members must download the Jack’d App for free, create a profile, and stream films directly through the app. Films also can be streamed from an iOS device using AirPlay via Apple TV. Throughout the festival period, Jack’d members will be able to watch selected films and vote in the app for the Audience Choice Award.
