100 minutes

Round out your Reel Out Charlotte experience by watching five unique short films from around the world.

Pakka (Iniyavan Elumalai, 2025, 18 min., Netherlands) – Four gay Indian friends share an unbreakable bond on a Dutch cricket field. But when one agrees to an arranged marriage in India, their chosen family begins to unravel.  

First Date (Hailey Vest, 2025, 18 min., United States) – When the new kid gets asked out on his first date, he must navigate how to stay true to himself amidst the pressure to fit in.  

Demon Twink (Steven George, 2025, 25 min., United States) – When an older depressed queer man named Dante is offered eternal youth via a mysterious glory hole, his wish is granted – but with a deadly price.  

You’re Doing Great (Vita Mei Hewitt, Julie Lindsey, 2025, 22 min., United States) – A short surreal comedy that follows a middle-aged queer maid’s journey as she revisits her past regrets while cleaning a house on her birthday. With the help of her spirit guides, she reflects on love, relationships and her life trajectory in this bittersweet story.  

Never Never Never (John Sheedy, 2025, 18 min., Australia, United Kingdom) – In a quaint Welsh fishing village, a young Shirley Bassey impersonator and a fisherman are swept into a secret romance, battling the tides of family and tradition as they search for the courage to claim their own happiness. 

Stay after the films to meet filmmakers in attendance.