This Weekend’s VOD Favorites

The Gay Cinema Video On Demand experience at TLAgay.com has your entertainment needs covered! We’re always working to expand selection of new and old gay-themed movies available for your viewing pleasure. Here’s just five of our current favorites that you may have missed – ALL available to watch INSTANTLY!

 

Once a Year on Blackpool Sands
Once A Year on Blackpool Sands is a triumphant, comedy-drama based on real events, regarding an extraordinary night in Blackpool 1953, several days after the Queen’s Coronation. Tommy and Eddy (Macaulay Cooper and Kyle Brooks) are coal miners and secret gay lovers who spend their holiday at a quirky bed and breakfast in Blackpool, along with a few other “alternative” members of society. Together, they summon up the courage to do the first fabled walk towards Gay Pride. Written and directed by Karlton Parris, this true story offers a rare glimpse into an underrepresented era in LGBTQ history. Touching and poignant, Once a Year on Blackpool Sands offers up a portrayal of the lives of working-class gay men and the women who supported them, in a time when homosexuality was a crime.

 

Benjamin
British comedian Simon Amstell wrote and directed this charmingly offbeat gay romantic comedy about a filmmaker juggling the excitement of his upcoming film premiere with the fear and awkwardness of a burgeoning romance. Always ready with a self-defensive quip, indie film director Benjamin (Colin Morgan) nervously prepares for the premiere of his sophomore feature when he meets and falls for hard for Noah (Phenix Brossard), a young French musician. Will Benjamin’s insecurities and anxieties get in the way of success and happiness? Will his film be a critics-savaging disaster and he, a one-hit wonder? Benjamin is a charming, laugh-out-loud look at one man’s land mined road to success and love.

 

Cas
Get ready for a sexy and entertaining collection of three short films that examine the different effects the addition of a third party has on a modern gay relationship. In Cas, Pepijn and George’s steady, seven-year relationship is shaken after they allow a hot young student named Cas to sleep on their couch while he finds a place of his own. Gradually, both men fall head over heels for the attractive younger man’s laconic charm, forcing them to reconsider their many long-term plans. Is Cas’s presence endangering their relationship or is he a blessing in disguise? In Tri-Curious, last minute anxiety threatens to ruin a young gay couple’s first threesome together. The final short in the collection, Bed Buddies, is a comedy about three gay friends who wake up after sleeping together and try to make sense of the unclear line between friendship and love.

 

Bittersweet Waters
Writer-director Jesús Canchola Sánchez makes his assured feature debut with this emotionally complex tale of Atl (played by Sanchez himself), a quiet man living in rural Mexico, taking care of his devoted grandmother, Citalli, and verbally abusive mother, Soledad. Atl’s grandmother is unaware of his undercover affair with his longtime best friend, the handsome movie star Diego. But the two-faced, alcoholic Soledad knows and wastes no time in blackmailing her son in order to keep him compliant. Diego’s pregnant fiancée soon discovers the affair too, but in spite of her threats, Diego keeps seeing Atl on the side. In order to live truthfully, Atl must overcome his mother, Diego’s fiancée and the traditional community that surrounds him.

 

Hidden Kisses
16-year-old Nathan (Bérenger Anceaux), lives alone with his father Stephane (Patrick Timsit). A newcomer to his high school, he is invited to a party and soon becomes smitten with Louis (Jules Houplain), a boy from his class. They find themselves seemingly out of sight and kiss each other sweetly… not realizing that someone has taken a picture of them. Soon, the photo is published on Facebook and a storm overtakes their lives – putting them face to face with severe bullying and rejection. A highly-publicized film that originally aired on French television in 2016, this deeply affecting film is now available on DVD and VOD in the United States. The lead actors are both adorable and have great chemistry together. Hidden Kisses is a heartfelt, thoughtful, beautifully directed film that will linger with you long after the final credits.

 

This Weekend’s VOD Favorites

The Gay Cinema Video On Demand experience at TLAgay.com has your entertainment needs covered! We’re always working to expand selection of new and old gay-themed movies available for your viewing pleasure. Here’s just five of our current favorites that you may have missed – ALL available to watch INSTANTLY!

 

Nothing But Flowers
Ash (Hayden Vaughn) and Max (August Medina) suddenly find their loving relationship in jeopardy. When Max gets accepted into an elite East Coast graduate school program, it puts all of their plans on hold. Now they must question whether or not they have a future together. On their final night as a couple, they begin to relive pivotal moments from their past… until they’re interrupted by a surprise going-away party that ratchets up the tension even further. From writer-director Nicolas Merrias and co-writer Omar Salas Zamora (the creator behind the beloved gay series Here Comes Your Man), Nothing But Flowers is a tender and heartfelt gay romantic drama featuring skilled performances from the two charismatic leads.

 

Why Not You
Mario (Thomas Prenn), a sensitive young dancer, finds difficulty in the day-to-day life of his small Italian village. At a local festival, he reunites with Lenz (Noah Saavedra), a former childhood friend who left town long ago. Mario quickly becomes fixated on Lenz, who is now living out his dreams as an actor in Rome. Inspired, Mario decides to follow his friend to the Italian capital. When they meet in a gay bar, the night takes a tragic turn. Escaping unharmed, Mario’s life will be forever altered by the incident and the loss that follows. The debut feature of writer-director Evi Romen, Why Not You is a challenging character drama, following a disoriented young man who senses that he must find a place for himself in the world.

 

I Want Your Love
After years of treading water in freewheeling San Francisco, a young gay man (Jesse Metzger) prepares to move back to his roots in the Midwest. During his last weekend in town his friends, roommates and ex-lovers throw him a party that brings his already bittersweet feelings about leaving into sharper focus. Torn between his creative dreams and the reality of earning a living, he’s made to take responsibility by redefining what it means to be an artist, a gay man and an adult. Expanded to feature length from an award-winning 2010 short film of the same name, I Want Your Love features graphic, unsimulated sex scenes. Viewer discretion is advised.

 

Benjamin
British comedian Simon Amstell wrote and directed this charmingly offbeat gay romantic comedy about a filmmaker juggling the excitement of his upcoming film premiere with the fear and awkwardness of a burgeoning romance. Always ready with a self-defensive quip, indie film director Benjamin (Colin Morgan) nervously prepares for the premiere of his sophomore feature when he meets and falls for hard for Noah (Phenix Brossard), a young French musician. Will Benjamin’s insecurities and anxieties get in the way of success and happiness? Will his film be a critics-savaging disaster and he, a one-hit wonder? Benjamin is a charming, laugh-out-loud look at one man’s land mined road to success and love.

 

Ernesto
Ernesto (Federico Russo) is a teenager who wanders, in search of himself, through the streets of Rome. Chapter after chapter, time passes – and people just seem to disappear. But he continues to live impromptu relationships, causing pain to himself and to others. Taking refuge in his happy moments and in political ideologies, he believes he can save his soul from suffering… although life will make him to grow and move forward. Directed by partners Alice De Luca and Giacomo Raffaelli under their joint creative banner Freeres, Ernesto was shot in the 4:3 aspect ratio to give viewers a sense of the fragments of the lead character’s life – as if the film you’re watching were a lengthy re-working of the protagonist’s own memories.

This Weekend’s VOD Favorites

The Gay Cinema Video On Demand experience at TLAgay.com has your entertainment needs covered! We’re always working to expand selection of new and old gay-themed movies available for your viewing pleasure. Here’s just five of our current favorites that you may have missed – ALL available to watch INSTANTLY!

 

Benjamin
British comedian Simon Amstell wrote and directed this charmingly offbeat gay romantic comedy about a filmmaker juggling the excitement of his upcoming film premiere with the fear and awkwardness of a burgeoning romance. Always ready with a self-defensive quip, indie film director Benjamin (Colin Morgan) nervously prepares for the premiere of his sophomore feature when he meets and falls for hard for Noah (Phenix Brossard), a young French musician. Will Benjamin’s insecurities and anxieties get in the way of success and happiness? Will his film be a critics-savaging disaster and he, a one-hit wonder? Benjamin is a charming, laugh-out-loud look at one man’s land mined road to success and love.

 

The Last Straight Man
Lewis (Mark Cirillo) is a closeted gay man throwing a bachelor party for his straight best friend and secret crush, Cooper (Scott Sell). Unexpectedly, the two men end up in bed together during the night. After this initial uncontrollable urge of drunken sex together, the two men decide to meet in the same hotel suite on the same night each year to hook up – and catch up. Written and directed by Mark Bessenger (Bite Marks, Confessions), The Last Straight Man is a sexy and bittersweet exploration of a secret relationship as it evolves over the course of twelve years. We see four additional nights that depict how these two men grow and how their friendship – and deep affection – changes.

 

Between Love & Goodbye
Kyle and Marcel (Simon Miller and Justin Tensen) fell deeply in love at first sight. Marcel, who is from France, marries his lesbian friend Sarah (Jane Elliott) so that he can stay in the United States with Kyle. Enter Kyle’s sister, April (Rob Harmon), a former prostitute who needs a place to crash. Taking a quick disliking to Marcel, April methodically drips poison into their happiness. But where Marcel sees a conniving woman with a not-so-hidden agenda, Kyle only sees his sister in need. The perfect couple soon falls headlong into possessiveness, jealousy and rage – trapped in the tangled emotions found in that space between love and goodbye. Can their love survive the pressure?

 

Seek
Evan (Adrian Shepherd-Gawinski) is a hot, young, gay newspaper writer who has just recently had his heart broken. Attempting to shake off his melancholy, he takes on an assignment profiling Hunter (Ryan Fisher), an alluring up-and-coming young gay club promoter. Around the guys are a host of other twenty-something urbanites, all longing for the same thing – approval. Whether it’s by the in-crowd, the hottie across the bar or in the industry in which they work, all of them are striving for something greater, failing to appreciate the beauty of what they already have. Written and directed by Eric Henry, Seek explores fresh territory in gay cinema – and is all the more tender and heart-wrenching for it.

 

Body Electric
The summer is coming and Elias (Kelner Macêdo) has been dreaming of the sea a lot. In his daily life, he’s a bit “at sea” as well. In the garment factory where he works, his responsibilities seem to be consistently increasing. He’s drowning in responsibilities. After one more night working overtime, Elias and his employees decide to go out and have some beer together. Though he knows it’s not advisable to mix his work life and his social life, this night proves to be exactly what Elias needs. Suddenly, new encounters and desires open up to his horizons. Though it is light on plot, Body Electric is a smart, warmhearted character study about breaking free from expectations and finding your place in the world.

This Weekend’s VOD Favorites

The Gay Cinema Video On Demand experience at TLAgay.com has your entertainment needs covered! We’re always working to expand selection of new and old gay-themed movies available for your viewing pleasure. Here’s just five of our current favorites that you may have missed – ALL available to watch INSTANTLY! Stay home, stay safe and enjoy a movie!

 

A Skeleton in the Closet
When Manuel (Facundo Gambande) returns to his hometown on the occasion of his parents’ wedding anniversary, he has a bit of an ulterior motive. He’s planning to ask for money so that he can move to Denmark with his boyfriend. The last time he saw his family, he came out of the closet – and things have been tense ever since. When his boyfriend suddenly dumps him, Manuel finds himself diving head-first into an existential crisis. Now more in need of his family’s love and support than ever, an unexpected opportunity to reconnect presents itself. Featuring a terrifically endearing lead performance, A Skeleton in the Closet is a tender and heartfelt Argentinian family comedy-drama that you don’t want to miss.

 

Benjamin
British comedian Simon Amstell wrote and directed this charmingly offbeat gay romantic comedy about a filmmaker juggling the excitement of his upcoming film premiere with the fear and awkwardness of a burgeoning romance. Always ready with a self-defensive quip, indie film director Benjamin (Colin Morgan) nervously prepares for the premiere of his sophomore feature when he meets and falls for hard for Noah (Phenix Brossard), a young French musician. Will Benjamin’s insecurities and anxieties get in the way of success and happiness? Will his film be a critics-savaging disaster and he, a one-hit wonder? Benjamin is a charming, laugh-out-loud look at one man’s land mined road to success and love.

 

Bombshell
Bombshell is a short web comedy about Jay (Ellis David Perry), a queer transman navigating the shark-infested waters of LA’s gay dating scene. He’s young, he’s single, and he’s really just looking for fun and sex, meeting guys mostly on hookup apps. But, when the bedroom door closes, his private world becomes an arena for cis men and the questions they only feel safe to ask in private. Jay’s chosen family is with him on his journey, starting with his primary relationships with cis women: Selena (Jessica Rosas), his gluten-intolerant Angeleno best friend and Darlene (Cheril Vendetti), the Bostonian hairdresser/problematic fave who practically raised him and Penis Mascot (Charles Johnson), the cartoon caped penis who personifies his id. When he meets Joe (Havon Baraka), a kind genuine guy who’s really into him, he doesn’t exactly know how to act and must learn self respect to save any hope for his new relationship.

 

French Kisses
Get seduced by some of the best gay short films from France in one exquisite collection! In Apollo, we follow a modern teenager, riddled with insecurities who keeps fantasizing about an ever more muscular body – and an even bigger banana. Herculaneum concerns three “appointments,” two men and a volcano that growls. In The Body of Angels, Remi listens to the birds and falls in the hedges while, Gabriel does something far more sinister. In En Retour, Jean-Marc meets Simon, a younger man, for dinner. After a promising start, the evening plunges into extreme drama. Ruptures follows Gabriel and Andre, ex-boyfriends who cross paths for the first time in ten years. Finally, in Juliet Electrique, 14-year-olds Thomas and Victor visit an abandoned bridge and soon face their most secret fears and desires.

 

Squirrels
Three young artists – a trans opera singer and disc jockey, a Middle Eastern American performance artist and a gay film maker (played by Dino PetreraCatiriana Reyes and Robbie Gottlieb) – share a tiny studio apartment while they look for love and fame in New York City. It’s not an easy day-to-day life. They scrimp and save and scam and steal their way from month to month. Somehow they survive… but in the new world shared economy they are always just one click away from losing everything. Squirrels is a thoughtful indie about modern bohemia from prolific filmmaker Todd Verow.

Now Available On-Demand: Benjamin

British comedian Simon Amstell wrote and directed this charmingly offbeat romantic comedy about a mess-of-a-filmmaker juggling the anxieties and excitement of his upcoming film premiere with the fear and awkwardness of a burgeoning romance.

Gangly and neurotic, and always ready with a self-defensive quip, indie film director Benjamin (Colin Morgan) nervously prepares for the premiere of his sophomore feature when he meets and falls for hard for Noah (Phénix Brossard), a young French musician. Will Benjamin’s insecurities and anxieties get in the way of success and happiness? Will his film be a critics-savaging disaster and he, a one-hit wonder? Amstell peppers this entertaining tale with hilariously deadpan one-liners and a scene-stealing cast of supporting characters including Joel Fry as Stephen, Benjamin’s manic-depressive stand-up comedian best friend; Jessica Raine as Billie, his unbearable publicist, Harry (Jack Rowan), his egocentric, bi lead actor; and Anna Chancellor as his patient producer.

Benjamin is a charming, laugh-out-loud look at one man’s land mined road to success and love.

Watch the trailer for Benjamin below and click here to see the film. It’s available to rent or download at TLAgay starting this week!

 

Trailer Alert: Benjamin

British comedian Simon Amstell wrote and directed this charmingly offbeat romantic comedy about a mess-of-a-filmmaker juggling the anxieties and excitement of his upcoming film premiere with the fear and awkwardness of a burgeoning romance.

Gangly and neurotic, and always ready with a self-defensive quip, indie film director Benjamin (Colin Morgan) nervously prepares for the premiere of his sophomore feature when he meets and falls for hard for Noah (Phénix Brossard), a young French musician. Will Benjamin’s insecurities and anxieties get in the way of success and happiness? Will his film be a critics-savaging disaster and he, a one-hit wonder? Amstell peppers this entertaining tale with hilariously deadpan one-liners and a scene-stealing cast of supporting characters including Joel Fry as Stephen, Benjamin’s manic-depressive stand-up comedian best friend; Jessica Raine as Billie, his unbearable publicist, Harry (Jack Rowan), his egocentric, bi lead actor; and Anna Chancellor as his patient producer.

Benjamin is a charming, laugh-out-loud look at one man’s land mined road to success and love.

Watch the trailer for Benjamin below and click here to pre-order your copy. It’s coming to DVD and VOD in August!