Bouncing around from genre to genre, this stellar new collection of short films from Mattioli Productions showcases some of the most cutting edge recent gay cinema from the United States and Australia. Sit back, relax and get ready to make it a Boys Night.
Below, you’ll find a short synopsis for each of the films included in the new set, plus an exclusive photo gallery. Click here to pre-order your copy of Boys Night. It’s available on DVD and Blu-ray starting this week!
Hopelessly(USA, 2018, 5 mins) / Directed by Tony Clemente Jr.
All Darren (Lucas Iverson) wants is a connection. When his girlfriend and his boyfriend don’t have time for him, Darren goes on an adventure to find love again… and again… and again. Hopelessly explores a day in the life of a polyamorous relationship in all its awkward beauty.
Mass (USA, 2020, 12 mins) / Directed by Linus Ignatius
Gay, HIV-positive and lonely in New York City, Trey (writer-director-star Linus Ignatius) finds himself surrounded by hulking, powerful men. Throughout his day, he obsesses over how to get BIG – and his insecurities keep him trapped in a tense cycle of trauma and abuse.
Innocent Boy (USA, 2020, 14 mins) / Directed by Brock Cravy
Off a lonely Texas highway, a group of hustlers prey on the desperados who have come for sex, drugs and Momma’s special milk. Don’t miss this wildly provocative short horror flick from director Brock Cravy.
Miles (Australia, 2017, 15 mins) / Directed by Christopher Sampson
In this Australian coming-of-age drama, three lifelong friends (Nathan Draman, Jye Whatson and Madi Jennings) navigate their way through an unusual love triangle while embarking on a road trip that will change their lives forever.
Sacrifice (Australia, 2018, 17 mins) / Directed by Anna Maguire
James (Leigh Smith), a humanitarian rights lawyer, and Blake (Jesse Everett), a military officer, just want to live a normal and quiet life together. They find, however, that their sense of professional duty continually tears them apart.
Tooth 4 Tooth (Australia, 2020, 13 mins) / Directed by Alice Maio Mackay
While investigating the murder of a friend, a drag artist and an activist find themselves caught in an old war between those who feed on the blood of the fearful and those who feed on the blood of the hateful.
Featuring three stellar short documentary films from three different directors, Queer Knowledge is a collection of important and eye-opening work from Mattioli Productions.
Covering topics and often-overlooked communities of great interest to LGBTQ+ viewers, these three shorts will inform, entertain and move you.
Below, you’ll find a short synopsis for each of the films included in this new set. Click here to pre-order your copy of Queer Knowledge. It’s coming to DVD and Blu-ray on July 20th!
A Queer City (United Kingdom, 2020, 8 mins) / Directed by George Hellings
Three young drag artists navigate the rising drag scene in Norwich, a place where their actions appear to be going unnoticed by the rest of the world. They open up about what their drag means to them and how by finding a welcoming group of people in Norwich with similar attitudes and camp sensibilities, they have been able to express their queerness and identity freely through performance and visual artistry.
Gay Positive (USA, 2014, 51 mins) / Directed by A.J. Mattioli Gay Positive tells the story of one man trying to bring to attention the outdated ban on gay men donating blood in the United States. This documentary is meant to inform and educate people on this controversial issue. By raising public awareness and taking the camera into the streets, the film captures the opinions of people from many walks of life regarding how they feel about the ban today.
We Are Here (United Kingdom, 2019, 12 mins) / Directed by Ellie Hodgetts
Family comes in many shapes and sizes – and this one is bound by the urge to make positive changes in the world. We Are Here follows individuals from an international order of queer nuns as they live their lives (just a little larger than most). The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence stand proudly across the globe as a beacon of self-acceptance and self-expression… but not everyone agrees with their joyful message.
Bouncing around from genre to genre, this stellar new collection of short films from Mattioli Productions showcases some of the most cutting edge recent gay cinema from the United States and Australia. Sit back, relax and get ready to make it a Boys Night.
Below, you’ll find a short synopsis for each of the films included in the new set, plus an exclusive photo gallery. Click here to pre-order your copy of Boys Night. It’s coming to DVD and Blu-ray on July 20th!
Hopelessly(USA, 2018, 5 mins) / Directed by Tony Clemente Jr.
All Darren (Lucas Iverson) wants is a connection. When his girlfriend and his boyfriend don’t have time for him, Darren goes on an adventure to find love again… and again… and again. Hopelessly explores a day in the life of a polyamorous relationship in all its awkward beauty.
Mass (USA, 2020, 12 mins) / Directed by Linus Ignatius
Gay, HIV-positive and lonely in New York City, Trey (writer-director-star Linus Ignatius) finds himself surrounded by hulking, powerful men. Throughout his day, he obsesses over how to get BIG – and his insecurities keep him trapped in a tense cycle of trauma and abuse.
Innocent Boy (USA, 2020, 14 mins) / Directed by Brock Cravy
Off a lonely Texas highway, a group of hustlers prey on the desperados who have come for sex, drugs and Momma’s special milk. Don’t miss this wildly provocative short horror flick from director Brock Cravy.
Miles (Australia, 2017, 15 mins) / Directed by Christopher Sampson
In this Australian coming-of-age drama, three lifelong friends (Nathan Draman, Jye Whatson and Madi Jennings) navigate their way through an unusual love triangle while embarking on a road trip that will change their lives forever.
Sacrifice (Australia, 2018, 17 mins) / Directed by Anna Maguire
James (Leigh Smith), a humanitarian rights lawyer, and Blake (Jesse Everett), a military officer, just want to live a normal and quiet life together. They find, however, that their sense of professional duty continually tears them apart.
Tooth 4 Tooth (Australia, 2020, 13 mins) / Directed by Alice Maio Mackay
While investigating the murder of a friend, a drag artist and an activist find themselves caught in an old war between those who feed on the blood of the fearful and those who feed on the blood of the hateful.
Mattioli Productions is a trans-owned full service production company that serves the LGBTQ community by telling their stories through groundbreaking, globally distributed work. Their creative and ambitious works span several genres including comedy, drama, horror, documentary, music videos and reality TV audition reels. Their goal is “to produce content that genuinely represents the LGBTQ community while keeping our stories our own, and increasing our visibility in mainstream media.”
The company is headed by namesake AJ Mattioli, a Queens-born, NYC based, trans producer/director with 16+ years in the entertainment industry. His work has been celebrated at the Queens Museum, The United Nations, The NY Times, The Advocate, Huffington Post, Gay Star News and many others! As a go-to trans producer for queer filmmaking, he’s worked with some of the hottest LGBTQ+ celebs, including Sasha Velour, Shakina Nayfack, Bob The Drag Queen, Cory Wade, Rain Dove, Vincent DePaul, Carmen Carerra, Miss Fame and many more.
We’re thrilled to announce that three exceptional works from Mattioli Productions – the short film Neon Boys, the feature film Your Eyes on Me and the episodic series Bombshell – will be available on DVD and Blu-ray, exclusively at TLAgay, starting this week. Check out the selections below and make sure to order your copies.
Neon Boys To be a father, you have to make difficult choices. Having a hard time landing a job after spending time in prison, Shawn (Matty Gliteratti) decides to try his hand at making ends meet by working as an erotic dancer. It’s all in an effort, ultimately, to support his daughter. While he’s there, though, stripping down to make some cash, he finds that he’s beginning to fall in love with a man… for the first time in his life. A stylish, candy-colored and deeply heartfelt short film from prolific indie director AJ Mattioli and co-director/star Jonathan Salazar, Neon Boys has charm and sex appeal to spare. This thirty-minute short also co-stars accomplished character actor and multiple award-winner Vincent De Paul.
Your Eyes on Me Your Eyes on Me tells the story of a romantic encounter that changes the life of a drag artist forever. The film follows Gloria (Paul Stone), an accomplished drag queen whose life changes in a variety of unexpected ways when she meets Kandi (Jean-Philippe Boriau), a drag virgin auditioning for her next show. As the bond develops between the two, their relationship takes an unexpected turn. Suddenly the past – and the choices that Gloria made as a young man – come into stark reality. A touching drama from writer-director Sergei Alexander, Your Eyes on Me has earned rave reviews from critics. Film & TV Now called it “compactly structured with an effectively shocking revelation which confounds the very core of emotions.”
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: Selena (Jessica Rosas), Darlene (Cheril Vendetti) and Penis Mascot (Charles Johnson), the cartoon caped penis who personifies his id. When he meets Joe (Havon Baraka), a kind guy who’s really into him, he must learn self respect to save any hope for his new relationship.
Bombshell is a short, seven-episode comedy series about Jay (played by Ellis David Perry), a queer transman navigating the shark-infested waters of LA’s gay dating scene. He’s young, single, looking for fun, but when the bedroom door closes his private world becomes an arena for cis men and the questions they have. Jay is joined by his chosen family, Selena (Jessica Rosas), his Angeleno best friend, Darlene (Cheril Vendetti), the Bostonian Hairdresser, and Penis Mascot (Charles Johnson), the cartoon caped penis personifying his id. When he meets Joe (Havon Baraka), a kind, deeply 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.
Watch the trailer for Bombshell below and click here to pre-order your copy. The series is available now on-demand and will be coming to DVD and Blu-ray on March 30th.
Working on her final show, the much-loved and popular drag artist, Gloria (Paul Stone), finds herself auditioning Kandi (Jean-Philippe Boriau), a young French dancer. Gloria and Kandi have more in common than they could ever imagine. They find themselves stuck in an emotional waltz where past and present blend together into one future.
A deeply promising debut feature from writer-director Sergei Alexander, Your Eyes on Me has earned rave reviews. Film & TV Now called it “Compactly structured with an effectively shocking revelation which confounds the very core of emotions.”
Watch the trailer for Your Eyes on Me below and click here to pre-order your copy of the film. It is now available to rent or download at TLAgay and will also be available on DVD and Blu-ray starting March 30th!
Created and written by lead actor Leigh Smith, the new 18-minute short film Sacrifice follows two protagonists as they enter a new phase in their relationship. James (Smith), a humanitarian rights lawyer, and Blake (Jesse Everett), a military officer, are continually torn apart by their overwhelming sense of duty – and their struggle to lead a “normal and quiet life.” They love each other unconditionally, but their sense of duty is equally as important to both them, especially due to Blake’s military background.
Sacrifice aims to show that love is the greatest sacrifice of all, regardless of race, gender and everything in between. The film also pays tribute to those in the military history of Australia who were unrecognized in their service due to their sexuality prior to the fundamental mind-shift in regulations. Director Anna Maguire brings an incredible sense of vision and understanding to the poignant issues outlined in the story of James and Blake.
Check out the trailer for Sacrifice below and click here to watch the film. It’s available now to rent or download at TLAgay!
Working on her final show, the much-loved and popular drag artist, Gloria (Paul Stone), finds herself auditioning Kandi (Jean-Philippe Boriau), a young French dancer. Gloria and Kandi have more in common than they could ever imagine. They find themselves stuck in an emotional waltz where past and present blend together into one future.
A deeply promising debut feature from writer-director Sergei Alexander, Your Eyes on Me has earned rave reviews. Film & TV Now called it “Compactly structured with an effectively shocking revelation which confounds the very core of emotions.”
Watch the trailer for Your Eyes on Me below and click here to watch the film on-demand. It is now available to rent or download at TLAgay.
“I think we’re entering another age of hate… and there are those that thrive in such times.”
While investigating the murder of a friend, a drag artist and an activist find themselves caught in an old war between those who feed on the blood of the fearful and those who feed on the blood of the hateful.
From Mattioli Productions and director George Hellings, the new short documentary A Queer City focuses on three young drag artists as they navigate the rising drag scene in Norwich, a place where their actions appear to be going unnoticed by the rest of the world.
The film’s colorful subjects open up about what their drag means to them and how, by finding a welcoming group of people in Norwich with similar attitudes and camp sensibilities, they have been able to express their queerness and identity freely through performance and visual artistry. Despite sometimes finding it difficult to find their way as marginalized individuals, they have hopes for a future they plan on carving themselves as a close-knit new wave of creatives.
Check out the trailer for A Queer City below and click here to watch the film. It’s now available for rental or digital download at TLAgay.
