Southwest Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2009

With his tribute to film noir and women-in-prison B films, director Steve Balderson has created a movie that almost surpasses the films that inspired it. Photographed in rich black-and-white, and shot in Macon, Georgia, STUCK! has all the trademarks of a classic women-in-prison movie, but with a modern twist.

A Londoner travels to rural New Zealand to rekindle an old relationship, but his fate lies in the paws of a faded old teddy bear.

A woman journeys to a sexual identity beyond her Mormon upbringing.

This “infomercial” wants to know if high priced dildos have got you down? Get the value you want, the dildo you need, satisfaction guaranteed!

Dan is facing a critical time in his life. He is torn between Itay, his boyfriend – who wants to tell the world about their love – and Uri, his son – who comes for a visit and tries to get close with his dad but knows nothing about him. This film is about secrets, fears, commitments and love.

What does a lesbian bring on a second date? Now dance!

This is a tale of two young graffiti artists torn between the love for graffiti and the love for each other.

Three former high school friends reunite and pick up their routine of chasing Mexican immigrants back across the border. However, their frivolity becomes more complicated when one of the boys and his father discover each other’s secrets. Under the guise of being on break from college, David (Benjamin Walker, FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS) returns to his Southwest hometown and resumes border-stalking with his two best friends, Greg and George. Actually troubled and on suspension from school, David tries to reconnect with his father. When he is rebuffed, David devises a plan for his little gang to rip off a semi full of black-market merchandise from his father’s trucking operation. Amid their juvenile antics, each boy struggles with his notions of race and sexuality and tries to stay on the right side of the borders they pretend not to cross. Greg, at the risk of being rejected by his Anglo buddies, tries to court a seductive Mexican woman (who has a head for creative immigration solutions), and a smoldering tension builds as David rediscovers a physical and emotional bond with George. Originally a stage play, this intense and racially charged movie presents a timely, strong story with nuanced acting from the entire cast, which includes Victor Rasuk (recently of STOP-LOSS) newcomer Brian J. Smith and film and television mainstay Peter Gallagher as David’s father. —Brandie Erisman