In 2017 and 2019 respectively, Gemmel “Juelz” Moore and Timothy “Tim” Dean, two gay black men, both died of a meth overdose at the now-infamous apartment of Ed Buck, a once influential Democratic donor, businessman and LGBTQ+ political activist. The deaths sent shockwaves through LA’s LGBTQ+ community and particularly West Hollywood, LA’s gay Mecca. The ensuing media circus cooked up a spicy concoction of sex, drugs, race and politics, but had no appetite for the in-depth human stories of who the young men truly were. This documentary looks at Gemmel and Tim’s parallel walks of life told by the friends who loved them: memories, correspondence, things they did and didn’t share with each other, and the forces that led them to their tragic fate.

Africa has a vibrant storytelling history and we are pleased to showcase three modern short films that live up to that rich legacy.

Leonard’s manifested a date with his ex - now he’s just gotta fix his vibration. Part comedy, part self-help nightmare, WAKE UP, LEONARD follows one man'’s quest for wellness while failing miserably to stay on his vibe. This is the story of a broken-hearted seeker with a tenuous grasp on his mental health, but an admirable faith in the Universe. Will Leonard learn how to not only love his higher self, but his lower self too? This improvised feature film was shot during the pandemic and explores themes of mental wellness, queer love, and self acceptance.