This program explores processes of growing up, growth, and unlearning that many queer people experience while confronting patriarchy, gender binaries, social conventions, and even personal addictions. Opening the program, A Black Man’s Day confronts us with powerful testimonies from transmasculine people in rural Brazil, challenging us to rethink what masculinity can mean beyond inherited norms. Honey, My Love, So Sweet follows a queer child growing up inside a cinema in Manila, observing the many social groups that pass through its doors while gradually discovering new parts of themself. I Am Tejimola summons an Assamese folktale about a figure who may be read as queer, oppressed yet constantly resurrecting and shapeshifting, becoming a symbol of endurance for future generations. Rezbotanik turns toward rest and healing. While queer pleasure is often associated with nightlife and clubs, this film steps outside, exploring the quiet connections between bodies, landscapes, and the natural world. A Is for Andra adopts the playful format of a mockumentary television show, introducing queer Indonesian personalities across the globe. Through humor and performance, the film reveals how friendship and chosen families shape queer belonging. The program closes with Girl-Boy, returning to the question raised at the beginning: what does it mean to be transgender in a rapidly changing world? While gender binaries may appear increasingly fluid, police violence and anti-LGBT+ legislation, particularly in parts of Africa, continue to intensify. Together, these films reflect on how queer people grow, question, unlearn, and continue to thrive despite the harsh structures that surround them.

https://xposedfilmfestival.com/2026/shorts-9-watering-the-seeds/