Feeling invisible in her bland marriage, Emma moves in with her son, Elliot, who lives in a downtown L.A. loft. Elliot, a young chef, is facing foreclosure on his lackluster Chinese restaurant–and he’s gay. Emma’s disapproval has made strangers of mother and son, but the two need each other now more than ever, as Emma explores her newfound freedom–with the encouragement of a saucy new friend–and Elliot confronts his fears of intimacy. Words may fail them, but they find a common language through food. This auspicious directorial debut from David Au offers a fresh take on life, love and food in the heart of Los Angeles. This deliciously emotional and redemptive story is supported by an endearing cast led by Sharon Omi, Teddy Chen Culver, Nicole Sullivan and a cameo from Star Trek legend George Takei. Description courtesy of Los Angeles Film Festival.

Liz has known several things since she was a child: that she is gay, that beauty is power, and that she would never be a victim. Determined to enjoy the time she still has left on earth, she hides her terminal disease from her friends. Eva lost her son to cancer. The pain and guilt she feels has tarnished the relationship with her husband, sinking both into isolation. Heading alone on her vacation, Eva’s car breaks down leaving her stranded on the road. She ends up at Margot’s Inn where she meets Liz and her group of all gay friends. Liz makes a bet that she can seduce the straight newcomer. Against all odds, the encounter between these two opposite women changes their lives, setting new perspectives where love, life, and death, away from any morals, play as simple steps of nature.

In an English country house, four young people from London move in together, seeking to challenge social conventions and their own tolerances by engaging in scheduled partner-swapping. The durability of their new living arrangements is tested by the arrival of an outsider who fails to get in tune with the foursome’s radical spirit. An inventive and engaging film that uses an elegant, delicate style to gently probe both the protagonists’ ideals and our own convictions about love and sex.