Already firmly in a life crisis at 12, things go from bad to worse for Jesse Hawthorne when her emotionally disconnected father moves the family to a rural town, a place whose beauty belies the toxic normality at its core. Jesse is almost immediately bullied by the local mini-mean girls in training, who find Jesse’s tomboy nature both repellent and yet somehow attractive. Her only ally is neighbor Jacob, who has his own demons (including an aggressive paint huffing brother) that he is trying to escape. Together they form likely friendships with the local super nerds, and, as puberty begins to hit their circle, everyone soon has a crush on each other, regardless of gender. Once Jesse and her outsider posse discover punk rock and sneaking out to shows, nothing will stop them as they embrace who they are and rise above the closed minds of their community. Complete with an infectious soundtrack, Night Fliers will remind you about the transformative power of friendships, and how salvation can come from unexpected places. (Description courtesy of Charlotte Gutierrez, Frameline 33)

The announcement of filmmaker Joe Wilson's wedding to another man ignites a firestorm of controversy in his small hometown. Drawn back by a plea for help from a gay teen, Wilson takes viewers on an exhilarating and often surprising journey through love, hate, and understanding in rural America.

Forced to relocate from Brooklyn to rural Alabama, sensitive gay teen Sequan faces harassment and abuse both at school and at home. Hope arrives in the form of Lori, a perceptive but troubled girl who introduces Sequan to her gay brother. As the new friends plan an escape from their small-town existence, a brush with violence threatens to derail everything. Rivers Wash Over Me is a beautifully lensed and emotionally affecting drama with devastating performances.