The LOCS Collective

There is a word in South Africa; Ubuntu. It is a concept or philosophy recognizing that we are all tied together in infinite ways that can seem invisible to the eye. That there is a oneness, a wholeness to humanity; that we achieve our true selves by sharing ourselves with others, and caring for those around us - and vice versa. I hope this year’s BIPOC program takes you on a journey of the thoughts, feelings, connections, visibility, relatability, awareness, emotions, pain, strength and so much more that is the beating pulse behind the vastness of the African diaspora.

Queer Persons of Color: Art ≧ Rage It goes without saying that POC in cinema have had a long, ugly past. These stereotypes have evoked an insidious effect on how the world views us; as lack of representation has proven to be as damaging as misrepresentation. Inclusivity in front of and behind the camera are essential to moving forward and this program does both. WE are here. WE have always been here. WE have stories to tell.

A young queer/trans Latinx soars Home to connect with his grandma, his culture, and his identity through enchiladas. A Filipina mother and daughter duo take an uncertain journey toward acceptance in Introspection. For a young Muslim woman and her Christian friend, a benevolent Call To Prayer becomes a beacon for healing. A Love Letter to Queer Black Womyn vanquishes trauma on a journey toward healing. Bi/Black/Body/Bliss is a blazing emblem for plus-sized, queer, African/Indigenous ancestry often rejected by the world. My Femme Is A Reflection that is emblazoned with tender duty on an Asian survivor's spirit. A luminous trans Latina woman warrior reveals her bravery in La Entrevista. Running toward the feminine begins Breaking Frailty Myths and releases a Black woman's abilities. A Korean-American woman summons The Courage To Be and masterminds a plan to create her authentic self. A queer Black woman's comedic reclaiming of "crazy" and the perilous climb toward healing. Through nurturing Puerto Rican food, Marco Territorio and female masculinity come to the rescue. Three heroic queer women of color affirm mind, body, and spirit to Take Care of themselves. When the world is full of despair, the buoyant passion of Supa Gallo Pinto saves the day. While some are powerless against perception, Smokey emerges into a vision for a different world. Determined not to let anything get in her way, a daredevil queer Latina leaps over obstacles in Un Buen Dia. Queer and trans people of color transmute intimacy into Az‚àö‚à´car.

‘Shakedown’ was a series of parties founded by and for African American women in Los Angeles that featured go-go dancing and strip shows for the city’s lesbian underground scene. Inspired by transwoman Mahogany who, as the mother of the scene, presided over queer strip shows and balls for non-heterosexual audiences in the 1980s, butch Ronnie Ron created, produced and presented the new shows. In them, the largely female clientele from the ‘hood’ slipped dollar notes into lap dancers’ panties while celebrating lesbian sexuality to pulsating hip-hop beats.

Wicked Queer, Boston's LGBT Film Festival is proud to continue our relationship and support of the Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project in San Francisco. We are excited to present the latest and greatest of films by, for, and about queer women of color.

Thirty-something Immigration attorney Zaynab (played with wry humor by out Pakistani Muslim actor Fawzia Mirza) is balancing her work, love life, and taking care of her conservative TV-obsessed mother. A drunken night with the bold and assertive Alma (EMPIRE's charismatic Sari Sanchez) leads Zayneb to question just how to come to terms with her mom, her love life, and her new-found obsession with Lucha-style wresting. Jennifer Reeder’s feature is a funny and honest take on the complications of contemporary dating and the joys of wrestling.

Change has a way of creeping up on you while you’re not looking: the wrinkles that weren’t there before, new doubts in an old relationship, and harsh reality replacing youthful ideals. For Terri and Dez, celebrating their anniversary as their adopted daughter Asanda’s 18th birthday approaches, their once comfortable life is starting to crumble.

THE PASSIONATE PURSUITS provides a window into the life of Angela Bowen who grew up in inner city Boston during the Jim Crow era, and went on to become a classical ballerina, a legendary dance teacher, a black lesbian feminist activist organizer, writer and professor. For six decades Bowen has influenced and inspired untold numbers, speaking out as strongly for the Arts, and Black and Women’s Rights as she has for LGBT Rights. Candid, compelling, and inspiring, PASSIONATE PURSUITS depicts Bowen's life across the decades, with archival footage, timeless musical selections, photographs and interviews. Bowen’s stories reveal how the challenges of race, class, gender, age, and sexuality played into her decisions and strategies for survival. PASSIONATE PURSUITS is important to anyone who wants to know more about the experiences and complexities of black women’s lives and the emergence of Black Feminism.

Among a congregation of queer women of color artists, the Holy Trinity is the heart of a tour centering on the power, inspiration, and real-talk of a group of five poets who hit the road to perform in seven states in nine days.