GLBT

A Girl Named Kai

2008-04-09T17:51:10Z

Through a stirring poetic mix of video and sound, Kai appeals to her traditional Taiwanese parents for acceptance in spite of her untraditional take on life and love.

Almost Myself - Watch the trailer and buy in DVD-resolution on the Caachi Website

2008-04-16T16:48:35Z

Almost Myself is available for purchase on the Caachi website. "Almost Myself" introduces us to multiple members of the transgender community including a gay man wanting to reverse his surgery that biologically made him a women, a woman living as a female but still having a penis, and a former college football player finally living her life as a woman. The stories in "Almost Myself" include journeys of boyhood to womanhood and the struggles of mending and transcending gender.

Variety says "The latest chapter in Tom Murray's easygoing exploration of lesbian, gay, transgendered and bisexual issues, "Almost Myself," finds the filmmaker traveling across the country talking to various transgendered men-to-women. Neither militant nor "objective," and without a shred of pretension, Murray admits he is interviewing a limited range of people "... almost like myself" -- white, over 40, and labeled male at birth. He elicits remarkable candor in his subjects, illuminating a wide spectrum of choices and lifestyles."

Brother Born Again - Watch the trailer and buy in DVD-resolution on the Caachi Website

2008-05-29T06:35:44Z

Brother Born Again is available for purchase on the Caachi website.

Brother Born Again is an intimate documentary about Julia Pimsleur’s attempt to reconnect with her only brother, Marc, a born again Christian who spent ten years living with his spiritual family on a remote island in Alaska. Julia, a bisexual Jewish New Yorker, travels to Alaska to try to understand why Marc dropped out of college and converted to Christianity. Alternately funny and poignant, the film explores family dynamics, as well as the definition of family itself.

Fish Can't Fly - Watch the trailer and buy in DVD-resolution on the Caachi Website

2008-04-16T01:02:17Z

Fish Can't Fly is available for purchase on the Caachi website.

Conversations about god and struggling to be gay - Tom Murray's documentary examines the poignant experiences of gay men and women who have tried to "cure" their homosexuality through religion.

"Fish Can't Fly" explores the lives of gay men and women of faith who have struggled to harmonize their sexuality and spirituality. The personal stories shared are about people who have participated in the "ex-gay" ministries in an attempt to "cure" their homosexuality. While the concept of changing one's sexual orientation may be viewed with a high level of skepticism, ridicule and even humor by the larger GLBT community, these are the humanized stories of those who have tried. None of the participants were "cured" as they originally intended but they all found peace from within.

The film contains candid, fascinating, humorous and heartfelt discussions about gay men and women and how religion played (and still plays) an integral part of their lives.

Homecoming

2008-04-09T17:51:35Z

When coming out makes Ron a target for attack, he finds a school where respect and acceptance are taught alongside Math and English.

I'm Not a Boy

2008-04-09T18:03:06Z

Julie Joyce is not a boy. As a transgendered youth, she just wants what all young people want – to have a positive space to live and grow.

Lori and Cathy Get Married - Watch the trailer and buy in DVD-resolution on the Caachi Website

2008-04-16T01:37:01Z

Lori and Cathy Get Married is available for purchase on the Caachi website.

This short documentary is a warm, funny, and joyous look at gay marriage in San Francisco. It provides a glimpse of those who have been seeking to exercise a right that most of society takes for granted: the right to marry their loved ones. Going inside San Francisco City Hall during the historic days of February, 2004, the film follows a lesbian couple through the marriage process and their wedding reception with friends and family in Napa, California.

Novela, Novela

2008-04-09T17:47:19Z

A group of Nicaraguan activists produce a homegrown soap opera about issues like safe sex and domestic abuse.

Permission

2008-04-09T18:00:25Z

Whose permission would you need to get married to the person you love?

Seventh Annual Media That Matters Film Festival collection - Watch the trailer and buy in DVD-resolution on the Caachi Website

2008-07-03T21:43:32Z

Seventh Annual Media That Matters Film Festival collection is available for purchase on the Caachi website.

Ready to be inspired? An image captures a feeling, a story shares a message, a movie becomes a movement. The seventh annual Media That Matters Film Festival brings you 16 inspiring shorts by youth and independent filmmakers committed to changing the world. The collection includes:

Garbage Dreams, 8:05 min, Documentary
Winner of the Sustainability Award
Egypt’s resident garbage recyclers, the Zaballeen, struggle as Cairo modernizes its waste disposal system.
» Learn more about this film

Rapping at Fear, 6:44 min, Documentary
Winner of the Speak the Peace Award
In Andrés Tabares’ barrio in Colombia, “social cleansing” groups wage war. When this thirteen-year-old raps against violence, people listen.
» Learn more about this film

Still Standing, 7:44 min, Documentary
Winner of the Jury Award
Ms. Gertrude returns to what remains of her New Orleans home and fights to rebuild what she can in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
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The Apollos, 6:00 min, Documentary
Winner of the Fair Use Award
Meet the trailblazing students who, over twenty years ago, fought to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a national holiday.
» Learn more about this film

Sovereign Nation / Sovereign Neighbor, 7:00 min, Documentary
Winner of the Independence Award
The Narragansett tribe defends its sovereignty only to encounter violent resistance and entrenched misunderstanding from their home state of Rhode Island.
» Learn more about this film

Rights on the Line: Vigilantes at the Border, 3:55 min, Documentary
Winner of the Immigration Award
What happens when people cross the line? Vigilantes take the law into their own hands on the U.S.-Mexican border.
» Learn more about this film

Power Up, 1:39 min, Animation
Winner of the Changemaker Award
“Bomber Man” strikes again! Who will stop him this time?
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Massacre at Murambi, 5:10 min, Documentary
Winner of the Global Justice Award
Does the way we respond to the genocide in Rwanda predict our response to Darfur?
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By-Standing: The Beginning of an American Lifetime, 5:00 min, Spoken Word
Winner of the War and Peace Award
Kelly Tsai speaks truth to power as she raises her voice against war and complacency.
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Grace, 3:12 min, Animation
Winner of the Women’s Justice Award
Three women’s lives share an unwanted and violent thread.
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I'm Not a Boy, 6:10 min, Documentary
Winner of the Empowerment Award
Julie Joyce is not a boy. As a transgendered youth, she just wants what all young people want – to have a positive space to live and grow.
» Learn more about this film

Ashray, 6:00 min, Documentary
Winner of the Global Health Award
Affected or infected, the children of Ashray in Bombay live together as one family, despite their HIV status.
» Learn more about this film

Tyttonen (The Young Girl), 5:03 min, Narrative
Winner of the Seeds of Tolerance Award
A woman, trapped by time and age, searches for freedom in her childhood memories.
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The Final Frontier: Explorers or Warriors?, 8:10 min, Documentary
Winner of the Next Generation Award
Two teens from Chicago ask senators, scientists and science fiction fans: Could space be the new battleground?
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Superstar, 6:15 min, Documentary
Winner of the Emerging Voice Award
With the support and guidance of his family, nothing will stop Naiquan from becoming a superstar.
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The Farm Sanctuary, 5:31 min, Documentary
Winner of the Good Food Award
Fifth graders from the Bronx go upstate to meet rescued farm animals and try out veganism, at least for the weekend.
» Learn more about this film

If you want to purchase a DVD of these short films, instead of downloading them, please go to the Media That Matters website.

Sixth Annual Media That Matters Film Festival collection - Watch the trailer and buy in DVD-resolution on the Caachi Website

2008-07-03T21:43:12Z

Sixth Annual Media That Matters Film Festival collection is available for purchase on the Caachi website.

An image captures a feeling, a story shares a message, a movie becomes a movement. The sixth annual Media That Matters Film Festival offer 16 inspiring films by youth and independent filmmakers committed to changing the world, in 8 minutes or less. The collection includes:

Slip of the Tongue, 4:06 min, Youth Slam
Directed Karen Lum and produced by Youth Sounds Factory
Winner of the Jury Award
“What’s your ethnic make up?” A young man makes a pass at a beautiful stranger and gets an eye-opening schooling on race and gender.
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A Girl Like Me, 7:08 min, Youth Documentary
Directed by Kiri Davis and produced by Reel Works Teen Filmmaking
Winner of the Diversity Award
Color is more than skin deep for young African-American women struggling to define themselves.
» Learn more about this film

In Transit, 5:51 min, Documentary
Directed and produced by Bent Jorgen Perlmutt, Nelson Walker III and Louis Abelman
Winner of the Global Health Award
War may be over in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but many Congolese women continue to battle for their reproductive health.
» Learn more about this film

Water Warriors, 6:17 min, Documentary
Directed and produced by Liz Miller
Winner of the Environment Award
When water costs soar, residents of Highland Park, Michigan demand to know who will foot the bill.
» Learn more about this film

How Wal-Mart Came to Haslett, 3:16 min, Expose
Directed and produced by Meerkat Media Collective
Winner of the Changemaker Award
Michigan youth investigate the dubious circumstances under which a Wal-Mart appeared on a wetland in their small town.
» Learn more about this film

The Rules of the Game, 8:24 min, Documentary
Directed and produced by Garance Burke and Monica Lam
Winner of the Community Discourse Award
A Native American tribe’s dreams of prosperity clash with small town values in Rohnert Park, California.
» Learn more about this film

Permission, 1:00 min, Public Service Announcement
Directed by Vance Malone and produced by Public Interest
Winner of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Rights Award
Whose permission would you need to get married to the person you love?
» Learn more about this film

Eyes on the Fair Use of the Prize, 2:11 min, Advocacy Short
Directed and produced by Jacob Caggiano
Winner of the Fair Use Award
Copyright abuse or Fair Use? Learn how much is at stake when vital films are pulled from public discourse.
» Learn more about this film

Book 'Em: Undereducated, Overincarcerated, 3:03 min, Youth Documentary
Produced by Youth Rights Media
Winner of the Criminal Justice Award
In New Haven, Connecticut the pipeline from school to prison is shorter than you might think.
» Learn more about this film

(Hate) Machine, 4:45 min, Satire
Directed and produced by Phil Caron
Winner of the Media Literacy Award
When media messages are constructed, sometimes truth hits the cutting room floor.
» Learn more about this film

In the Morning, 4:25 min, Dramatic Narrative
Directed by Danielle Lurie and produced by Katie Mustard
Winner of the Women’s Rights Award
When a young Turkish woman is raped, there is nothing honorable about revenge.
» Learn more about this film

Bread, 4:56 min, Documentary
Directed by Marcelo Bukin and produced by Rec Stop and Play/Global Humanitaria
Winner of the Global Justice Award
Guatemalan brothers Edwin and Edson crush rocks with their father so their family has enough to eat.
» Learn more about this film

Asparagus! (A Stalk-umentary), 5:57 min, Documentary
Directed and produced by Kirsten Kelly and Anne de Mare
Winner of the Good Food Award
Journey to the “Asparagus Capital of the World” to discover why one little vegetable is so important.
» Learn more about this film

Recycle, 6:00 min, Documentary
Directed and produced by Vasco Lusa Nunes and Ondi Timoner
Winner of the Sustainability Award
Poet Miguel Diaz transforms poverty into cultivation in the middle of a Los Angeles street.
» Learn more about this film

Night Visions, 7:07 min, Documentary
Directed and produced by Kathy Huang
Winner of the War and Peace Award Sponsored by Netflix
Individuals enlist in the U.S. military for different reasons, but they all return from war, changed.
» Learn more about this film

If you want to purchase a DVD of these short films, instead of downloading them, please go to the Media That Matters website.