SEBASTIAN
Mikko Mäkelä’s provocative and intimate drama, Sebastian, follows Max (Ruaridh Mollica), a young writer who leads a double life as a sex worker to research his debut novel.
What starts as a series of secret meetings transforms into a hidden nocturnal life as his alter ego, “Sebastian”, becomes more than just a pseudonym. This development challenges Max to confront his true identity and the norms of society in this nuanced, sex-positive exploration of creativity and sexuality.
You can view the SEBASTIAN trailer here:
Praised for his breakout performance, Mollica was nominated for Best Breakthrough Performance at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA).
Watch Sebastian at the Arzner Cinema in SE London, the only queer cinema in the UK.
Watch Sebastian at home: released on DVD and Blu-ray, with exclusive extras, including interviews with Mikko Mäkelä and Ruaridh Mollica. Also available on digital platforms from Peccadillo, Apple, Amazon, Sky and Google
HIDDEN MASTER: The Legacy of George Platt Lynes
(US, 96 mins). Directed by Sam Shahid.
Before Bruce Weber, Robert Mapplethorpe, and Herb Ritts, there was one man who had celebrated the sensual power of the male physique: George Platt Lynes.
George Platt Lynes began his career photographing celebrities in the 1930s, portraits and extravagant fashion work that he’s best remembered for today. However, George’s heart, his passion, and his most remarkable talent lay elsewhere, in his work with the male nude. Radically explicit for its time, Lynes’s work has only recently begun being fully discovered and appreciated.
From visionary art director Sam Shahid, Hidden Master uncovers the previously unknown life of Lynes, his long-term friendships with Gertrude Stein and Alfred Kinsey, and his gifted eye for the male form, through a stunning collection of photography from the 1930s to the 1950s. This is a documentary that finally celebrates the lasting influence of one of the first openly gay American artists.
You can view the HIDDEN MASTER trailer here:
Limited theatrical release: 11 July, and streaming platforms: August
YOUNG HEARTS
Netherlands/ Belgium,2024, 97 mins), Directed by Anthony Schatteman.
Starring Lou Goosens and Marius De Saeger.
Elias (14) is attracted to his new neighbour Alexander (14). Soon, he realises that he’s genuinely in love for the very first time. Bringing more questions than answers, the interactions with his friends and family, and his burgeoning feelings leave him confused. Elias tries to sort himself out and prove that he is worth Alexander’s heart.
Director Anthony Shatteman marks his feature debut with “Young Hearts,” a film that celebrates the joy of falling in love for the first time. Lou Goosens won the Best Male Performance In A Feature Film Award at the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Festival, where it also won the Best Feature Award.
You can view the YOUNG HEARTS trailer here:
Theatrical release date: 8 August, DVD & Digital release on streaming platforms: October.
