High Stakes, High Drama Collection GBFF2026 "Drama, drama, and yet more drama" When drama verges on absurdity and you simply have to surrender to it

High Stakes, High Drama Collection GBFF2026 "Drama, drama, and yet more drama" When drama verges on absurdity and you simply have to surrender to it

English

*High Stakes, High Drama Collection GBFF2026 "Drama, drama, and yet more drama"

High Stakes, High Drama Collection GBFF2026 "Drama, drama, and yet more drama" When drama verges on absurdity and you simply have to surrender to it

Welcome to Gilbert Baker Film Festival-GBFF Ping &amp; Jen

Welcome to Gilbert Baker Film Festival-GBFF Ping & Jen

Welcome to Gilbert Baker Film Festival-GBFF! To access additional films, please scroll down in the block of films to the right of this viewer window. The film that is highlighted in dark grey is the film that is queued up to view

Gilbert Baker!

The Rainbow Flag Landmark San Francisco California

Love Gilbert (2020)A film by Vincent Guzzone. A heartfelt look back over the life and career of Gilbert Baker, creator of the LGBTQ Rainbow Flag. From his childhood in Kansas to San Francisco in the 1970s to a historic meeting with Barak Obama in 2016. This film was created for PERFORMAnCE, POLITICS &amp; PROTEST, The ART of GILERT BAKER an exhibit at the GLBT Museum in San Francisco, California.

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Love Gilbert (2020)

Love Gilbert (2020) A film by Vincent Guzzone. A heartfelt look back over the life and career of Gilbert Baker, creator of the LGBTQ Rainbow Flag. From his childhood in Kansas to San Francisco in the 1970s to a historic meeting with Barak Obama in 2016. This film was created for PERFORMAnCE, POLITICS & PROTEST, The ART of GILERT BAKER an exhibit at the GLBT Museum in San Francisco, California.

Introduction Kerstin Polte for Highly Explosive ~ Blindgǎnger (2025)

Introduction Kerstin Polte for Highly Explosive ~ Blindgǎnger (2025)

Highly Explosive ~ Blindgǎnger (2025) In the center of Hamburg, the discovery of an unexploded bomb from the Second World War not only leads to a far-reaching evacuation, but also to an interpersonal state of emergency. A tragicomic episodic film that weaves together stories of resilience and connection in a city on the brink. Captivating, human, and deeply moving.In the heart of Hamburg, the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb not only leads to a large-scale evacuation but also triggers an emotional state of emergency. As residents are forced to confront their long-suppressed fears and traumas, unexpected encounters arise amid the chaos—meetings that would never have happened under normal circumstances.With BLINDGÄNGER, award-winning director Kerstin Polte presents a moving and profound drama, brought to life by an outstanding and diverse ensemble cast — including Anne Ratte-Polle, Haley Louise Jones, Bernhard Schütz, Claudia Michelsen, Daniel Sträßer, Karl Markovics, Ivar Wafaei, Lukas von Horbatschewsky, and many more.Like a kaleidoscope of fates, BLINDGÄNGER tells its story with sensitivity, subtle tension, and a touch of warm humor. From various perspectives, the film explores intergenerational trauma, the search for human connection, and unexpected solidarity amidst chaos.With empathy and narrative finesse, the director intertwines personal destinies with the pressing question of emotional resilience in an uncertain world — casting a curious, tender gaze upon what binds us together when everything else seems to fall apart. Director Biography - Kerstin Polte <a href="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/002/850/026/original/08321d1479-headshot.jpg?1751282721" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/002/850/026/thumb/08321d1479-headshot.jpg?1751282721" width="219" style="border-width: medium; border-style: none; border-color: currentcolor; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-language-override: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative;"></a>Director Biography - Kerstin Polte Director Biography - Kerstin PolteDirector and screenwriter Kerstin Polte completed her film education in the film class at HfG Karlsruhe and at the Zurich University of the Arts. She was a fellow at the Munich Screenwriting Workshop and the European directing program EKRAN. Her graduation film, 510 METERS ABOVE THE SEA, was screened at over 150 international film festivals and marked the beginning of her successful career. LAST ROUND premiered at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival. In 2016, she released the award-winning documentary KEIN ZICKENFOX, which showcases the world's largest women’s wind orchestra.Kerstin's first feature film, CLOUD WHISPERS, was critically acclaimed and won several prestigious awards, including the Bavarian Film Award for Best Emerging Director.As an advocate for queer and feminist narratives, Kerstin Polte directed various episodes of the series WIR and BECOMING CHARLIE, the latter receiving numerous awards and a nomination for the German Television Award for Best Drama Series. Her work captivates both audiences and critics. She has established herself as an innovative and influential filmmaker in the German film landscape.Kerstin Polte is a member of the German Film Academy, serves on the board of ProQuote Film, and lives in Berlin with her two children and a very old cat. Director Statement- Kerstin PolteBLINDGÄNGER is a film about crisis – and about what remains possible, despite everything. Personal, societal, and interpersonal upheavals define our times. Whether in the streets, in politics, or at the dinner table with family –little bombs are ticking everywhere.And yet – or perhaps because of that – this film tells a story of hope in a state of emergency. What happens when, in spite of fear, anger, and disorientation, we move toward one another? When we don't look away, but choose to see – maybe even with a small smile?The film explores the tensions that simmer beneath the surface – in relationships, within ourselves, in our attempts to live together. It’s about people who are strangers – and who, in a moment of deepest uncertainty, suddenly recognize each other. And yes, sometimes things explode. But sometimes, something new is born. Something tender. A connection where once there was only distance.For me, BLINDGÄNGER is deeply personal. My own family history echoes throughout it.And at the same time, the film is bigger than I am. It’s the result of a collaborative adventure with people who became family along the way. Together we told stories, laughed, cried, improvised – and created a film that doesn’t strive for perfection, but for life. A kind of survival song. A puzzle made of courage, failure, new beginnings – and a whole lot of hope.Because sometimes, a single glance is enough. A “Hello.” A sincere “How are you?”Because who knows – maybe there’s a rabbit sitting in the shop window. Please tell us your motivation for making your film:BLINDGÄNGER grew out of something deeply personal — my own family history resonates throughout the film — but it became something larger than myself. We live in a world where small bombs are ticking everywhere: at the dinner table, in politics, on the street. I wanted to make a film that doesn't look away from that reality, but refuses to surrender to it. My motivation was to tell a story of resilience and humanity that is honest rather than sentimental, and alive rather than perfect. And the way we made it was inseparable from what the film is about. With a team that was 80% FLINTA* and queer, working on a low budget but with enormous collective commitment, the process itself became part of the film's DNA. The trust, the vulnerability, the creativity born out of limitation — all of that is woven into every frame. This film was a collaborative adventure — we laughed, cried, improvised together — and the people who made it became my family. It is a kind of survival song. A puzzle of courage, failure, and new beginnings. Because sometimes all it takes is a glance, a "hello," a genuine "how are you?" — and we almost missed each other entirely. *Women, Lesbian, Inter, Non-binary, Trans and Agender What are the themes and central messages you wanted to convey with your submission?:Highly Explosive uses the discovery of an unexploded WWII bomb in Hamburg as a metaphor for the buried traumas, fears, and longings we carry within us — individually and collectively. The film explores how personal, social, and interpersonal ruptures define our times: loneliness, mistrust, illness, displacement, grief, and the quiet violence of being unseen. Yet at its heart, it is a film about hope and human connection. Through a kaleidoscope of interwoven fates — queer, diverse, multigenerational — Highly Explosive asks: what happens when, despite fear and disorientation, we turn toward each other rather than away? The central message is both simple and urgent: solidarity, warmth, and genuine attention are not small things. They can be lifelines. Please list ANY possible CONTENT / TRIGGER Warnings:Panic attac, suspense, mental condition Credits: Kerstin PolteDirectorCloud whispers, Becoming Charlie, sookee- from seahorses &amp; closetsKerstin PolteWriterCloud whispersAndrea SchütteProducerPacification, Garage PeopleDirk DeckerProducerPacification, Garage PeopleSarah BornProducerCloud whispersRajko JazbecProducerCloud whispersAnne Ratte-PollteKey Cast"Lane"Black Box; I was, I am, I will be; Undine, That kind of summerHaley Louise JonesKey Cast"Ava"Ivy wie Ivy; Bones and Names; Liebes KindClaudia MichelsenKey Cast"Hanne"In a land that no longer exists; beat, Kudamm 63; The towerBarbara NüsseKey Cast"Margit"DarkIvar WafaeiKey Cast"Junis"RheingoldBernhard SchützKey Cast"Otto"The system; the black squareKarl MarkovicsKey Cast"Viktor"What you can see from here; The fox; The counterfeitersLukas von HorbatschewskyKey Cast"William" Katharina BühlerDirector of Photography Daniela HerzbergProduction Design Tanja LiebermannCostume design Julia WiedwaldEditing Aurora VögeliEditing Marion HaackCasting director Corinna ZinkOriginal sound Ephrem LüchingerComposers Daniel HobiComposers Stefanie GredigHair and Make-up Pia PaprzikHair and Make-up Specs: Project Title (Original Language):BlindgängerProject Type:FeatureGenres:Drama, Action, LGBTQIA+, Ensemble, EpisodicRuntime:1 hour 35 minutesCompletion Date:January 7, 2024Production Budget:2,000,000 EURCountry of Origin:GermanyCountry of Filming:GermanyLanguage:English, GermanShooting Format:DigitalAspect Ratio:1:2,35Film Color:ColorFirst-time Filmmaker:NoStudent Project:No <a href="https://www.missingfilms.de/index.php/filme/10-filme-neu/396-blindgaenger" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.missingfilms.de/index.php/filme/10-filme-neu/396-blindgaenger</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/blindgaenger_film" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/blindgaenger_film</a> News &amp; Reviews"Premiere Highly Explosive at int. Filmfest Hamburg"Filmlöwin<a href="https://filmloewin.de/ffhh-2024-blindgaenger/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://filmloewin.de/ffhh-2024-blindgaenger/</a>"Highly explosive opens ABF Festival"Spot Media<a href="https://the-spot-mediafilm.com/news/festival-news/blindgaenger-eroeffnet-achtung-berlin-filmfestival/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://the-spot-mediafilm.com/news/festival-news/blindgaenger-eroeffnet-achtung-berlin-filmfestival/</a>"Review Highly Explosive"Filmlöwin<a href="https://filmloewin.de/ffhh-2024-blindgaenger/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://filmloewin.de/ffhh-2024-blindgaenger/</a>"Film Premiere "Blindgänger": Fears, Love, and Connection in an Extreme Situation"L-Mag<a href="https://www.l-mag.de/news-1010/filmpremiere-blindgaenger-aengste-liebe-und-verbundenheit-waehrend-einer-extremsituation.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.l-mag.de/news-1010/filmpremiere-blindgaenger-aengste-liebe-und-verbundenheit-waehrend-einer-extremsituation.html</a>"The multi-layered drama Highly Explosive showcases the strengths of Kerstin Polte."Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/medien-und-film/kino/film-blindgaenger-von-kerstin-polte-im-kino-110507697.html&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjqv82BhZmOAxWhwQIHHeByK8AQFnoECBcQAQ&amp;usg=AOvVaw2C0SowhAA_1wiXRI7qqtGG" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/medien-und-film/kino/film-blindgaenger-von-kerstin-polte-im-kino-110507697.html&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjqv82BhZmOAxWhwQIHHeByK8AQFnoECBcQAQ&amp;usg=AOvVaw2C0SowhAA_1wiXRI7qqtGG</a>"The Explosives of Life: Kerstin Polte’s gripping cinematic drama Blindgänger"Badische Zeitung<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.badische-zeitung.de/die-sprengsaetze-des-lebens-kerstin-poltes-spannendes-kinodrama-blindgaenger&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjK9YmNhZmOAxXe9QIHHeoDMLYQFnoECBkQAQ&amp;usg=AOvVaw1p7OXCs0Qm0Cqz2vNzrIOE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.badische-zeitung.de/die-sprengsaetze-des-lebens-kerstin-poltes-spannendes-kinodrama-blindgaenger&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjK9YmNhZmOAxXe9QIHHeoDMLYQFnoECBkQAQ&amp;usg=AOvVaw1p7OXCs0Qm0Cqz2vNzrIOE</a>"Highly Explosive: In her dramedy, Kerstin Polte explores the many facets of humanity – a poignant film with remarkable portraits of women"Die Rheinpfalz<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.rheinpfalz.de/kultur_artikel,-film-der-woche-kerstin-poltes-dramakom%25C3%25B6die-blindg%25C3%25A4nger-_arid,5777521.html&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi7p6HGhZmOAxUB3QIHHQWrBbIQFnoECBkQAQ&amp;usg=AOvVaw2hr2i49G496nfbQ-gHEdZ4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.rheinpfalz.de/kultur_artikel,-film-der-woche-kerstin-poltes-dramakom%25C3%25B6die-blindg%25C3%25A4nger-_arid,5777521.html&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi7p6HGhZmOAxUB3QIHHQWrBbIQFnoECBkQAQ&amp;usg=AOvVaw2hr2i49G496nfbQ-gHEdZ4</a>"Of buried legacies – both underground and in the soul – filmmaker Kerstin Polte has created a cinematic gem."Braunschweiger Zeitung<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.braunschweiger-zeitung.de/kultur/article408974526/emotionaler-sprengstoff-filmemacherin-kommt-nach-braunschweig.html&amp;ved=2ahUKEwijkOz4hZmOAxV1_gIHHVzXOrwQFnoECBwQAQ&amp;usg=AOvVaw0uZ_tV91A9Y6Weu-zuWaWj" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.braunschweiger-zeitung.de/kultur/article408974526/emotionaler-sprengstoff-filmemacherin-kommt-nach-braunschweig.html&amp;ved=2ahUKEwijkOz4hZmOAxV1_gIHHVzXOrwQFnoECBwQAQ&amp;usg=AOvVaw0uZ_tV91A9Y6Weu-zuWaWj</a>

Trigger, War, Family Drama, Mental Health, Panic attac, suspense, mental condition, Homophobia

Highly Explosive ~ Blindgǎnger (2025)

Introduction by Yolanda Brown Melian for Los Aspirantes -The Applicants- (2026)

Introduction by Yolanda Brown Melian for Los Aspirantes -The Applicants- (2026)

Los Aspirantes -The Applicants- (2026)

Los Aspirantes -The Applicants- (2026)

Introduction by Wayne Tunks for Murderer's Murder (2025)

Introduction by Wayne Tunks for Murderer's Murder (2025)

Murderer's Murder (2025)

Murderer's Murder (2025)

The Tragedy of the Lady (2025) Hannah, a young actress, is forced to compete for the role of Lady Macbeth against her friend, whom she secretly loves.

The Tragedy of the Lady (2025)

Plant Based (2025)A character-driven dramedy set in a small Connecticut town that finds itself divided when a proposed marijuana dispensary—Plant Based—sparks an unexpected civic uproar.Inspired by the tensions that arise when modern policies meet long-standing local identities, the series explores community, change, and the surprising alliances that form when a town must confront what it really values.The pilot introduces an ensemble of residents who each see the store as either a threat, an opportunity, or a mirror held up to their own personal crossroads. Through humor and grounded storytelling, the series aims to balance heartfelt drama with the eccentricities and charm of small-town life.While the conflict begins with a dispensary, the show ultimately examines how communities evolve—and what happens when people who have lived side-by-side for decades are forced to actually listen to one another. Please tell us your motivation for making your film:It started out as a stand up back , and I thought it could be a really good web series What are the themes and central messages you wanted to convey with your submission?:Tolerance working together CreditsJess Eden Bye Creator/Creative Producer&nbsp; Jennifer M Kay Director Allison Kessler Assistant Director&nbsp; Tony Moore Screenwriter&nbsp; Graham - Oliver Feaster Cooper&nbsp;- Sean McDermott Wade - Eric Christ Bob - Darren Johnson Dr. Kevin -Allison Kessler Ginny - Jennifer Kay Jane - Julia Sims Ma - Celeste Thompson John - John McGarry&nbsp; Dottie - Susan Bolt Utility Worker - Jess Eden Bye Specs:Project Type:Television, Web / New MediaGenres:Dramedy, comedyRuntime:28 minutes 7 secondsCompletion Date:December 1, 2025Production Budget:8,000 USDCountry of Origin:United StatesCountry of Filming:United StatesLanguage:EnglishFilm Color:ColorFirst-time Filmmaker:NoStudent Project:No <a href="https://youtu.be/ba2WUTS9cqY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/ba2WUTS9cqY</a>

Plant Based (2025)

High Stakes, High Drama Collection GBFF2026 "Drama, drama, and yet more drama" Virtual Admission

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Explore our GBFF on-demand catalog here! Films will release and roll starting on June 12, 2026 7pm Eastern with more films and our GBFF2026 Collections rolling out out as the Festival progresses. We appreciate you being a part of Gilbert Baker Film Festival-GBFF! If you need help with cost of tickets please DM us @GilbertBakerFilmFest on Instagram or email us at  pressandmarketing@gilbertbakerfilmfestival.lgbt Thank you for supporting GBFF!    

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Gilbert Baker Film Festival-GBFF is a Global, Legacy Festival founded by & honoring the Creator of The Original PRIDE Flag, the late, great Gilbert Baker. GBFF Showcases 2SLGBTQIA+ Stories on Screen and hosts Virtual & Worldwide Watch Parties & Discussions,Filmmaker Q&A’s & MORE, Join Us! Be Gilbee!