ImageOut Virtual Cinema

Magical Realism Short Films (Virtual Program)

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Our 2025 Shorts Programs are made possible through the generosity of long-time ImageOut supporters David D. Emert and Jon P. Templin.


Who is paying attention to the news these days? Or maybe I should ask-- who needs a tiny break from the reality that is being reported in the headlines? The short films in this series creatively tweak the bounds of human possibility and incorporate elements of magic to bridge the two worlds of fantasy and reality. It is in this bridging where we see the possibilities of imagination to create a wildly better future. The ideas on display in the Magical Realism series of shorts increase our capacity to build and hold a future that closely aligns with our interests and values. From the seat of the movie theater or in your comfiest chair at home, watch the films in this series to travel to unknown worlds familiar enough to home yet free from the bounds of what may be holding us back.

Facing angry protesters, a determined drag queen does her best to finish a fairy tale reading at the local library. But when an alien invasion upends Earth's existence, the queen encounters new challenges that forebode terrifying outcomes for humanity. Trapped within the library, her storytelling skills are suddenly put to extraordinary tests, jeopardizing the lives of the last humans on Earth - the families who've cherished her stories and the protesters who've scorned them. Ultimately, it is the supreme power of imagination that holds the key to both the queen's survival and the invaders' domination.
  • Year
    2024
  • Runtime
    18 minutes
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    United States
  • Director
    Aaron Immediato
  • Screenwriter
    Aaron Immediato