Fargo, N.D. (September 16, 2021) – The Fargo-Moorhead LGBT Film Festival Jury is proud to announce the award winners for the 13th annual film festival. Four films are being recognized and honored for their creativity, talent, approach to content and overall excellence of their films. “We’re excited to recognize these filmmakers and their work,” said Sean Coffman, Executive Director of the Human Family and Chair of the 2021 Fargo-Moorhead LGBT Film Festival.

The award winners include:

Best of Show

Sheer Qorma

Directed by Faraz Arif Ansari

Narrative Short | 2021 | India

Sheer Qorma is a story of belonging and acceptance, identity and family, and how it comes together under one roof, as resilient, queer Muslim women and non-binary characters of colour, choose to embrace love that exists beyond their personal beliefs and social moralities.

Director Faraz Arif Ansari

Best Narrative Short

Pappo E Bucco

Directed by Antonio Losito

Narrative Short | 2021 | Italy

Elia and Aldo are two ex clowns. They have been living together for years, isolated from everyone and everything. Aldo has been asking Elia to help him end his suffering due to his illness for a long time. Elia tries to dissuade him in every way possible until he realizes that Aldo’s condition is more serious than what he had thought.

Director Antonio Losito

Best Documentary Feature

Pieces of Us

Directed by Cheryl Allison

Documentary Feature | 2021 | United States

Pieces of Us is an intimate look at the personal journeys of LGBTQ+ hate crime survivors who, by choosing to take their recovery public, inspire the survivor in all of us. The film juxtaposes the inspirational stories of recovery each of the film’s subjects (including transgender activist and Stonewall Riots survivor Victoria Cruz, and Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil of India) have experienced with the powerful connections their public actions have produced.

Their stories take us to New York City, Denver and India to witness how intersectionality and speaking your truth can build a support community and even spark global change. The film explores the resistance of these unlikely heroes and survivors, people who didn’t choose to have their rights violated and their lives changed forever, but from those experiences chose to stand against hate and give voice to the voiceless.

Director Cheryl Allison

Best Experimental

Release

Directed by Pierre Jean Gonzalez & Paul Anthony Notice II

Experimental Short | 2020 | United States

An experimental short film looking into the mind of a Gay, Afro-Latino questioning his selfworth. Inspired and based on a poem by Cedric Leiba Jr.

Directors Pierre Jean Gonzalez and Paul Anthony Notice II

The Fargo-Moorhead LGBT Film Festival will take place online from September 15-18, 2021. Over 30 films are available for screening online and on-demand from the comfort and safety of your home.

All-Access Passes are available for $30. Individual Curated Blocks are $15. Individual Features are $10, and individual Shorts are $5.

The mission of the Fargo-Moorhead LGBT Film Festival is to bring relevant and current queer cinema that highlights the lived experiences of the LGBTQ+ communities to the northern cities of Fargo and Moorhead. For more information about the festival, visit www.fmlgbtff.org.