CONCEALER - A Short Film

ABOUT THIS FILM

Tender and haunting, CONCEALER follows a woman as she gets a makeover from her girlfriend. It’s a simple concept, but as with many things that seem simple it is laced with the complexities of her past experiences that are subtly triggered when she closes her eyes. This short examines femininity versus cultural expectations of femininity all through a queer lens. With touches of humor (as a defense mechanism, obviously). It’s about feeling safe enough to explore boundaries and revisit past traumas. It’s also about the fear that these things we’ve experienced might hinder us from being “enough” for our partners.

 

While this short is technically a makeover, it’s really a sex scene in its intimacy and dialogue. But like sex after experiencing trauma, this interaction brings up a lot of past experiences and responses that have been ingrained and gone unchecked. This is an empowering short about taking back control and finding joy in something that has been entrenched in trauma for years.

 

WHY IS THIS FILM IMPORTANT?

Femininity is confusing. And beautiful. And often entangled with a variety of experiences from early life that complicate our associations. For me, it felt like hiding. Not only did femininity remind me of a body that felt like it had been shaped by other people’s expectations, it also reminded me of a body that had been taken advantage of before I found my strength. After years of dissociating from my body and silencing every impulse, when I came out I developed an aversion to anything that reminded me of that feeling. An aversion to femininity.

 

This short is important because it is about reclaiming femininity in whatever form we want! It’s also about supporting each other on our journeys as we heal old wounds. With a team of queer female filmmakers, this is an impactful message we have all lived in various ways and feel passionate about propelling into the world. Your donation helps us pay our talented cast and crew, secure the necessary equipment, insurance, locations, and money to apply to festivals. From pre-production to post, there are always errors that can arise, especially without enough money to back the project. Anything helps and we are so appreciative for everyone who wants to help us share this story!

 

Thank you for your support,

Ella Sahlman (Director)

Shelby Adams (Writer)

Phoebe Mandel (Producer)

Juliet Phillips (Producer)

 

IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY, YOU CAN STILL SUPPORT THIS PROJECT BY SHARING THIS FUNDRAISING PAGE AND HELPING US SPREAD THE WORD!

No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made.