TRAILER
ABOUT THE FILM
After touring North America for three months, Kaleb meets Ryan, an artist from Vancouver, with the heavy burden of a broken relationship. The two spark up a connection at the club where Kaleb will be performing as his drag persona, Ivy Diamonds, for the last time before heading back East the following day. A starstruck Ryan comes out of his shell, hoping to get to know Kaleb/Ivy better, even if just for the night.
They share an intimate moment when Ryan draws Kaleb for everything they are, feeling seen like never before. Shortly after having slept together, their moment is interrupted by a call from Kaleb’s ex-fiancé. Ryan isn’t overwhelmed by his relationship baggage and is as understanding as ever, making it even harder to brace for their uncertain future, if there even is any.
When morning comes, Kaleb knows he can’t promise Ryan they’ll see each other again, but the air around them feels freeing and full of possibilities. For Kaleb, going back home isn’t an ending; it’s the beginning he’s been searching for for three months.
Starring Kendall Gender and Riley Davis
FESTIVALS
Vancouver International Women in Film Festival - March 2023
LGBT+ Film Festival Poland - April 2023
Divine Queer Film Festival - April 2023
QFest St. Louis - May 2023
Out & Loud: Pune International Queer Film Festival - May 2023
Vancouver Short Film Festival - June 2023
Queer North Film Festival - June 2023
OutSouth Queer Film Festival - August 2023
Vancouver Queer Film Festival - August 2023
Out on Film: Atlanta's LGBTQ Film Festival (Academy Award®-Qualifying) - October 2023
Way Out West Film Festival - October 2023
OutWest Film Fest: Reno-Tahoe’s LGBTQIA+ Film Festival - October 2023
Vancouver Asian Film Festival - November 2023
Chilliwack Independent Film Festival - November 2023
OMOVIES International LGBTQI+ Film Festival - December 2023
Short. Sweet. Film Fest - March 2024
Poppy Jasper International Film Festival - April 2024
Muskoka Queer Film Festival - May 2024
KASHISH Pride Film Festival - May 2024
to be announced - June 2024
AWARDS
RUNNER UP - Jury Award for Best Narrative Short, Out on Film: Atlanta's LGBTQ Film Festival 2023
WINNER - Jury Award for Best Narrative Short, Queer North Film Festival 2023
WINNER - Audience Award for Best LGBTQ+ Film, Poppy Jasper International Film Festival 2024
WINNER - Alina Maletti Gallor’s Top 10 LGBTQ+ Films, Poppy Jasper International Film Festival 2024
NOMINATED - Best Canadian Short and Best 2SLGBTQ+ Short, Vancouver Asian Film Festival 2023
NOMINATED - Best Director and Best Cinematography for Canadian Short, Vancouver Asian Film Festival 2023
NOMINATED - Best of BC, Best of Director and Best Actor, Chilliwack Independent Film Festival 2023
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
STAY was born from my love for drag art and fascination with the experiences of drag artists. I often wondered about the challenges they faced and how it is like to date a drag queen. I wanted to explore these themes in STAY, showcasing a relationship that thrives despite societal stigmas and common setbacks found in queer cinema.
My goal with STAY is to capture a unique tension that is relatable to everyone. We've all had that instant connection with someone only to have it burst because it wasn't meant to be. Although the setting is specific, the story is universal. Most importantly, I wanted to portray Drag from a deeper perspective beyond just pretty makeup and wigs. STAY attempts to show that drag artists are more than just their appearance. There are countless untold stories in this world, and I hope my film will shed light on some of them.
“This is a story that I’ve experienced many times, but we’ve never really got the opportunity to see it on screen. With Drag being so at the forefront of pop culture right, we have amazing shows like RuPaul Drag Race and Canada’s Drag Race. Still, we don’t always get to know the person too far underneath, so a story like STAY really opens up the hearts of these characters, and you get to see them as not just a Drag Queen, but truly as people.”
— KENDALL GENDER, LEAD CAST (CANADA'S DRAG RACE: Canada vs. the world)
CREDITS
executive producer/director KING LOUIE PALOMO
writer KING LOUIE PALOMO, STEPHANIE CARDONA
cinematographer AZAEL FLORES
producer VIVIAN DAVIDSON
producer/editor IAN MACDONALD
production designer TYE LESUEUR
costume designers EVAN CLAYTON, CECELIA MABEE
composer AARON SMAIL
sound designer CHRISTOPHER CLARK
starring:
KENNETH WYSE / KENDALL GENDER
RILEY DAVIS
with:
JARRED STEPHEN MEEK / DEEDEE LACRAZE
VAN DANG / SHAY DIOR
RYAN MCCOY / VICTORIA LUSH
PATRIS RUDARI
first assistant director: CARL FIGUEIREDO | second assistant director: CHAYA BLUE | script supervisor: FRANCES JACOB | intimacy coordinators: PHAY MOORES, ANASTASIA ST. AMAND | steadicam operator: DOUGLAR AARMER | camera assistants: SIMON MAENNLING, CLAYTON LITTLE, MARY SAUNDERS, MUHAMMAD HASSAM | dit: EMMA SWAIN | gaffer: JORGE PREISSER | key grip: ALEX TSENG | electrics & grip swing: JAYDEN DOELL, JUAN PABLO BETANCURTH, ELAINE YAN, ALEXANDRA CAFRAN | location sound recordist: ANDREW WALES | hair & makeup artist: AVY MOWLE | wigs provided by: FERNANDO CYSNEIROS, DONNIE TEJANIE OF OMG WIGS | costume designer assistant: KIRBY MORROW | costume coordinator: OLIVIA LANE | wardrobe set supervisors: OSAHENSE LEWIS AHUNWAN, EVAN HALEX | truck driver: BEN RENTON-WILLIAMS | bts & stills photographers: FRASER PHOTO SERVICES, JACOB FRASER, TSHENOLO MMONO | assistant editor: EMMA SWAIN | colourist: ANDRES GOMEZ ZAMORA
produced with the co-operation of the Union of B.C. Performers
