The 6 Queer Short Films at Sundance 2026
Of the 28 total films I watched, just six of them were queer or featured queer characters in some way.
Shadows in Paradise
During a rescue operation in Iraq, Special Forces member Max Forrester is devastated when Sasha, his squad mate and fiancée goes missing. Two years later, Max now out of the military, receives a call from his ex-commander, Captain Dyer, informing him Sasha has been seen alive and moving freely about on a place called Paradise Island. He also informs Max the military is preparing to go in and extract her with possible charges of desertion or worse. Max sets off on his own to Paradise Island to find Sasha and learn the truth before Shadow Company gets to her first.
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Movie Information
During a rescue operation in Iraq, Special Forces member Max Forrester is devastated when Sasha, his squad mate and fiancée goes missing. Two years later, Max now out of the military, receives a call from his ex-commander, Captain Dyer, informing him Sasha has been seen alive and moving freely about on a place called Paradise Island. He also informs Max the military is preparing to go in and extract her with possible charges of desertion or worse. Max sets off on his own to Paradise Island to find Sasha and learn the truth before Shadow Company gets to her first.
Rating:
Genre:Action
Written By:J. Stephen Maunder
In Theaters:
Box Office:
Runtime:87 minutes
Studio:
Cast
J. Stephen Maunder
Director
Mark Dacascos
Lt. Max Forrester
Armand Assante
Cpt. John 'Ghost' Santos
Tom Sizemore
Col. Bunker
Bruce Boxleitner
Cpt. Dyer
Sofya Skya
Lt. Sasha Villanoff
Danny Trejo
Matador
Steven Bauer
Agent Stubbs
Damone Williams
Pvt. Willard
Christine Scott Bennett
Madonna
Johnathon Freeman
Ice
Angie Hill
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