In dreams begin...

There are circumstances in which looking itself is a source of pleasure, just as, in the reverse formation, there is pleasure in being looked at.
– Laura Mulvey

Winner of BEST LGBTQ JURY AWARD and AUDIENCE AWARD at the 2023 PARIS SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL!

Directed by multidisciplinary artist Bruce Morrow, "In dreams begin..." is a road trip of dreams and memories of a day spent on the beach with a smiling lover. It is made up of over 2,500 still photographs and pays homage to seminal experimental filmmakers such as Spike Jonze, Bruce Conner, Stan Brakhage, and Chris Marker.

The film's visual style is unique and experimental, with the use of still photographs creating a dream-like quality to the imagery. The use of music by Brooklyn-based Latino singer/songwriter drito further enhances the emotional impact of the film.

The film was edited by Bronx-based South African Ndlela Nkibo, who played a crucial role in piecing together the thousands of photographs to create a cohesive and emotive story.

Overall, "In dreams begins..." is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant experimental short film that combines photography, music, and editing to create a unique and unforgettable cinematic experience.

  • Bruce Morrow
    Director
  • Bruce Morrow
    Writer
    Bruce Morrow is a former fiction editor at Callaloo and a co-editor of "Shade: An Anthology of Short Fiction by Gay Men of African Descent," which was the first Black LGBTQ anthology published by a major NYC publisher. His writing has been published in the New York Times, "Speak My Name: Black Men on Masculinity and the American Dream," and "Freedom in this Village: Twenty-Five Years of Black Gay Men's Writing." He has served in leadership roles at The Trevor Project, GLAAD, Girl Scouts of the USA, Bank Street College of Education, and Teachers & Writers Collaborative. He holds a BS in Biology from RIT and an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University and was a Revson Fellow for Mid-Career Civic Leaders at Columbia University in 2007.
  • scopOphilic
    Producer
  • drito
    Music
    drito is a multi cultural artist who takes influences from Latinx heritage and the synthesis of that culture in the New York City streets. They want to provide a space of comfort and care to people who don't have it, or cannot express it. drito draws musical inspiration from artists like by John Legend, Cuco, Joji, Stevie Wonder, and educators in his/their life who have help me grow in music. drito’s is also heavily influenced alternative R&B and LoFi hip hop and use the comforting soft sounds of these genres to express an exploration of self; not often represented in these genres.
  • Ndlela Nkobi
    Editor
    https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3248980/
  • Jamari Jai
    Key Cast
    "Boy on beach"
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Music Video, Short
  • Genres:
    LGBTQ, Black, Black Gay, Experimental, Music Video, Wellness, Self-Care
  • Runtime:
    2 minutes 34 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 17, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Paris Shorts Film Festival
    Paris
    France
    March 10, 2023
    European Online Only
    Best LGBTQ Film: Jury Award, Best Audience Award
Director Biography - Bruce Morrow

Bruce Morrow is an interdisciplinary artist who focuses on writing, digital art, installations, and video/film. After he was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in 2019, he recommitted himself to his artistic practice. He is a co-founder of the digital art collective scopOphliic, which broadcast on MNN for seven years. He is a former fiction editor at Callaloo, and co-editor of “Shade: An Anthology of Short Fiction by Gay Men of African Descent.” His writing has appeared in numerous publications, including the New York Times, “Speak My Name: Black Men on Masculinity and the American Dream,” and “Freedom in this Village: Twenty-Five Years of Black Gay Men's Writing.” He has an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I write and create art to provoke dialogue about race, gender, sexual identity, loneliness, and what it means to “be” in the world. As a black queer child who never knew where he fit, I’ve always made sense of the world around me through words and images.