Lesbophilia

When free-as-a-bird bisexual Eliana questions giving up the "D" at her ex-boyfriend's funeral, her girlfriend Chase must decide how far she’s willing to go for love.

  • Michelle West
    Director
  • Tennessee Martin
    Writer
    Hangry
  • Michelle West
    Producer
  • Tennessee Martin
    Producer
    Hangry
  • Wilbur DiTullio
    Producer
    Conan, Honey Boy
  • Lana Parrilla
    Key Cast
    "Miss Madam"
    Atlas, Lincoln Lawyer, Once Upon A Time
  • Vico Ortiz
    Key Cast
    "Chase"
    Our Flag Means Death, Sex Lives of College Girls
  • Maya Nalli
    Key Cast
    "Eliana"
    Dollface, The Upshaws
  • Noemi Gonzalez
    Key Cast
    "Monique"
    Selena: The Series
  • Wilbur DiTullio
    Editors
    Conan, Honey Boy
  • Allyson Newman
    Composers
    Diane von Furstenburg: Woman in Charge, The L Word: Generation Q
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Dark Comedy, Romantic Comedy
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 8, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • HollyShorts
    Los Angeles
    United States
    August 10, 2024
    West Coast Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Out on Film: Atlanta's LGBTQ Film Festival
    Atlanta, GA
    United States
    October 5, 2024
    Georgia Premiere
    Official Selection
  • NewFest: The New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival
    New York
    United States
    Official Selection
  • FilmOut San Diego
    San Diego
    United States
    September 14, 2024
    Winner: Best Short Film Female
  • DC Shorts International Film Festival
    Washington DC
    United States
    September 7, 2024
    Nominated: Best LGBTQ Short Film
  • Wicked Queer: Boston's LGBTQ+ Film Festival
    Boston
    United States
    April 14, 2024
    US Premiere
    Winner: Best in Show
  • Queens World Film Festival
    Queens, NY
    United States
    April 18, 2024
    New York Premiere
    Nominated: Best LGBTQ Short
  • Stage 32 Short Film Contest
    Los Angeles
    United States
    August 8, 2024
    Winner
  • Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Film Festival
    Palm Springs, CA
    United States
    September 28, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Coverfly Short Film Scripts

    Top 1%
  • The Red List

    #6 Comedy Short
  • Hollywood Shorts Screenwriting Competition

    Finalist
Director Biography - Michelle West

Michelle is a Los Angeles-based narrative director of heart-centered stories about self-discovery, connection, and hope - but always with a twist.

Her latest short drama, Lineage, starring Cailin Peluso (Law & Order: SVU) and Christopher Callen (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), is based on a true story about three generations of women and their experience with abortion during the Great Depression. Lineage hits the festival circuit in 2025.

Her short dark comedy, Lesbophilia, starring Vico Ortiz (Our Flag Means Death) and Lana Parrilla (Once Upon A Time), is about radical acceptance within relationships even when extremely uncomfortable, winning Stage 32’s Short Film Contest, “Best Female Short Film" at FilmOut San Diego, and was an Official Selection at two Oscar-qualifying festivals (HollyShorts and Out On Film: Atlanta) in 2024.

Her short drama, Cosmic Love, premiered at the 2022 Pasadena International Film Festival and won "Best Female Empowerment" film at the San Diego International Film Awards.

With nearly two decades in entertainment, Michelle has experience as a producer, assistant director, and actor; is a graduate of the UCLA TFT Program for Acting; is a member of the DGA; and teaches at the Semester in LA program for Columbia College Chicago. For more info: www.itsmichellewest.com

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Lesbophilia is a modern dark comedy that flips limiting stereotypes on their head. Stimulating, provocative, and unquestionably vulnerable, this short film explores the complexity of relationships and gets to the heart of what we all deeply crave – love and acceptance.

Without taking itself too seriously, Lesbophilia reminds us that “normal” relationships, and the labels we apply to them, are still just fragments of the imagination.