Z lives to sing — musical theatre is his whole world, and his star is rising fast. But when a big audition goes off the rails, he’s left questioning everything: his career, his relationship, his voice, and how his identity as a newly trans masc performer fits into it all. Just when it seems like curtains, Z meets a warm, no-nonsense vocal coach who helps him rediscover his sound. Add a new gig as a barback and a charming boss named Santi into the mix, and suddenly life is hitting a different kind of high note. As Z finds a new voice that reflects who he is now, the story becomes a celebration of resilience, self-discovery, and newfound identity.
With heart, humor, and a healthy dose of hope, director J Stevens (Stories from My Gay Grandparents, Frameline48) brings Z’s journey to life with a captivating and personal lens. It’s lead actor Breton Lalama, though, who steals the show — delivering a performance that’s raw, radiant, and ready to belt.
Preceded by Tessitura (Dir. Lydia Cornett & Brit Fryer, 18 Minutes)
Blending historical overview with character portraits, Tessitura explores the entangled ways that voice, character, and gender are continuously reformulated in opera by those who contend with these connections daily. The film delves into the ways that contemporary transgender opera singers navigate the traditional rule and categories of their art form, interweaving personal stories with historical contexts to highlight the ongoing dialogue about gender fluidity in opera. By purposefully deemphasizing the historical figures of the castrati and women performing trouser roles, the film instead focuses on transgender opera singers who are contending with the constraints their genre imposes.