Brayden Shayne Queer Film Night Comes to Milwaukee

Milwaukee audiences are invited to a special evening of contemporary queer short films as Brayden Shayne Queer Film Night makes its way to the Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts on Thursday, February 27, from 6:30–9:30 PM.

The evening begins at 6:30 PM with an open viewing of Lavender & Green Carnation, an exhibition exploring the history and significance of queer symbols in times of political and social unrest. At 7:00 PM, the film screenings will begin, showcasing a bold and diverse selection of queer cinema from around the world.

Curated by the Brayden Shayne Collective, this special screening highlights emerging and established queer filmmakers who are pushing boundaries and shaping contemporary LGBTQ+ storytelling. As curator Brayden Shayne explains, “We look for films that need to be part of the zeitgeist of contemporary queer men’s culture.”

This year’s lineup includes films from across the U.S., Spain, France, and Australia, covering a range of storytelling styles from experimental animation to drag noir, coming-of-age romance, and deeply personal narratives of survival and self-discovery.

Among the films featured:

• Willa Justice: Drag Queen Private Eye – A high-energy, noir-inspired mystery in which a drag queen detective tracks a killer through the California desert, guided by the ghost of her late boyfriend and a prophetic chicken.
• Assemblages – An experimental animation that reinterprets personal history through memories and location.
• The Second First Kiss – A tender, humorous exploration of romance and second chances.
• Butterfly – A poignant coming-of-age love story between two teenage girls discovering their identities.
• Refugio (Haven) – A gripping drama about a young man navigating job insecurity, his mother’s illness, and unexpected emotional connections.
• Baise Platine – A visually stunning French film examining the paradoxes of queer sexuality through dance and music.
• How Do You Sleep? – A New Orleans-set film chronicling a drag queen’s confrontation with her past while performing the show of her life.

The evening promises an intimate and immersive viewing experience, offering Milwaukee’s LGBTQ+ community and allies a space to connect, reflect, and celebrate queer storytelling in all its forms.

About Brayden Shayne Collective:

Brayden Shayne is a queer artists’ collective interested in fostering queer art, thought, and radical creativity. The collective manifests as a magazine, events, films, and sounds, bringing together LGBTQ+ artists and thinkers to explore new narratives and push cultural conversations forward.

Learn more at: https://braydenshayne.com/

About the Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts (JGCA):

The Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts is a non-profit organization serving Southeastern Wisconsin with a wide range of visual and performing arts programming. Created by a diverse community of artists, JGCA provides opportunities to create, present, and experience the arts in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

For more information, visit jazzgallerycenterforarts.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.