Jack’d, the largest dating app for queer people of color in the U.S., has announced the official lineup for its inaugural Jack’d Film Festival, featuring 15 films celebrating the stories, experiences, and perspectives of queer people of color. The films stream exclusively on the Jack’d app from November 2 through December 3.
The fully digital festival selected its 15 films from 160 submissions, less than 10% of entries received, spanning themes including racism, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, homophobia, surrogacy, gender norms, father-son relationships, and drag culture. The lineup blends established and emerging filmmakers, including Justice Singleton, screenwriter and director and the child of late Oscar-nominated filmmaker John Singleton, filmmaker Q. Allan Brocka, known for Boy Culture and Eating Out, and award-winning playwright and HIV/AIDS activist Donja R. Love. Notable talent appearing in the films includes Paula Jai-Parker, known for Hustle & Flow and Friday, Elise Neal, known for Hustle & Flow and The Hughleys, Tony winner John Cameron Mitchell, known for Rabbit Hole, and filmmaker Michael Sasaki, known for Grey’s Anatomy.
Selected films compete for two honors: the Grand Jury Award, determined by a jury that includes TS Madison, Miss Lawrence, Bobby Ashley, Mike Gauyo, and Dyllón Burnside, and the Audience Choice Award, determined by verified votes from Jack’d app members, who can vote for up to three films.
The full lineup:
Narrative Short Films
- Cockroach (2025) — Director: Justice Singleton
- EKG (2024) — Director: Q. Allan Brocka
- Don’t Hang Up (2025) — Director: Diamond Batiste
- home (2024) — Director: Donja R. Love
- FLY (2026) — Director: Carlton Daniel Jr.
- What Are We? Are We Going To Be? We Are. (2025) — Director: Ryan Murtha
- JARED (2026) — Director: Cleo Berry
- The Process (2026) — Director: Ellis C. Dawson
- PEPPER (2026) — Director: Taylor Ri’chard
- Boys Don’t Do That (2026) — Director: Joshua Lipscomb
- Mean Goals (2025) — Director: Ahuatl Amaro
Documentary Feature
- Tapestry: Reclaiming Our Past (2025) — Director: Kris Torres
Documentary Shorts
- Miss Honey: The Catsuit (2024) — Director: Brandon R. Nicholas
- Fighting Spaces (2026) — Director: Patricio Matos
- Southern Son Shine (2025) — Director: Kevin D. Anderson
To participate in voting, audience members must download the Jack’d app, create a profile, and stream films directly through it, with AirPlay support available via Apple TV. Award winners will be announced on the app following the festival’s close.
With a dating platform stepping directly into film curation and distribution, Jack’d is positioning itself as more than just a connection tool, treating storytelling itself as a form of community building for an audience often underserved by mainstream festival circuits.