SAFE WORD (2023)
Short Film
(Run Time: 15 Minutes - Drama, LGBTQ+)
Cesar, a masochist must confront his self-loathing after his Dom, Bear, reinterprets the rules of their game.
​
Directed by
Christopher Cunetto
​
Story by
Eva von Schweinitz
Screenplay by
Eva von Schweinitz & Christopher Cunetto
​
Starring
Mauricio Pita & Jonathan Adriel
​
Cinematography
Fernando Rocha
​
Original Score by
Ryan Walsh
​
Produced by:
Mauricio Pita (EP), Christopher Cunetto, Elena Kritter, Nicole Wackerly, Nina Young
Official Selections
Provincetown International Film Festival - Provincetown, MA
(Academy Award qualifying film festival)
Inside Out Toronto 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival -Toronto, Canada
(Canadian Screen Award qualifying film festival)
Wicked Queer - 2024 -Boston, MA
Minnesota International Film Festival 2024
FilmOUT San Diego - San Diego, CA
Korea Queer Film Festival - Seoul, South Korea
OUTSouth Queer Film Festival - Durham, NC
OUT at the Movies International Film Fest - Winston-Salem, NC
ReelQ Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ Film Festival - Pittsburgh, PA
Seattle Queer Film Festival - Seattle, WA
Connecticut International LGBTQ+ Film Festival - Hartford, CT
Reeling! Chicago International LGBTQ+ Film Festival - Chicago, IL
DC Shorts International Film Festival - Washington, DC
Reel Affirmations - Washington, DC
Kaleidoscope LGBTQ+ Film Festival - Little Rock, AR
CineKink - New York, NY
Virginia Queer Film Festival, - Norfolk, VA
Maryland International Film Festival - Hagerstown, MD
IndieFlicks Monthly Film Festival - Manchester, UK
Tag! Queer Shorts Fest - Portland, OR
Ocean City Film Festival - Ocean City, MD
Metropolis Film Festival - Milan, Italy
Washington International Cinema Festival - Washington, DC
Richmond International Film Festival - Richmond VA - Finalist
​
Awards
ReelQ Pittsburgh LGBTQ Film Festival 2023
Best Short Film
DC Shorts International Film Festival 2023
Best LGBTQ+ Film
KQFF 2023 - Seoul, South Korea
Honorary Mention from the Executive Committee
Notable LGBTQ+ Film.
CineKink 2023 - New York, NY
Honorable Best Mention
Richmond Film Network 2023
Best DMV Film
Washington International Cinema Festival 2022 - Wash, DC
Best LGBT Short
Best Score: Ryan Walsh
Best Producers: Christopher Cunetto & Mauricio Pita
Best Actor: Mauricio Pita
​
​
CRITIC'S PICK | â‘â‘â‘â‘â‘
""If a safe word is designed to stop the action, the irony of Safe Word is that its greatest attribute is that you very much want it to continue."
— METRO WEEKLY>
​
"A multi-faceted jewel of a movie."
- LGBTQ Nation >
​
“...a life-imitates-art path of self-acceptance.” - Washington Post.”
​
“…visually and emotionally compelling…"
— THE WASHINGTON BLADE >
​
“Safe Word is an elegant chamber piece, and the maid comes dressed in leather.” — LGBTQ Nation >
​
​
GATEWAY (2022)
Short Film
(Run Time: 15 Minutes - Drama, Science Fiction)
After an unusual incident, a desperate widower becomes obsessed with contacting his late wife using a fringe-science meditation technique.
​
A Cunetto Creative production with support from Tepui Media.
​
Written and directed by
Christopher Cunetto
​
Starring
Jeff Dernlan, Carol Cadby, & Duncan Fitzgerald
​
Cinematography
Haik Kavookjian
​
Produced by:
Christopher Cunetto & Mauricio Pita
​
Official Selection
Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival 2023 - Boston, MA
Lucid Dreams Festival, 2023 - Pisa, Italy
Richmond Film Network - Richmond, VA
Award Winner
Prestige Film Fest 2022
Best Science Fiction
Best Actor - Jeff Dernlan
The Atlantis Awards 2022
Best Director - Christopher Cunetto
Nominee - Best Live Action Short 2022
​
Finalist
The OLA Film Festival 2023
Best Short Film
Genesis International Film Festival 2023
Best Short Film
Golden Short Film Festival 2022
Best Short Film