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2023

Safe Word

15 mins, Drama, LGBTQ+

Cesar, a masochist, must confront his self-loathing after his dom, Bear, reinterprets the rules of their game.

CREDITS

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

PRESS


"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

CRITIC'S PICK | ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑


"A multi-faceted jewel of a movie."

LGBTQ Nation 


“. . .a life-imitates-art path of self-acceptance.” - Washington Post.”

THE 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

AWARDS & NOMINATIONS

ReelQ Pittsburgh LGBTQ Film Festival 2023

      Best Short Film

DC Shorts International Film Festival 2023

      Best LGBTQ+ Film

Korea Queer Film Festival 2023

      Honorary Mention from the Executive Committee

      Notable LGBTQ+ Film.

CineKink 2023

      Honorable Best Mention

Richmond Film Network 2023

      Best DMV Film

Washington International Cinema Festival 2022

      Best LGBT Short

      Best Score, Ryan Walsh

      Best Producers, Christopher Cunetto & Mauricio Pita

      Best Actor, Mauricio Pita


OFFICIAL SELECTION

  • Provincetown International Film Festival - Provincetown, MA

  •       Academy Award qualifying festival

  • Inside Out Toronto 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival  - Toronto, Canada

  •       Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival

  • Wicked Queer - Boston, MA

  • Minnesota International Film Festival

  • 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

2023

Safe Word

15 mins, Drama, LGBTQ+

Cesar, a masochist, must confront his self-loathing after his dom, Bear, reinterprets the rules of their game.

CREDITS

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

PRESS


"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

CRITIC'S PICK | ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑


"A multi-faceted jewel of a movie."

LGBTQ Nation 


“. . .a life-imitates-art path of self-acceptance.” - Washington Post.”

THE 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

AWARDS & NOMINATIONS

ReelQ Pittsburgh LGBTQ Film Festival 2023

      Best Short Film

DC Shorts International Film Festival 2023

      Best LGBTQ+ Film

Korea Queer Film Festival 2023

      Honorary Mention from the Executive Committee

      Notable LGBTQ+ Film.

CineKink 2023

      Honorable Best Mention

Richmond Film Network 2023

      Best DMV Film

Washington International Cinema Festival 2022

      Best LGBT Short

      Best Score, Ryan Walsh

      Best Producers, Christopher Cunetto & Mauricio Pita

      Best Actor, Mauricio Pita


OFFICIAL SELECTION

  • Provincetown International Film Festival - Provincetown, MA

  •       Academy Award qualifying festival

  • Inside Out Toronto 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival  - Toronto, Canada

  •       Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival

  • Wicked Queer - Boston, MA

  • Minnesota International Film Festival

  • 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