We are pleased to introduce Lonesome (2022) and Perfect Boy Next Door (Short, 2024) as part of SHIFT: A Queer Symposia.

SHIFT is a dynamic program celebrating LGBTQIA+ voices through art, film, literature, and conversation - amplifying queer perspectives and fostering community engagement. As part of this program, we’re screening Lonesome and Perfect Boy Next Door, a striking film that delves into themes of queer identity, loneliness, desire, and self-discovery.

As part of the screening, we’re hosting an In Conversation with local queer actor and writer Josh Lavery. Based in Melbourne/Naarm, Josh starred in Lonesome (2022) and co-wrote and acted in Perfect Boy Next Door (2024).

Join us for a casual and insightful discussion where you can ask Josh about his experiences in acting, screenwriting and the evolving landscape of Australian LGBTQIA+ film.

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Lonesome, 2022, 95min.

Casey, a country lad running from a small-town scandal, finds himself down and out in big city Sydney. When he meets city lad Tib both men find something they have been missing but neither of them knows quite how to negotiate it.

Director: Craig Boreham

Writer: Craig Boreham

Stars: Josh Lavery, Julian Oliver, Mathew Waters &Zarif (Daniel Gabriel)

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Perfect Boy Next Door, Short 2024, 10min.

Perfect Boy Next Door is a psychological horror/comedy. Kevin is a male sex worker who has survived a vicious attack by a client whose kinks went way above the pay grade. In the following months as Kevin recuperates and works through the trauma with his boyfriend Jacob, he is approached by a true crime TV show that wants to tell his story.

Director: Craig Boreham

Writer: Josh Lavery

Stars: Josh Lavery, Manuel Kornisiuk, Liz Lin

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Please note this film is rated R18+. Content warnings include nudity, sexual content and suicide themes & emotional distress.

This will be an indoor screening.

This project is part of SHIFT: A Queer Symposia, a series of events at Seventh Gallery across January and February, to create a space for discourse, exchange, & solidarity within the LGBTIQA+ community. SHIFT is supported by the Victorian Government.

Please visit our website for the full SHIFT program.