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Director Cami Thomas
Country USA
Year 2023
Languages English
Genre Drama, Romance
Running Time 33 min
In the heart of a bustling city's art scene, Keenelan traces the poignant tale of Kaya, an artist grappling with enigmatic whispers of her past. Just before an eminent showcase poised to skyrocket her career, Kaya is engulfed by haunting dreams and memories of a past lover. These ethereal visions begin to bleed into her daily life, stirring confusion and self-reflection.
The narrative unfolds as a stream-of-consciousness odyssey, blending reality and dreamscapes. Amid her soul-searching, Keenelan elevates a significant question—how much of our history anchors our identity, and when does nostalgia serve more than just a wistful sigh?
Witness Kaya's enthralling blend of art and awakening as she embarks on a cathartic voyage toward enlightenment. Will Kaya transcend the shadows of her past to fully embrace her present, or will the allure of bygone days sway her steps? Join her on this cathartic voyage toward enlightenment.
Tickets/Passes
Tickets
Regular (Virtual): $8 ticket + $1.19 processing fee
Suggested* (Virtual): $16 ticket + $1.39 processing fee
Festival Pass
PrideFull Pass: $54 pass + $3.34 processing fee
Virtual Pass: $24 pass + $2.59 processing fee
Purchasing the Suggested ticket helps us cover the costs and sustain this film festival by and for Queer and Trans People Of Color. Thank you!
Director's Statement
At the heart of, Keenelan lies the timeless exploration of the human emotional landscape, a territory marked by deep-seated love, profound yearning, and an often inescapable sense of nostalgia.
From the very inception of this cinematic endeavor, I found myself driven by a desire to encapsulate the mesmerizing pull of an obsession. Not just any fixation, but one that consumes your waking thoughts, haunts your dreams, and infiltrates every aspect of existence with an urgent need for resolution. The aim was to craft a narrative that not only resonated on a personal level but also struck a universal chord—a tale that mirrors the inner turmoil experienced by many as they hover on the brink of significant life shifts.
My inspiration drew from the wellspring of life itself, from the ripples created by personal moments of vulnerability. I longed to create a piece that served as an embodiment of the torrential stream of consciousness that buffers us, loyally yet unrelentingly, during times of transition. This film is an ode to the ruminations that visit us in the quiet, in the chaos, and in the interludes where we confront our truest selves.
The challenge was immense—to visualize what often eludes verbal articulation, to give form to the formless musings of a restless soul. Influenced deeply by a period of profound change in my own life, I endeavored to translate my inner experiences onto a canvas that beckons the audience into their own reflections. It is in this intimate encounter with the film that I hope viewers will find echoes of their own narratives, their private contemplations, and the shared human experience of longing for something just beyond reach.
In this film, we voyage through the vicissitudes of the heart—the soaring highs and the abyssal lows—all depicted against visuals that are as evocative as they are ethereal. My hope is for the audience to emerge from this visual pilgrimage with a renewed understanding of their emotional selves, perhaps recognizing their individual obsessions and longings, and ultimately, finding solace in the shared essence of our collective experiences.
Thank you for opening yourself to this story, for walking with me through this exploration of desire and memory, and for allowing the film to ignite a spark within the caverns of your heart.
Sincerely,
Cami Thomas
Writer and Director of Keenelan
Director's Bio
Cami Thomas (she/her)
Cami Thomas is an award-winning film director and producer hailing from St. Louis, Missouri. She began her journey into filmmaking with a documentary series titled, Smoke City which explored segregation in St. Louis following the Ferguson uprising in Thomas' hometown. After receiving a photography fellowship from Harvard University's Charles Warren Center in 2020, Cami created her first short film in 2021 - Summer in St. Louis - which has since been featured in national and international film festivals including landing, "Best Super Short Drama" at the Berlin Flash Film Festival.
In 2019, Thomas founded My Friends and I, a media production house based in St. Louis that specializes in creating authentic visual pieces that capture the essence of diverse, authentic communities to which Thomas belongs. Through My Friends and I, Thomas has been able to explore her passion for filmmaking and diversify the midwestern production landscape by training and hiring diverse talent on set.
Thomas' most recent film, Keenelan is her largest directorial undertaking thus far. Exploring Black queerness and artistry in the Midwest, the story pays homage to Thomas' own upbringing and community. She hopes to continue creating stories in the Midwest, and bring awareness to the raw talent that exists within the gritty, wild wild midwestern hidden gem that is St. Louis.
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