A cinematic deep cut into Black, queer, artistic joy. Shatara Michelle Ford’s sophomore film Dreams in Nightmares is a powerfully political yet humanist narrative, that is a modern take on the American road movie. Ford announces herself as an auteur, bringing you into the complex interior lives of her characters, like Wim Wenders’ Paris, Texas.

After losing her job, Z sets off on a journey across the American Midwest with her two closest friends, searching for a missing member of their chosen family who has seemingly vanished without a trace. As they pass through cities both familiar and foreign, the three queer Black femmes encounter mounting tensions and subtle dangers—testing their bonds, beliefs, and sense of safety. Portrayed by a cast of majority queer and trans Black actors, this powerful and unapologetic portrait of friendship is an ode to the radical act of dreaming.

This feature will be preceded by the stunning Out of Focus (DIR: India Martin, USA)