FLY

World Premiere

Showings

Festival tickets go on sale March 18, with visionaries and members receiving early access for ticket purchase.

April 14, 2026
7:25 pm – 9:19 pm
Playhouse Square Campus

About This Film

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Festival Year: 2026
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Run Time: 14 Minutes
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Film Type: Short
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Animated: No
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Genre: Drama
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Interests: LGBTQ+ Cinema, Black Cinema
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Countr(ies): USA
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Language: English
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English Subtitles: No
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Captions: None
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Release Year: 2026

Film Overview

FLY is a queer coming-of-age romance about Skylar, a young Black ballet prodigy navigating the cost of perfection. A scholarship student at an elite ballet academy, Skylar channels fear and the weight of expectation into absolute discipline. When their mother falls behind on tuition, and the academy announces a paid professional apprenticeship, Skylar’s pursuit of excellence becomes a matter of survival. Their carefully controlled world is disrupted by Jay’ko, a gifted classmate whose free-spirited artistry contrasts sharply with Skylar’s precision. What begins as rivalry slowly deepens into intimacy, challenging Skylar’s belief that greatness comes from control alone. As the final audition approaches, Skylar must decide whether to cling to perfection or risk vulnerability in pursuit of artistic freedom. FLY is a poetic, meditative visual experience driven by movement, music, nature, and sound. The film explores the quiet transformation of a young queer artist learning that authenticity—not flawlessness—is what allows them to soar.

Film Contact: Carlton Daniel Jr.

Cast & Crew

Directed By

Carlton Daniel Jr. Headshot
Carlton Daniel Jr.

Produced By

PRODUCER: Carlton Daniel Jr.; EXECUTIVE PRODUERS: Evan Starling Davis, Guinevere Turner

Screenwriting

Carlton Daniel Jr.

Cinematographers

Joshua Echevarria

Editors

Christopher Hong

Principal Cast

Jeremy Villas, Maxfield Haynes, Aldo Kattón, Guinevere Turner