The Life Vest is Under Your Seat: A Call for Solidarity and Support

The Impact of Natural Disasters on Vulnerable Communities

When Hurricane Melissa hit, my cousin in Jamaica messaged me from her flooded basement apartment. She had run away from home years ago due to her identity as a lesbian. I thought of the Gully Queens in Kingston, the queer and trans women who also fled and now live in the storm drains. This situation made me reflect on our members who recently sought refuge and called in from their camp during our European Premiere. One of our members in Tanzania was completely cut off from the internet because of local elections. Around the world, queer people continue to face unimaginable struggles in Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine, and beyond.

When disaster strikes, it is always the same people who have nowhere to go: the poor, women, children, disabled individuals, Black and Brown folks, migrants, and queer and trans people. In these precarious times, communication itself becomes a tool of survival. This is where our work begins.

Phoenix Collective Vision: A Journey of Resilience

75 SHOTS was born out of empathy, compassion, and a deep love for art, people, and freedom. During COVID, when isolation wrapped around us like a fog, our collective became a lifeline. Members faced evictions, were stranded in foreign countries, and struggled to breathe—both literally and financially. Together, we built new narratives of survival and connection across borders. Our films, made with smartphones and sheer willpower, became mirrors where our members could see themselves reflected and imagine a better world.

Autumn Leaves in Winter: Growth and Support

Since then, we have grown through endurance and imagination. Our website is now fully bilingual, extending our reach across the Francophonie and the Global South. Every new connection feels like a leaf that refused to fall. We have received new support from the Government of Canada for our Summer Youth Intern and Senior’s Program, as well as from the Foundation for Black Communities. These project-based grants have deepened our mentorship and strengthened our roots. Yet, like many grassroots collectives, our core remains unfunded. Our work continues through love, commitment, and the strength of our members who volunteer their time and skills.

To sustain what we’ve built, we now invite our community to help us grow into the next season, moving from survival to stability.

Stand in Love: The Power of Storytelling

We tell stories of love in places where love is forbidden. We claim intimacy and connection as acts of resistance. Our films are living documents, grounded in community and shaped by necessity, imagination, and desire. Our members continue to create, teach, and evolve. The Under the Radar series transforms ordinary spaces into luminous stages for visibility and reflection. These spaces form a continuum of care and radical creativity.

Who's Next in Line: Celebrating Queer Cinema

In the coming weeks, we will begin highlighting one film from our collection, offering a glimpse into our living archive through online screenings and conversations between filmmakers and our audience. Our goal is to reach 1,000 paying subscribers by the end of the year. Be among the first to discover rare, underrepresented queer cinema from the Global South and other regions where queer voices are silenced. Join the conversation of resistance, beauty, and defiance, where art, activism, and community meet.

Join Us in Our Mission

With your help, we are stronger. Your support can make a significant difference. Donate and Subscribe to our initiatives. Together, we can foster a community that uplifts and empowers marginalized voices.

One Love,

Karin Hazé

75 SHOTS Founder