NQV Media is kicking off 2026 with the continuation of its popular ‘The Male Gaze’ series. Featuring shorts from filmmakers in Mexico, France, Italy and Israel, the latest instalment – ‘The Male Gaze: Wild Youth’ – continues the series’ ethos of shining a light on those creative minds who might otherwise not find an audience. ‘Wild Youth’ strings together shorts that focus on young men navigating uncertainty and expectations from outside influences on their sexuality.
Luis Pacheco’s ‘Autumn (Otoño)’ opens the collection, and this film tells the story of 16-year-old Adam (Eduard Valdéz) who is sent to a conversion therapy centre by his family. The short is based on Pacheco’s real-life experiences, and you can feel just how personal a story this was for him to tell. Adam fights against the wealth of people and inner demons that tell him his sexuality is wrong, and ultimately he can’t bury who he really is because those around him can’t accept it. Anyone who has been in the closet will be able to relate to this film.
Italian film-maker Giuseppe Zampella’s ‘Pure Breed (Razze pure)’ is the second short on the collection and it puts fluidity in the spotlight. Danilo (Daniel Mantovani) meets Gianni (Alessandro Capriati) and Anthia (Martina Troni) during a summer course for young farmers. The three form a quick bond, which becomes complicated when Danilo falls for them both, and a complicated love triangle is established. As Danilo pushes to explore his feelings, it makes his new friends question theirs and tensions quickly escalate. Bisexuality is often treated as a dirty word by the gay community, but Zampella’s film explores its nuance and delivers one of the most compelling shorts here.
Following that complicated love triangle is another one, this time courtesy of French film-maker Aurélien Rapatel and his short ‘Countercurrents (Les contre-courants)’. Nathan (Robin Migné) goes on a solo vacation to Corsica where he meets Félix (Victor Meutelet) and Léana (Charlie Loiselier). Initially anxious about how eager they are to be friends with him, Nathan lets his guard down and ends up opening himself up in ways he never expected. This is a classic coming-of-age tale and Rapatel tells it beautifully, capturing the curiosity of youth.
Israeli film-maker Ran Baruch’s ‘Hide & Seek (מחבואים)’ takes us to a strict school in Mexico where a young Israeli boy is rejected by his classmates. Hiding his sexuality from his classmates, he allows his true feelings to show during an unexpected intimate moment but the reaction he receives isn’t the one he hopes. This short explores the complicated nature of being closeted at school and the fear of being rejected if you tell people the truth. It’s carefully handled and quietly powerful.
The final short on the collection is ‘In the Night’ from Corentin Vouzellaud, which puts together two men at different stages of their relationship to partying and nightlife. One is wondering if he’s outgrown the scene while the other is still completely immersed in drink and drugs. The two men are attracted to one another and their night together takes them on an unexpected, and eye-opening journey, but can either of them have any impact on the other? We’ve all reached the point of feeling like we’ve passed our partying phase, so this short will likely resonate strongly. It asks some questions and leaves you pondering, which is always a sign of a good film!
‘The Male Gaze: Wild Youth’ is a strong collection of stories from around the world. I always look forward to new instalments in the series and this latest one hasn’t disappointed me. These shorts reflect stories we don’t really see in the mainstream and that’s so important for the series’ core audience. Representation is important, and this collection will likely be a lifeline for a lot of young men questioning or coming to terms with their sexuality.
Cast: Eduard Valdéz, Daniel Mantovani, Alessandro Capriati, Martina Troni, Robin Migné, Charlie Loiselier, Victor Meutelet, Nadav Tom Erteschik, Bnaya Shanani, Gabriel Marc, Jordan Brandao Rodrigues Directors: Luis Pacheco, Giuseppe Zampella, Aurélien Rapatel, Ran Baruch, Corentin Vouzellaud Certificate: 16+ Duration: 98 mins Released by: NQV Media Release date: 26th January 2026 Buy ‘The Male Gaze: Wild Youth’ now
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