This tumultuous and frequently humorous journey follows a group of incredibly strong African-American women who make a pact to come out of the closet -- within 30 days!

Maverick writer/director Faith Trimel wowed us with her debut film Black Aura on an Angel (PIGLFF ’04), a story of mental illness in the African-American lesbian community. She is back full throttle with her latest audaciously inspirational narrative “Family” which skillfully delves into the personal, closeted lives of Women of Color. Actress Felicia is in the middle of passionate sex with her girlfriend when her mother comes knocking. She quickly shoves her lover in the closet—naked—but that’s just the beginning of Felicia’s problems. Tonya and Shelly just got engaged, but when Tonya’s overbearing sister shows up unexpectedly and needs a place to stay, Shelly is booted to the guest bedroom. Hotshot WMBA star Kemp is juggling her stripper girlfriend and hiding her dyke life so it doesn’t affect future lucrative endorsement deals. As scary as it is, these six close friends decide to come out within 30 days, yeilding results that are as turbulent as they are amusing. Trimel’s well-crafted film intricately entwines essential issues in the LGBT African-American community like religion, class and coming out, articulately putting a stamp on what it means to be “family”. -- Kelly Burkhardt