Its massively important, said Edebiri.
The humanity is what moves me, Edebiri explained.
Its such a great thing.
(L-R) Russell Tovey, Lily Gladstone, Ayo Edebiri and Bowen Yang at the Deadline 2025 Sundance Film Festival Portrait StudioMichael Buckner/Deadline
Other pieces of representation at Sundance were far more hopeful.
But its not that truncheon about those things.
Its not like didactic necessarily.
Ayo EdebiriGlenn Garner/Deadline
Its just a warm, beautiful invitation into this world, he added.
And so, I think its more important than ever that the movie comes out.
Ahn remembered watching the young talent note in his script that guncle is a contraction for gay uncle.
Actually, in Korea, the queer movement is not that popular.
In the U.S., its a little different, said Han.
I didnt know there was a Gay Street in Vancouver.
That was really a cultural shock to me.
I keep learning about it.
So, its happening, were feeling it already.
Gladstone stressed, You cant erase human beings.
He said this in the late 80s, and he was making films then, noted Tovey.
It feels like its absolutely, if not happening already, going to happen again.
For another personal touch, he filmed it in his hometown of Syracuse, N.Y.
It was all very intentional, he said.
To tell queer stories is imperative now more than ever, she said.
I mean, its always been important, but its a scary world out there.
I dont necessarily approach my work in the sense of Im trying to make a queer protagonists struggles relatable.
Its, I guess, more instinctual than that, Sweeney told me.
I think that just helps build empathy.
I think being queer just falls under that umbrella because we are human.
And I see her the same, explained Mason-Hyde.
Mason-Hyde previously started the trans-led, youth-centered community arts organization TransMedium with friend Claud Bailey.
Its a way of showcasing our joy to other young trans people.
We have to stay visible.
We have to keep telling queer stories, Tovey said.
And the way you do that is through art, and art changes lives.
So we have to do that.
We have to connect as many people as we can.
