A series of six short documentary films
celebrating LGBTQ love and family
“Thank you for sharing this beautiful story of love and solidarity. Anything is possible when love is at the fore.”
— KIDGLOSS
What Is The Devotion Project?
Antony osso Filmmaker
The Devotion Project is filmmaker Antony Osso’s two-part campaign: a series of short documentaries celebrating the love and commitment of LGBTQ+ couples, and a social media platform focused on amplifying “Good Gay News,” stories of LGBTQ+ people thriving in relationships, politics, sports, the arts and beyond.
The six short documentary portraits that make up The Devotion Project have won 15 awards and screened at 55 film festivals worldwide. They’ve been featured in OUT Magazine and on the Oprah Winfrey Network, and have amassed over a million views on YouTube. Check them out below!
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the films
More Than Ever
John & Bill 54 Years
July 2011
'More than Ever' is a doc portrait of New Yorkers John Hilton and Bill Campbell, a couple who beat the odds through the decades in order to live an incredible 54-year love story. We revisit their time in the military, their trips abroad, and their latest challenge: coping with Parkinson's. Their story of devotion is an inspiration to LGBT people as well as anyone wondering how to make love last.
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Say Only Yes
Paul & Brian 25 Years
January 2012
'The Devotion Project: Say Only Yes' features Brian Cantor and Paul Labrecque, chronicling their meeting in London in 1986, the opening of the hugely successful Paul Labrecque Salons in NYC, and the serious obstacles they overcame on their way to getting married on the day of their 25th anniversary, the very first weekend gay marriage was legal in New York.
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Listen from the Heart
Jaime & Laura 10 Years
April 2012
'Listen from the Heart', the third film in a series, traces the relationship of Laura Fitch and Jaime Jenett, from their initial meeting and love affair, through the birth of their child, a boy with a heart condition who enriches their lives in ways they could never have imagined.
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My Person
Eric & Anne 7 Years
MAy 2012
'My Person' chronicles the lives of Eric and Anne Plemons, who are raising their daughter Jonah in Oakland, CA. Eric, a trans man, met Anne, a queer woman, in Chicago seven years ago—together they describe their romance, marriage, and the birth of their daughter. They also discuss the challenges they face as a trans couple and how they've overcome adversity to become a very traditional non-traditional family.
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Daniel & Vitor 8 Years
Build Your Wings
AUGUST 2012
Daniel Pando and Vitor Braga Lara are a young gay couple who met in Ft. Lauderdale as teenagers and have been together eight years. Instantly relatable to young people, they talk us through the adventure of meeting, moving up to NYC, and their very modern take on long-lasting love, including a very special birthday surprise.
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Foremost in my Mind
Gail & Audrey 14 Years
February 2013
Gail Marquis, an Olympic Medalist (Montreal 1976), met Audrey Smaltz when she was 43 and Smaltz, a former model, was 61. They'd each had other relationships, Marquis with women and Smaltz with men, but until they met it had never 'clicked'. Smaltz, an entrepreneur who works in fashion, didn't miss a beat when telling friends about her new love, and they soon became inseparable. This story will resonate with the "late bloomers" among us as it tracks the course of these women's incredible lives, each rich with accomplishment, and celebrates their love story.
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Freedom To Marry Collaboration
In March 2013, Freedom to Marry, the campaign to win marriage equality nationwide, commissioned us to create shorter edits of three of our films in order to illustrate the importance of marriage equality. Here are the results of our collaboration:
Bonus Material
Check out this video playlist and photos, featuring behind-the-scenes moments and additional material from "Listen from the Heart" and "Foremost in my Mind," as well as a tribute to Bill Campbell from "More Than Ever."
What The Press Has To Say
Gail Marquis, Antony Osso and Audrey Smaltz from "The Devotion Project", photographed alongside filmmaker Chris Mason Johnson by Danielle Levitt for OUT Magazine's OUT100, September 2013
Out100: Audrey Smaltz & Gail Marquis, Antony Osso, Chris Mason Johnson
The Devotion Project: Love In All Its Forms
After 25 Years Together, This Couple's Wedding Vows Will Bring A Tear To Your Eye
This Awesome Lesbian Couple Is Really Psyched About Being Married
A Love Story, Seven Decades In The Making
The Devotion Project: The Love You Save May Be Your Own
To Russia With Love: 'The Devotion Project' Celebrates the Gay Love Putin Wants to Hide
The Vows This Couple Share Are Some of the Most Beautiful I've Ever Heard
This Couple's 17-Year Age Difference Is The Least Interesting Thing About Them
Podcasts & Radio
Typed Out: The PodcasT
episode: My Kind Of Love
November 15, 2012 episode
March 7, 2012 episode
The Dr. Fritz Show
the baub show
april 2, 2013
Q Talk with Joe & Babe
episode #101: the Devotion Project
Festivals & Awards
Newfest NYC 2011 – Best Short Film
Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2012 – Favorite Gay Short Film
Out on Film Atlanta 2012 – Best Male Short
Outfest L.A. 2012 – Outstanding Documentary Short Film
Polarifest/Austin G&L Film Festival 2012 – Best Documentary Short
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Slamdance 2012
Frameline 2012
Out in the Desert: Tucson LGBT Festival 2012
27th Torino GLBT Film Festival 2012
Mezipatra Prague 2012
Pensacola LGBT Festival 2012
Olympia Film Festival 2012
Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Festival London 2013
Wotever Queer Film Festival London 2013
Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2013
Kashish: 4th Annual Mumbai Int'l Queer Film Festival 2013
Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival 2013
La Guarimba International Film Festival 2014, Calabria, Italy
Reel Pride Winnipeg 2014
Salento LGBT Film Festival 2014, Lecce, Italy
Winner – Audience Award
Winner – Jury Award
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Out in the Desert: Tucson LGBT Festival 2012
Pensacola LGBT Festival 2012
Wotever Queer Film Festival London 2013
Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2013
La Guarimba International Film Festival 2014, Calabria, Italy
Reel Pride Winnipeg 2014
Salento LGBT Film Festival 2014, Lecce, Italy
London Lesbian Film Festival Ontario Canada 2013 - Best Documentary
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Frameline 2012
Mezipatra Prague 2012
Polari/Austin G&L Film Festival 2012
Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2012
Pensacola LGBT Festival 2012
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival 2013
Westchester Jewish Film Festival 2013
Wotever Queer Film Festival London 2013
North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival 2013
2013 BUTCH Voices Conference: Film Night, Oakland, CA
Long Island Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2013
Maine Jewish Film Festival 2014
La Guarimba International Film Festival 2014, Calabria, Italy
Reel Pride Winnipeg 2014
Salento LGBT Film Festival 2014, Lecce, Italy
Winner – Jury Award
Winner – Antony Osso
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Greenpoint Film Festival 2012
Polari/Austin G&L Film Festival 2012
Pensacola LGBT Festival 2012
Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2012
Melbourne Queer Film Festival 2013
Wotever Queer Film Festival London 2013
Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Festival London 2013
Boston LGBT Film Festival 2013
Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival 2013
Frameline 2013
Outfest 2013
North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival 2013
Reeling31: The Chicago LGBT Int'l Film Festival 2013
La Guarimba International Film Festival 2014, Calabria, Italy
London Lesbian Film Festival Ontario Canada 2014
29th Torino GLBT FIlm Festival 2014
Gender Bender International Festival 2014, Bologna, Italy
Long Island Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2014
Reel Pride Winnipeg 2014
Salento LGBT Film Festival 2014, Lecce, Italy
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Pensacola LGBT Festival 2012
Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Festival London 2013
Wotever Queer Film Festival London 2013
La Guarimba International Film Festival 2014, Calabria, Italy
Reel Pride Winnipeg 2014
Salento LGBT Film Festival 2014, Lecce, Italy
ImageOut Rochester 2013 — Best Short
Out on Film Atlanta 2013 — Best Female Short
ReelQ Pittsburgh International LGBT Fest 2013 — Best Female Short
Seattle International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2013 — Favorite Lesbian Short
Long Island Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2013 — Favorite Women's Short
Reeling31: The Chicago LGBT Int'l Film Festival 2013 — Best Documentary Short
London Lesbian Film Festival Ontario Canada 2014 - Audience Favorite
ImageOut Rochester 2013 — Honorable Mention — Best Short
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Festival London 2013
Wotever Queer Film Festival London 2013
Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2013
Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival 2013
Boston LGBT Film Festival 2013
Frameline 2013
Outfest 2013
NYC Black Pride 4th Annual Film Festival August 2013
Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival 2013
Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival 2013
Newfest NYC 2013
Fresno Reel Pride 2013
Polari/Austin G&L Film Fest 2013
Pensacola LGBT Film Festival 2013
QCinema Film Fest, Fort Worth TX 2013
Ottawa LGBT Film Festival 2013
Roze Filmdagen: 17th Amsterdam Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2014
Mardi Gras Film Festival Sydney 2014
Outfest Fusion LGBT People of Color Film Festival 2014
Massimadi International Afro-Caribbean LGBT Film Festival Montréal 2014
La Guarimba International Film Festival 2014, Calabria, Italy
Hamburg International Queer Film Festival 2014
Reel Pride Winnipeg 2014
Salento LGBT Film Festival 2014, Lecce, Italy
Identities 2015: Vienna's International Queer Film Festival
Winner – Audience Award
Winner – Jury Award
Achievement in Directing
Long Island Gay and Lesbian Film Festival 2014
Special Screenings
JANUARY 11, 2021, 1:45PM
Ridgefield High School GSA
Film Screening and Talkback: The Devotion Project
Ridgefield, NJ
via Zoom
JULY 8, 2020, 7:30PM
Rutherford Pride Alliance presents
Film Screening: The Devotion Project
Rutherford, NJ
via Zoom
February 11, 2019, 7pm
Love All Ways
presented by Typed Out & The Devotion Project
Center for Remembering & Sharing
123 4th Ave, NYC
May 18, 2017, 7:30pm
SPEKTRUM art_technology_community
Berlin, Germany
DECEMBER 14, 2016, 3PM
West Essex Regional High School GSA
Film Screening and Talkback: The Devotion Project
North Caldwell, NJ
June 17, 2016, 7:30pm
Wotever DIY Film Festival
QTIPOC Short Films
Bernie Grant Arts Centre - Town Hall Approach Road Tottenham Green, London
May 20, 2016, 6:30pm
Giornata contro l'omofobia - tra pellicola e musica
Arci Dalló
Piazza Ugo Dalló 4,
46043 Castiglione delle Stiviere, Italy
February 12, 2016
present Short Film Screening: LOVE+, London
Host A Screening
Nick Pollifrone, Tony Osso, John Hilton, Gail Marquis, Audrey Smaltz, Brian Cantor, and Paul Labrecque for Love All Ways — February 2019
THE FILMS
All six films or any combination thereof are available for screening, either directly from our YouTube channel or projected from Blu-ray or DVD. Total running time for all six is 58 minutes, with each one running between 9 and 10 minutes.
SPEAKERS/Q&A
A talkback or Q&A session after the screening is recommended. Tony Osso, the creator of the series, is based in New York and happy to be part of screening events via Skype or in person when possible. He may even be able to arrange for couples featured in the films to be part of Q&A sessions.
SCREENING THE FILMS
Always work out beforehand what technology you are using, and test the equipment in advance and then again on the day of the event. Having a tech person available to set up and monitor the event is crucial – there are always tweaks or corrections needed at the time of the event. Being prepared is the best way to have a smooth technical experience.
PUBLICITY AND PRESS
You can download stills and our logo from this site when creating publicity for your event; we only ask that you don't alter them in any significant way. Please share the promotional material that you create with us, so that we can confirm that the information is correct and share it on our sites. Here are links to our social media, please include them in your materials:
RECORDING THE EVENT
We encourage you to photograph, video, tweet and otherwise make the event available to as many people as possible – because even if people aren't able to attend, you can still lead them to our sites so they can see the films. We're happy to promote your events through our social media, as well as share photos and video from your event.
SUGGESTED SCREENING FEE
The Devotion Project is a not-for-profit endeavor, created to be accessible for free online. The films were funded through supporter donations, and we rely on continued donations to expand our reach. We ask organizations to pay a screening fee, which covers our expenses and helps to continue our mission.
This fee is negotiable and can be paid online or by check —please email us through the contact form below.
We understand that this fee might inhibit some organizations from screening the films; if this applies to your group, please email us and we can work something out.
Filmmaker Tony Osso with the students of the Gay-Straight Alliance of Fort Lee High School in Fort Lee, New Jersey — January 2013
INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS
If appropriate for your event, we encourage organizations to hold collections at events and/or ask their members to make donations online to support the project. The easiest way to donate is through an online link that we can provide.
Please contact us through the form below with questions and to schedule a screening!
HELP US REACH MORE PEOPLE
The Devotion Project is available for free online, and we created the series with the generous support of our donors. Consider making a tax-deductible donation of any size by contacting us via the form on this page. You will be helping us to continue our mission, expanding the reach of the series domestically and internationally, and presenting the films to LGBTQ+ and educational organizations.
THE DEVOTION PROJECT
Created, Produced and Directed by Antony Osso
A Not-for-Profit Project
Fiscally Sponsored by Fractured Atlas
Portrait Photography by Nephi Niven
Additional Photography by Jessica Miglio and Antony Osso
© Copyright 2011-2023 Antony Osso
Contact the filmmaker
Antony Osso