Stephen Eyer is a filmmaker and former San Francisco FilmHouse resident.
Stephen and his producing partner, Daneen Akers, received a Pacific Pioneer Emerging Filmmaker Grant for their work on SEVENTH-GAY ADVENTISTS in 2011. The film premiered at the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and was chosen as an official selection at the 2013 Frameline37 San Francisco Int’l LGBT Film Festival, Melbourne Queer Film Festival, Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, Boston LGBT Film Festival, and Kashish Mumbai Int’l Queer Film Festival. It screened at over 60 private screenings across the United States, Canada, and Australia and was broadcast on OUTtv.
As part of the outreach for the film, they also produced ENOUGH ROOM AT THE TABLE and OUTSPOKEN, a 7-part short documentary film series.
Stephen and Daneen also produced and directed LIVING WITH FIBROMYALGIA, which documented Daneen’s personal journey to explore her mother’s mysterious health diagnosis.
Stephen lives in the Asheville, NC area with Daneen and their two daughters.
Experience Level
Language
Work Experience
Education
Qualifications
Industry Experience
Festivals/Awards
Frameline 37 San Francisco Int’l LGBT Film Festival - Official Selection
Boston LGBT Film Festival - Official Selection
Kashish Mumbai Int’l Queer Film Festival - Official Selection
Melbourne Queer Film Festival - Official Selection
Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival - Official Selection
Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival - Official Selection
Southwest Gay & Lesbian Film Festival - Official Selection
Fuller OneTable Film Festival - Official Selection
Queer Spirits Film Festival - Official Selection
Gay Christian Network - Official Screening
Adventist Forum Conference - Official Screening
Synopsis
Faith, identity, and sexuality collide in this raw and moving documentary about the challenges and spiritual journeys of three Seventh-day Adventists who love God and their church and are also gay.
Distribution
SEVENTH-GAY ADVENTISTS is a feature-length documentary produced by Watchfire Films and fiscally sponsored by the San Francisco Film Society. It was broadcast on OUTtv and distributed on iTunes and VHX/Vimeo VOD.
Official Website
Quotes
“This film is, hands down, the best bridge-building film in this genre that I’ve seen.”
— Andrew Marin, author of “Love Is An Orientation”
“The movie, which simply tells stories rather than taking an advocacy stance, is powerful. It can, I believe, do much to make Adventists more compassionate…”
— Dr. William Johnsson, retired editor of “The Adventist Review”
“A beautiful and compelling film…Anyone who has felt their faith and sexuality are in conflict will instantly get this film.”
— Sharon Groves, religion and faith program, Human Rights Campaign
Synopsis
OUTSPOKEN is a seven-part short documentary film series about LGBTQ members of the Seventh-day Adventist church.
Distribution
OUTSPOKEN was produced by Watchfire Films and distributed on Vimeo as part of the outreach for the SEVENTH-GAY ADVENTISTS feature-length documentary.
Official Website
Quotes
“…in a series called “Outspoken” from producer Daneen Akers and director Stephen Eyer that focuses on LGBTQ Seventh-day Adventists. The series is meant to shine a light on people of faith in the margins and to spark dialogue about theological opinions on LGBTQ people.”
— NBC News
“In one of the moments in this film with which many LGBTQ people can identify, the Widmers revealed that they, too, were in a closet, locked in by the conflict between their love for their daughter and their religion. And they haven’t totally left that closet, either.”
— LGBTQ Nation
“In a new video as part of the series Outspoken, by producer/directors Daneen Akers and Stephen Eyer on LGBT Seventh-day Adventists, Pastor Kris and Debbie open up about how they came to accept Teagan’s identity, and what they hope their church will understand about transgender people.”
— Teen Vogue
Synopsis
In 2012, Rev. Gloria was one of thousands of people caught in the middle of the foreclosure crisis. This is her story.
Distribution
Distributed in cooperation with the PICO Network (now PICO California), the largest faith-based community organizing network in California.
Viewers were encouraged to help fight unnecessary foreclosures by taking the Faithful Banking Pledge and moving their money to a more socially responsible bank or credit union.
Synopsis
Ortho-Bionomy® is a gentle, non-forceful bodywork therapy designed to stimulate the body’s self-healing mechanisms by aligning with, rather than fighting against, pain or tension.
Many people have never heard of it.
We worked with the Society of Ortho-Bionomy International® to create a film to introduce the general public to this effective bodywork therapy.
Distribution
Distributed on SOBI’s YouTube and social channels.
Synopsis
Kindred Bravely exists to make early motherhood feel a little less overwhelming and a lot more supported. Trusted by millions of moms since 2015, they design maternity, postpartum, breastfeeding, and baby essentials that feel as great as they function.
This is the story of how it all started.
Distribution
Distributed on Kindred Bravely’s social channels.
Synopsis
Forest Floor Wilderness Programs reconnects youth and adults with the natural world in Asheville, NC. They offer a wide variety of summer camp programs in a vibrant nature-based setting.
Distribution
Distributed on Forest Floor’s social media channels.
Festivals/Awards
Worldfest Houston - Remi Award
Communicator Award – Award of Distinction
National Health Information Award – Gold Award
Synopsis
A daughter explores her mother’s sudden diagnosis of fibromyalgia and sets out on a personal journey to understand what this mysterious illness is about and how to live with it.
Distribution
The film screened privately on Nov. 18, 2006, at the Folino Theater at Chapman University and had its world premiere in San Diego on March 22, 2007, at the Hillcrest Landmark Theatre. It was distributed through Trillusion Media on DVD.
Quotes
““Living with Fibromyalgia” is the first documentary to explore the most intimate feelings and life-altering experiences of seven individuals living with the daily challenges of fibromyalgia. It will make you laugh and cry… a must-see for anyone who is living with or knows someone with fibromyalgia.”
— Lynne Matallana, Founder/President, National Fibromyalgia Association
“I can’t tell you how much viewing the DVD affected me in a positive manner. While watching it, I couldn’t help but think, ‘Hey, they are just like me!’ I think viewing “Living With Fibromyalgia” may have changed my life. Thank you.”
— Kelly Martin, fibromyalgia patient
Synopsis
ENOUGH ROOM AT THE TABLE is a “dialogue film” meant as a resource for viewers of the SEVENTH-GAY ADVENTISTS documentary feature film. It is created to model the sacred space that opens up when we gather to genuinely listen to each other and participate in each other’s lives despite our differences.
This film shows a weekend dialogue of 12 Seventh-day Adventists from around the United States who gather to engage and converse about topics often not discussed (or often discussed without key voices at the table). The group includes pastors, educators, parents, and LGBTQ Adventists, all from differing theological paradigms, experiences, and perspectives.
The participants didn’t know each other before this weekend, but they are committed to open, authentic, and respectful conversation. The deeply honest, sacred, and inspiring dialogue they model is powerful and transformative.
Distribution
ENOUGH ROOM AT THE TABLE was produced by Watchfire Films and fiscally sponsored by the San Francisco Film Society. It was distributed on VHX/Vimeo VOD as part of the outreach for the SEVENTH-GAY ADVENTISTS feature-length documentary.
Official Website
Quotes
“The first duty of love is listening.”
— Paul Tillich
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