Church Camp (short film) Dances with Films Review – to come out, or not to come out, that is the question

Church Camp is showing at Dances with Films on June 27 and is screened in partnership with Outfest.

One of the most significant hurdles any LGBTQ+ young person faces when deciding to come out is where, when, and how. Picking the right moment and delivery can dramatically affect how parents, friends, and relatives respond to your announcement. Josh (Espen Brante) faces that dilemma as we meet him as a camp counsellor at his annual church camp. Josh is bi and has known for a while that it is time to stop hiding. So, Josh is going to put the bi in bible studies as he plans to announce his sexuality via a group prayer session through a single note that is bound to cause some gasps. However, planning and doing are different, and as Josh works up the courage to take the plunge, he isn’t sure his prayer note plan is the best one for him.

For LGBTQ+ young people who carry a strong faith and are part of a church, temple, mosque or synagogue, coming out poses several risks that non-religious young people tend not to face. Due to the persecution many LGBTQ+ people have faced in the past from religious groups and communities, coming out and retaining your faith often feels like an uphill challenge with no clear outcome. Questions like, “Am I going to be disowned by my community?” “How do my feelings fit or jar with my beliefs?” “Can I be LGBTQ+ and hold a strong faith?,” haunt decision-making processes.

Director Andrew Bourne’s delightful short film sees Josh silently weighing up all these questions in his mind as he and his small group of campers navigate the daily rituals and activities camp life offers. As Josh reaches a decision, it all becomes clear that coming out isn’t about everyone else; it’s about him and his needs. And he needs a different approach.

Bourne’s film delicately explores the interface between sexual orientation, identity, faith, and community but also captures the moment Josh transitions from an unsure teen into a young man who will not let anything stand in his way. Here, Church Camp is far more than a mere coming-out tale; it is a window onto one of the most challenging parts of the coming-of-age process: the ability to think and act in your own best interests.