February 27, 2018

Downtown Springfield’s inaugural Rated SGF film festival announces its first feature film screening: “Saturday Church,” a coming-of-age musical drama written and directed by two-time WGA award nominee Damon Cardisis.

“Saturday Church” stars Luka Kain as 14-year-old Ulysses, a shy and effeminate boy who finds himself coping with new responsibilities as “man of the house” after the death of his father. Living alongside his mother, younger brother and conservative aunt, Ulysses also struggles with questions about his gender identity. Ulysses’ journey takes a turn for the better when he encounters a vibrant transgender community within “Saturday Church,” a program for LGBTQ youth, and learns to love himself for exactly who he is. The film has gathered critical acclaim from major outlets including The New York Times, the L.A. Times and more. The trailer is available here along with additional media courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn films.

“I want people to take away the fact that everybody’s a human being no matter where you come from or what you’re going through,” says Kain. “I want kids who connect with Ulysses [to realize] that they’re not alone, and that if they can’t find comfort in their own family, they can have a found family that’s just as amazing and as loving—because there are people out there who will love every part of you, no matter what you’re feeling or who you are.”

The organizers of Rated SGF are thrilled to host Kain, a rising star with immense potential, for an in-person Q & A session after the screening of “Saturday Church.” The Q & A is offered to holders of Rated SGF all-day passes, which are available for 35 dollars until rates go up this Thursday, March 1.

“We are thrilled to screen“Saturday Church” during the inaugural Rated SGF film festival,” says Rated SGF Events Manager Bethany Bell. “Ulysses’ journey is a classic coming-of-age story told in a new and unexpected way, and we can’t wait to hear Luka’s perspective on the film.”

The inaugural Rated SGF Film Festival is a celebration of exceptional things found in unexpected places. The festival, which takes place at the Historic Fox Theatre on Saturday, March 31, is a collaboration between the Downtown Springfield Association and the Film and Media Association of Springfield. Tickets are now on sale, and the other film screenings will be announced shortly along with the official festival schedule.

Rated SGF is made possible by Hotel Vandivort, Mercy, Moxie Cinema, Headline Productions, Blend Studio and Locke & Stache.

About Rated SGF: Rated SGF celebrates films and artists that challenge our assumptions. Each screening seeks to create an authentic connection, blurring the boundary between storyteller and audience.