Tom Murray openly admits to getting a late start in life with filmmaking. Having studied filmmaking in his college years, and long term fan of documentary films, it was only in his “50+” years that he tackled his first feature length work. Inspired by his upbringing on a dairy farm in northern Illinois, “FARM FAMILY...in search of Gay life in rural America” was voted Best Feature Length Documentary at the Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in 2004 and has been acquired by Viacom as part of the initial acquisitions for LOGO TV, the new Gay and Lesbian cable channel. Now a resident of the Gulf coast of Florida, in 2005 Tom completed his second feature, “FISH CAN‘T FLY” which takes a look at the way in which Gay people of faith go about putting their spirituality and sexuality in harmony. He’s currently working to put the finishing touches on the DVD for his third feature documentary titled “ALMOST MYSELF” which takes a look into the world of transgender individuals. The film was inspired after meeting a transgender woman who twenty years after having surgery and living as a woman, is considering a return to life as a man again. The film received several honors including the jury award for "Best Documentary" at the Tampa Intl. Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, and also the audience award for "Favorite Documentary' at the Southwest Film Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in Albuquerque, NM. "TELL" continues the director's tradition of taking a closer look at some of the lesser seen parts of LGBT culture. Conducting interviews with more than 14 LGBT military veterans and their allies, the film is sure to put a human face on the ongoing controversial policy of "don't ask, don't tell" which effects each and every gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person who wants to join the military and serve their country. More recent films by Tom Murray include A PORTABLE TRIBE which takes a look at the world of gay men who gather in non-urban settings including stories of camping, RV life and naturist gatherings. In the Spring of 2009, Tom's latest film AMANCIO...TWO FACES ON A TOMBSTONE premiered at the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival winning honors with the Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary. AMANCIO also won "Best of Festival" at the Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival in November 2009. Tom views his work as a form of activism and is currently in production on a film exploring spirituality in the LGBT community. The film with the working title of QUEERITUALITY is set for completion in late 2010. CONTACT TOM |
