BURBANK, Calif. — The 14th annual Burbank International Film Festival kicks off Sept. 8-11 at the Burbank AMC 16. The four-day festival will begin with an opening night ceremony, featured films, a gala reception and it will include Q&As featuring celebrities and industry professionals.

On Thursday, Sept. 8, one film being shown is “Kevin,” starring Tony Moore and Rique. The film is driven by music, human interaction and emotions without any dialogue.

“The inspiration for the film came from the movie ‘The Artist.’ I was watching it in the theater and I came up with this concept of what if you just told a story through sound and music,” said Moore, who also directed the film.

In the film, Kevin’s encounter with a stranger at a record store leads him on a journey to discover what their new relationship is.

“‘Kevin’ offers viewers a peek into what it is like in the life a Black gay man’s life,” said Moore. “I wanted to tell that story through Kevin’s aspect of what it is like to meet someone and going through all the overthinking. What does this gesture mean? What does it mean that we are spending all this time in the record store?”

Moore wants viewers to walk away having a conversation and their own interpretation of the film. He said one aspect that makes the film, especially Kevin’s character, so relatable is that everyone has been or knows someone who has been in Kevin’s shoes.

Starring alongside him in the film is Rique, who has been featured in commercials for brands like Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Heineken, Facebook, Ford and Old Navy.

“It was a different experience seeing myself on-screen because it just felt different from being in a commercial,” he said.

While Rique plays the character of Alex, he said he identifies more with Kevin’s character.

“I can relate to Kevin’s character. I think a lot of gay men can relate to him because we have all a straight friend or someone that we become infatuated with, and I have definitely have developed feelings for some of my straight counterparts in the past,” he said. 

Like Moore, Rique said he wants the audience to see the film and relate to the story in some way.

“Everyone has a gay friend or someone they know that has been through Kevin’s situation,” he said.

For both men, having their work showcased at the International Burbank Film Festival brings a sense of accomplishment, joy and pride.

“It is going to be a great feeling to know that I accomplished something, that I thought of over a decade ago no longer lives in my head but is actually a reality,” said Moore.

For Rique, he never expected Moore to submit it to film festivals across the country and around the globe.

“I’ve never had a film in a festival. I have never been part of that experience. It’s pretty cool to be recognized for our work,” he said.

“Kevin” was shown at the Freedom International Film Festival in South Carolina and won Best Short and Best Drama. The film was also been featured at the Hollywood Gold Awards and the Paris Awards and at both won Best LGBTQIA shorts.

If you miss your chance to see it in Burbank, there will be another opportunity to see “Kevin” at the Cinema Diverse LGBTQIA Film Festival in Palm Springs.

Tickets to the Burbank International Film Festival at the Burbank AMC 16 are available online, and the price includes entry to the after party. Using the promo code FILMFUN will knock $5 off the ticket price, too.

Tickets to the LGBTQIA Film Festival in Palm Springs on Sept. 16 are also available online.

Looking beyond the film festival circuit, Moore said he is working on developing “Kevin” in to a television series hoping to bring the story to an even bigger audience. 

Watch the trailer for "Kevin" below.