Hex the Patriarchy
Sick of being bullied by their classmates, two queer high schoolers Bex and Wren strike back like anyone else would: with witchcraft.
Official Film Festival Selections:
– DisOrient Asian and Pacific Islander American Film Festival
– Outfest Fusion Opening Night Gala
– Wicked Queer: Boston’s LGBTQ+ Film Festival
– NewFilmmakers LA
– Rio LGBTQIA+ Film Festival
– Outfest LA
– FilmPride: Brighton & Hove Pride’s Official Queer Film Festival
– Pinx Film Festival
– PrideFull Fest
– Fargo Moorhead LGBT Film Festival
– Viet Film Fest
– NewFest
– Sydney Women’s International Film Festival
– NewFest GSA Summit with NYC Dept of Education
– Athena Film Festival at the Barnard College
– AoDR Film Festival
– London Lesbian Film Festival
– Sohome Horror Pride
– Soho Horror Film Festival
Awards:
– Best Art Direction / Production Design
– Best Make-Up and Hair Styling
Credits / Collaborators / Cast
CREW:
Heather Muriel Nguyễn (they/them, writer, actor, and producer)
xan Churchwell (they/them, actor and producer)
Anne Brashier (she/they, director and producer)
Catalina Parra (she/her, cinematographer)
Michelle Mao (she/her, executive producer)
Blaine Morris and Catelin Shane (she/her, 1st ADs)
Missy Pawneshing (she/her, 1st AC)
Megan Lau (they/them, gaffer)
Katrina Skender (she/her, production design)
Matt Perez (he/they, boom operator and location sound mixer)
Mel Orpen (she/her, PA)
Ashanta Morris (she/her, make-up artist and hair stylist)
Sam Cota (she/her, make-up artist)
Rachel Lazarus (she/her, witch consultant)
Pablo Langaine (he/him, composer and music supervisor)
Blaine Morris (she/her, editor)
Joseph Cruz (he/him, VFX)
Jax Savage (he/they, post-sound mixer and sound designer)
Catalina Parra (she/her, colorist)
Jaki King (she/her, poster design)
CAST:
Heather Muriel Nguyễn (they/them, Wren)
xan Churchwell (they/them, Bex)
Jerry Ng (he/she/they, Evan)
Ben Ubiñas (he/him, Danny)
Natalia Caraballo (she/her, Charlie)
The story behind the film
Hex the Patriarchy is a heartfelt celebration of loving who you are and inviting everyone around you to embrace themselves. We wanted to explore what it’d be like to have magic in high school, often the most confusing place and time, especially as a young queer and trans child trying to make friends and not understanding why they’re not liked.
Our writer Heather survived childhood with her own best friend, respectively queer and trans before they knew those terms existed. They wished for magic to counter bullies’ hurtful words but also unleash vibrantly queer joy and self-love as the ultimate revenge, because what’s more terrifying to a bully than to see themselves in the ones they try to ostracize? Hex the Patriarchy is a love letter to their younger selves, who didn’t know such an affirming story and world could be theirs.
And, how can you not fall in love with a story about two queer witchy teenagers who try so hard to make friends and care for each other? I adored these characters so much that I could not wait to get them on screen. As someone who came to be brave about my queerness later in life, I wish my teenage self had friends like Bex and Wren. I was honored to work with Heather on their hilarious and loving script, and it was a joy to bring it to life with a talented cast and crew. Here’s to shouting it from the rooftops and chanting it on repeat: being queer is beautiful.
– Anne



FILM DETAILS
Genre: Queer / Fantasy / Coming-of-Age / Comedy
Country: USA
Language: English
Length in minutes: 6
YEAR: 2025