A Bird Hit My Window and Now I’m a Lesbian
After a mysterious stranger shows up at Gray’s doorstep holding the corpse of a dead bird, an impromptu funeral changes the way Gray views herself and her lesbian identity.
“A Bird Hit My Window and Now I’m a Lesbian” has played at over 60 film festivals around the world, including Annecy International Animation Film Festival, and Frameline, the world’s largest queer film festival.
A Film by AJ Dubler and Carmela Murphy
AJ and Carmela met at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in a stop motion class. After many late nights in the studio building tiny props and whimsical creatures, they knew they were destined to collaborate. With a shared love of stop motion and lesbians, “A Bird Hit My Window and Now I’m a Lesbian” was born.
They are the recipients of the Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Award, which has provided them with the resources to continue their collaborative relationship and begin production on their next project, “God is a Pelican.”
Cast + Crew
Original Score and Foley
Justin Graff (he/him) is a Midwest-based composer and producer. His catalog of compositions includes concert pieces for large ensembles, experimental works for electronics, and intimate chamber music.
Voice Actor - Gray
Jordan (they/them) is an interdisciplinary ceramicist and sculptor informed by Romantic philosophy, natural mysticism, and a love for the living.
Voice Actor - Fionn
Cecelie (they/them) is a movement-based performance artist, testing bodily limits to explore anti-human endurance on the queer body.
Voice Actor - Alex
Timothy (he/him) is an actor and improviser in Chicago who enjoys making comedy videos.
Awards
Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Award - Frameline
Best Animated/Experimental Short Jury Award - Reeling
Best Animated Short - DC Independent Film Festival
Best Short. Sweet. Film - Short. Sweet. Film Fest.
Best in Show - Wicked Queer
Best of Fest and Best Short Film - SaFFlicks
Best Screenplay, Best Technique, and Best Audio Design for an LGBT Short - All that Moves International Film Festival
1st Place - SAIC Ex Fest
Media
Bay Area Reporter - Funding filmmakers: 2025 Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grant Recipients
Annecy Festival - A Bird Hit My Window and Now I'm a Lesbian // Aj DUBLER , Carmela MURPHY // Interview
Female Gaze: The Film Club - Bonus Episode: Interview with “A Bird Hit My Window and Now I’m a Lesbian” Filmmakers AJ Dubler and Carmela Murphy
American Documentary and Animation Film Festival - AmDocs Interview: Animated film "A Bird Hit My Window and Now I'm a Lesbian" explores identity
Chapstick Magazine - ”A Bird Hit My Window and Now I’m a Lesbian” Get to Know the Artist’s Behind the Film
DCIFF Film Chat Podcast - “A Bird Hit My Window and Now I’m a Lesbian” Directed by AJ Dubler and Carmela Murphy
LesBos Volume #5 - [FILM: “A BIRD HIT MY WINDOW AND NOW I’M A LESBIAN”]
Selections
Abbotsford Film Festival
All that Moves International Film Festival
American Documentary and Animation Film Festival *
Annecy International Animation Film Festival *
Athens International Film + Video Festival *
Atlanta Underground Film Festival
Black Cat Picture Show
Brighton International Animation Film Festival *
British Urban Film Festival *
Brooklyn Film Festival *
Cambridge Film Festival
Camden Queerfest
Carmarthen Bay Film Festival *
Cinema Queer Festival
DC Independent Film Festival
Fabulous Independent Film Festival
Festival Angaelica
Festival MIX Brasil de Cultura de Diversidade
Florence Queer Fest
FOCUS Wales Film Festival in Wrexham *
Frameline49 *
Hamburg International Queer Festival
Image + Nation Festival Film LGBT2SQueer Montreal
Immaginaria International Film Festival
Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival
Indy Film Fest
Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival *
London International Animation Festival
Mansfield Town Film Festival
Mezipatra Queer Film Festival
Midwest Film Fest
McMinnville Short Film Festival
Mecal Pro
Out On Film
OutSouth Queer Film Festival
Oxford Film Festival
Paris International Film Festival
Pink Screens Film Festival
Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation & Technology
Portland Film Festival
Provincetown International Film Festival *
Q Fest Film Festival
Queer Film Festival Utrecht
Reeling Film Festival
Reel Pride LGBTQ+ Film Festival
Roze Filmdagen Film Festival
SaFFlicks
SAIC Ex Fest
San Francisco Frozen Film Festival
Short Com Film and Animation Festival
Short Film Breaks
Short. Sweet. Film Fest.
Southside Film Festival
Spokane International Film Festival
Tampa Bay International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
Tricky Women Tricky Realities
Vilnius Queer Festival “Kreivės”
Wicked Queer: Boston's LGBTQ+ Film Festival