LOS ANGELES — Acclaimed filmmaker Anthony Bawn returns with “ALMOST US,” a queer romantic dramedy set to debut worldwide on WatchVIM on April 17, offering a layered exploration of love, power, and community survival.

Set against the sun-scorched backdrop of Phoenix, Arizona, the film follows Jay, a recovering addict fighting to preserve his late mother’s community center from demolition. His mission becomes increasingly complicated when he develops feelings for Darren, a corporate developer directly tied to the project threatening the space.

Blending sharp humor with emotional depth, “ALMOST US” centers Black queer love while examining broader tensions around class, legacy, and urban transformation. The film positions romance within a larger social framework, where personal desire collides with systemic pressures and questions of belonging.

Director and star Anthony Bawn describes the film as a departure from more traditional queer narratives. “Queer stories aren’t just about identity,” he said. “They’re about power, class, and how the past complicates the future. The film asks: who gets to be free, and what systems quietly decide that?”

Starring Bawn alongside Adri Kennedy, “ALMOST US” aims to expand contemporary queer storytelling by foregrounding community responsibility and generational impact, while maintaining the emotional immediacy of a love story.

The film will launch exclusively on WatchVIM, a subscription-based streaming platform dedicated to showcasing bold and diverse queer voices, beginning April 17.