Why we’re psyched for this gay movie inspired by the Indigo Girls

January 9, 2024 Queer Forty Staff 3 min read

Glitter & Doom, Tom Gustafson and Cory Krueckeberg’s fantastical queer romance told with the tunes of the Grammy Award-winning Indigo Girls is headed our way!

Glitter & Doom, which premiered as the Opening Night film at InsideOut Toronto, and has played gala slots at over 50 LGBTQ+ festivals around the world in 2023, has been acquired by Music Box Films. The feature now has a date set for a March 8, 2024 theatrical release in NYC and LA followed by a nationwide rollout and VOD release.

The release of the film comes at a time when Indigo Girls have been enjoying a mid-career resurgence following their beloved song “Closer To Fine” being prominently featured in blockbuster phenomenon, Barbie.

A jukebox musical, Glitter & Doom features 25 reimagined Indigo Girls songs, produced and arranged by Michelle Chamuel (The Voice) including classics “Galileo,” “Get Out The Map,” “World Falls,” and “Power Of Two.” In addition, Indigo Girls wrote and recorded a new original song “What We Wanna Be” for the film, which will be eligible for the Academy Awards 2024-25 Best Original Song.

Here’s a sneak peek:

Glitter & Doom follows the love-at-first-sight journey of a circus dreamer, played by Filipino star Alex Diaz, and struggling musician, played by UK newcomer Alan Cammish. An undeniable spark sets an epic summer romance on its course until the realities of pursuing their dreams threaten to tear them apart. Ming Na-Wen and Missi Pyle co-star as Glitter and Doom’s respective mothers.

The star-studded supporting cast is rounded out by queer talent including: Lea DeLaria, Tig Notaro, Kate Pierson (B-52s), Drag Race alum Peppermint, Broadway star Beth Malone and the Indigo Girls themselves, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers.

“We immediately loved the script for Glitter & Doom and became even more enamored as we watched the film grow and heard the production and arrangements of our songs,” said Indigo Girls’ Emily Saliers. “It’s an honor to be included in this artful and heartfelt story of misfits finding love.”

Amy Ray says the movie features a new Indigo Girls song in the end credits

Of the new song featured in the film’s closing credits, Amy Ray said: “The story of the end credit song was inspired by the film’s characters and by my own experience of peeling off the layers of things I have built over the years to shield me from pain or even my own truth. It is a conversation between Glitter and Doom and their endeavor to find healing through the love they have kindled together. And as importantly, the grace that allows them to live fully as their own selves. Because of Michelle Chamuel’s richly creative and unique approach as the producer of our songs in the film, we were thrilled to be able to bring a new song to fruition with her.”

“We are forever grateful to Amy & Emily for trusting us with their art and indebted to them for the depth and dynamism their music adds to our story,” said Krueckeberg and Gustafson. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Music Box Films to bring our film to a larger audience. We deeply admire their support of independent cinema and proud Glitter & Doom will be a part of their filmography.”

“We are so excited to share this movie with audiences throughout the country,” said Brian Andreotti, head of Acquisitions at Music Box Films. “Tom and Cory have crafted a joyous tribute to the incredible music of the Indigo Girls that is also a celebration of the LGBTQ community and a gorgeously cinematic love story.”