This Short Film Is a Queer Love Letter to Basketball

Directed by Camp Lucky’s Sai Selvarajan, the short film 'We Clap For Airballs' explores the transformative impact of Swish, Chicago’s first QTBIPOC-centered basketball meet-up, highlighting the deep sense of healing and unity it has brought to the community. The film, which is currently enjoying its festival run, premiered in the latest issue of Condé Nast’s THEM magazine and is now available to view on YouTube. Winner of the Best Documentary at the NYU Sports Film Festival and Best Short Doc at the Oak Cliff Film Festival, the next public screening will be at the Uninterrupted Film Festival in July, the Los Angeles-based event focused on the intersection of sports culture and filmmaking hosted in collaboration with Tribeca Enterprises.

"I found Swish on Instagram and followed them for six months,” shares Sai. “Having experience with short documentaries and a passion for basketball, I was drawn to their impeccable vibe. I travelled to Chicago to capture their story, spending a day with Jamiece to understand Swish's origins and its significance to the QTBIPOC community. It was crucial to highlight their voices, and Swish's style and joy naturally began to shine through."

The short film follows the stories of four friends - Jamiece, TBanks, Ishara, and Z - who met on a Chicago basketball court, united by their love for the sport and a craving for community. At the tail-end of the pandemic, their small pickup games quickly grew, leading to the birth of Swish in 2021. The film explores Swish's origins, the players' passion for basketball and the healing connections forged both on and off the court. Swish serves as a brave space, as opposed to a safe space, encouraging continuous education through accountability and the understanding that there is always room for growth.

“Pretty soon, the court was full of queer and trans folks of colour stretching together, shooting hoops, and laughing,” expresses Z. Explaining the meaning behind the film’s title, Ishara adds, “Our number one rule is that we clap for air balls. We clap for showing up. It doesn't matter how many times you clap, clap even if you miss it because you shot the ball. You came out here and showed up. That’s worth clapping for.”

As no stranger to the filmmaking world, Sai has successfully premiered two films at SXSW, winning a Jury Prize and an Audience award. Among his achievements is 'Coup d'état Math,' an animated short film he wrote, edited and directed, focusing on the complex journeys of four immigrants. Additionally, one of his most personal projects, 'The Unlikely Fan' highlights the story of his mother, Gita Selvrajan, and her passion for sport, leading her to become the most unlikely of basketball enthusiasts.