In The Midst Of...

In The Midst Of… Love Flourishes (ITMO) is a web-based storytelling series centered on real-life trans-inclusive couples, sharing their love stories in their own words. Filmed over the summer of 2025 with dozens of couples and more than 40 hours of footage, the project launched on Valentine’s Day, 2026. In the first two weeks, the videos went viral, reaching 8.2 million people, with more than 1 million engagements and 31,469 followers or subscribers. It is designed to live primarily on social media, with longer-form episodes hosted on YouTube.

The trans and disabled communities are distinct minority groups, each with their own experiences and priorities. At the same time, there are meaningful areas of overlap between them. Many people within the trans community identify as neurodivergent, and both trans and disabled people often navigate bodies, minds, and lives within systems that routinely fail to provide adequate care, access, and safety. Both communities are also frequently marginalized or left behind by social, medical, and institutional structures. In casting Love Flourishes, the team intentionally sought participants who identify with both the trans and disabled communities and invited them to speak openly about how these experiences intersect in their lives.

At the helm of the project is Kai Tillman, a Portland based trans filmmaker who is passionate about bringing trans joy to the screen... something needed now more than ever. Kai’s short films have been screened at film festivals across the globe, including Locarno Film Festival, Outfest LA, and Frameline Film Festival. Kai has attended in-person workshops and received mentorship from Abbas Kiarostami and Werner Herzog.

Love Flourishes is only the first season of In The Midst Of…. Future seasons addressing a variety of themes will be produced as external funding becomes available. Several potential seasons are currently in the discovery phase.