A hybrid of documentary and fiction, "Rukus" is a queer coming of age story set in the liminal spaces of furry conventions, southern punk houses, and virtual worlds. Brett Hanover directs and stars in this layered feature-length investigation - 8 years in the making - into identity and underground subcultures, funneled through a mysterious furry artist named Rukus. After meeting in 2008, Hanover and Rukus establish a long-distance friendship, largely based around a potential artistic collaboration. They share videos, comic book drawings, cook up avant-garde theater presentations, and recreate childhood memories. But their relationship moves in stops and starts, and meanwhile, Hanover turns the camera on himself to dig into his own psyche. Scenes from his life in Memphis, Tennessee uncover struggles with OCD and other hangups, sexual and otherwise, portrayed in intimate detail with a couple female friends. At some point, Hanover leaves home to attend art school in Chicago. And yet, his long-standing fascination with Rukus persists, and the examination continues to expand in increasingly complicated webs. It’s a fascinating piece of avant-garde anthropology, utterly committed to its own wavelength and process. Directed by Brett Hanover. Assistant Directors: Alanna Stewart, Katherine Dohan. Additional Art and Writing: Rukus. Original Music: Brian Saia. Animation: Karolina Glusiec, Ben Holm, Eusong Lee. Starring: (as themselves) Brett Hanover, Rukus, Sable, White Wolf. Alanna Stewart: Robin Rukus (voice): Andrew Gafford. Young Rukus: Dylan Thompson. Carl: Morgan Jon Fox.