A queer teen endures blood, sweat and tears yes, literally as he stumbles his way toward a prickly path of self-acceptance in Big Boys, writer-director Corey Sherman s stunning debut feature.

The coming-of-age comedy will make its West Coast premiere on Saturday, July 22, at Outfest Los Angeles after well-received spring showings at Londons BFI Flare Festival and the Provincetown International Film Festival .

Sherman, who is based in Los Angeles, drew heavily on his own youthful experiences while writing the Big Boys screenplay. As a result, the movie is imbued with a level of intimacy and charm that feels unusual on the big screen, even for an independent production.

The film follows Jamie (played by Isaac Krasner ), a 14-year-old boy who is excited to join his brother Will (Taj Cross) and cousin Allie (Dora Madison) on a camping trip by a secluded California lake. To Jamies chagrin, Allie invites her new boyfriend, Dan (David Johnson III ), to join the adventure.

Watch a clip from Big Boys below.

At first, Jamie feels intimidated by Dan, who exudes confidence and cocky bravado. Over time, the pair form a heartfelt bond that arouses long-suppressed feelings within Jamie in an endearingly awkward way.

In an interview with HuffPost conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike, Sherman said he hoped to capture the moment [a queer person] comes out to themselves and realizes that they are OK with the thing inside themselves that theyve been resisting for quite some time.

Ive always been curious in exploring the moment in someones life when they push past their isolation and find a sense of belonging, or come into their own sense of self-acceptance, he added. This is the first time Jamie has met someone that hes really let himself fall for in this way, and he sees just how intoxicating and wonderful it can be.

In recent years, a number of films and TV series have examined the experience of being a LGBTQ+ teen or young adult in a world where queer people enjoy advancements such as same-sex marriage, but are nonetheless facing an uphill battle when it comes to full equality.