The Queer Lens Presents: "Transcending Film, An Evening Celebrating Trans Filmmakers"

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Episode Transcript

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Special edition screening is a night of solidarity and modern
day commemoration honoring the legacy of the 1969 Stonewall
Uprising, A pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQ plus rights.
The Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, SNMVC will host
a special edition screening, Transcending Film, an evening

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celebrating trans film makers, on Saturday, October 11th, 2025.
The event is part of the SNMVC Signature Film series and
mission to protect and preserve the legacy of Stonewall.
This edition of the Queer Lens is curated by Daniela Carter and
Harris Doran and presented in partnership with booking.com and

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New Fest. The screening is dedicated to
honoring the groundbreaking workof trans film makers and
coincides with National Coming Out Day to celebrate authentic
self-expression within the LGBTQplus community.
Transcending Film will feature acompelling selection of short
films that highlight the diversity and artistry within

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the trans cinematic community. These stories are crucial
because they acknowledge the fear many young people and
adults have about coming out, serving as a vital message to
the community that coming out isstill OK and that diverse
experiences are worthy of celebration.
The films recognize these narratives not only as moments

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of trauma but also as stories that create universal
relatability without sensationalism, underscoring the
importance of acknowledging and celebrating these varied
perspectives. Featured short films Find the
Bois Cher che LE Garzon by Paul and Egoismat as Charlie, a young
transgender man is buried under his birth name, Tom, Louise, and

(01:51):
Bebe, his queer friends decide to give him a last faithful
memorial in the place where theyusually met Charlie's childhood
house on the coast. Unfortunately, his brother
Victor had the same idea. Paul and Egoismat graduated with
honors from the Fine Arts Schoolof Paris Surgy.

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Their short films have been selected for various festivals,
winning Best Directing for Autopsy and The Public's Award
for Find the Boy. They are currently writing their
debut feature, Queen of the Dead, a queer zombie film.
Loving Her by day. New Fest alum, A mature trans
woman navigates the complexitiesof a fading memory, delving into

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the intricacies of love and the burgeoning of her evolving
gender identity. New York based,
multidisciplinary, creative, they create still and moving
images informed by their Black and queer lived experience.
Their minimalist, evocative work, which traverses themes of
memory, has been featured in Hulu's Your Attention, Please

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and The Guggenheim. Day has directed for Nike, WNBA
and Spotify, and their latest film, Loving Her, won best short
at the 2025 Bentonville Film Festival.
M&M by Twiggy Poochy Garzon New Fest alum M&M is an exuberant
portrait of chosen sisters Mermaid and Milan 2 emerging

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runway Divas in the drag ballroom community celebrating
their joy, sibling hood and unapologetic personas.
The film explores the power and beauty of being non binary in a
community that prizes gender realness.
Twiggy Poochy Garcone is an activist, creative director and
performance artist. They are the overall overseer of

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the legendary international House of Come to Garcone and Co
Founder of all T No Shade Productions.
Twiggy has collaborated with major brands like Gucci and
Coach and their work is featuredin the award-winning documentary
Kiki and FXS. Pose Not Exactly Strangers by
Ryan Rock's world premiere. A tipsy hookup between a Latin

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trans woman and a rough edged skater boy from her past becomes
a vulnerable deep dive into identity, intimacy and the messy
beauty of post surgical sex, forgiveness and self worth.
Ryan Rocks. She They is a queer Latin trans
non binary director, writer and actor in Las Cruces, NM.

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She Co directs Femme Frontera, an organization supporting
marginalized femme and gender expansive film makers of color
from border regions. Rox recently released her first
feature film, Hidden Flora, and focuses on uplifting queer
voices and building inclusive spaces.
Notes on a Siren by Justice Jamal Jones New Fest alum A

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classic myth with modern themes of Black queerness and trans
identity, Noah's offers a thought provoking narrative on
transformation intertwined with Black and African spirituality,
reframing the story of the sirenand the sailor.
Justice Jamal Jones is a filmmaker and director whose
work spans narrative, documentary, and commercial

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campaigns for brands like Converse and Calvin Klein.
A Sundance Ignite Fellow, Jones is known for the award-winning
short How to Raise a Black Boy and for exploring themes of
memory, ritual, and transformation with poetic,
cinematic precision. They are currently developing
their first feature film, Pink Light by Harrison Brown.

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US Premier. Scott, a transman and ex pro
hockey player, tries to reconnect with hockey, the sport
he left behind, to physically transition.
But after a hit on the ice, a disoriented Scott is pulled to a
moment in his past. A college frat party.
Harrison Brown is a Toronto based filmmaker and author and

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the first out transgender athlete in professional hockey
and WHL. He helped create the first
transgender policy in professional sports and was an
NHL special ambassador. His short film Pink Light
premiered at TIFF. He co-authored Let Us Play Event

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details. Space is limited.
To reserve your seat, RSVP by October 8th, 2025 by emailing
[e-mail] Date Saturday, October 11th, 2025
Location booking.com Theater at the Stonewall National Monument

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Visitor Center, 51 Christopher St., New York, NY 10014 Time
screening 1:00 to 1:00 PM, followed by AQ and A with
Daniella Carter. Screening 2 to 5:00 PM.
Begin with a beverage and bites mixer, followed by AQ and A with
Daniella Carter and the film makers.

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The program's success is a testament to the dedication of
its creators. Below they share their thoughts
on the submissions, the community, and the program's
vision. Daniella Carter, curator, The
Queer Lens Transcending film series I am beyond honored and
thrilled to be Co curating with Harris Doran at the Stonewall

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National Monument Visitor Centerin partnership with New Fest.
This collaboration allows us to shed light on the often
overlooked transgender experiences that are marked by
hardship. These stories celebrate the
humanity of transgender individuals, evoking a wide
range of emotions and honoring not only their resilience but

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also their joy, creativity, and the richness of life.
They remind us that transgender lives are an integral part of
our shared human experience. Harris Doran, Curator, The Queer
Lens this evening showcases trans excellence.
Each of the film makers has a unique voice with something

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remarkable to say. Their films are bold,
challenging, audacious, heartfelt and fresh.
This is the first shorts programof the Queer Lens series and I
am so excited to share these inspired films with our
audiences and Marie Gothard, Co Founder, Stonewall National

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Monument Visitor Center. We are incredibly excited to
bring this program to the Stonewall National Monument
Visitor Center. The overwhelming response with
more than 200 submissions speaksdirectly to the robust and
thriving art of filmmaking within the trans cinematic
community. It is an honor to partner with

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Daniela Harris and New Fest to showcase the work of these
talented, established and emerging film makers in the site
where the fight for full LGBTQ plus equality began.
About Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center The
Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center SNMVC,

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independently owned and operatedby Pride Live and 100% donation
supported, stands as the first LGBTQ plus visitor center within
the National Park Service NPS located at 51 Christopher St.
The SNMVC opened on June 28th, 2024, commemorating the 55th

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anniversary of the historic Stonewall Rebellion, a pivotal
event in the pursuit of full LGBTQ plus equality.
The SNMVC serves as an educational resource, offering
an immersive experience through in person and virtual tours,
lecture series, exhibitions, andvisual arts displays.

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Founded by two queer women of color, Diana Rodriguez and Anne
Marie Gothard, the SNMVC aims toprotect and preserve the
Stonewall legacy, acting as a beacon for future generations.
To learn more, visit www.stonewallvisitorcenter.org.