Jade Sotomayor
2021I Am the Queen
Henrique Cirne-Lima, Josue Pellot
Ginger Valdez, Julissa Ortiz
In Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood, the Vida/Sida Cacica Pageant brings together members of the Puerto Rican community to celebrate its transgender participants. I Am The Queen follows Bianca, Julissa and Jolizza as they prepare for the pageant under the guidance of Ginger Valdez, an experienced transgender from the neighborhood. These trans women share stories of their transition, their relatives’ varying reactions, and how they find support from within the community. Family dynamics, cultural heritage, and personal identity all play a part in how the contestants face the daily struggle that comes from being true to themselves.
I Am the Queen
Lipstick City
Shea Couleé
Shea Couleé, Kim Chi
A visually sumptuous exploration of the drag persona of model Shea Couleé, this short film will be an arresting display of dance, music, and fashion. When high end fashion model Miss Couleé discovers evidence that her powerful husband, Mr., isn't the faithful man she thought she married, she teams up with her ally Shea to go underground into a glamorous and gritty world run by powerful entrepreneur Chic [Kim Chi] to exact her revenge.
Lipstick City
