Transgender communities across California are experiencing a STATE OF EMERGENCY: Hate crimes against our communities are up 20% in California alone.

Since a Day One Executive Order banned federal funds from supporting Trans services of ANY kind, our communities’ fundamental civil liberties, freedom of expression, healthcare and freedom of movement have been under constant, violent attack.

The San Francisco Transgender Film Festival (SFTFF) presents an annual film festival, awards commissions to BIPOC transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) filmmakers, supports and mentors emerging TGNC film festivals, and co-presents other local TGNC arts programs.

Our annual festival takes place at the historic Roxie Theater in San Francisco. To maximize access, our festival offers both in-person and online/on-demand programs. We feature ASL interpretation and open captions at all in-person screenings, and all online films are closed-captioned. All programs are on a $0+ sliding scale with no-one-turned-away-for-lack-of-funds.

Our DREAM Commissions annually award funds to Bay Area TGNC BIPOC filmmakers to support the creation of new work. We stay connected with these filmmakers to support and screen their new works in the months and years that follow.

SFTFF screens and commissions films that offer empowered visions for movement building and social justice, prioritizing our community’s most underrepresented and marginalized artists: BIPOC trans folks, Black trans women/femmes, transgender migrants, disabled TGNC people, youth, and elders.

We support both emerging and established artists, prioritizing grassroots, experimental, or DIY films, since these are the films often made by our community’s most under-resourced. SFTFF only screens work directed by TGNC filmmakers, starring TGNC actors portraying TGNC characters.

Throughout the year, SFTFF provides guest curation for TGNC film programs across the US. SFTFF staff provide curatorial and programmatic mentorship for emerging artists and festivals around the world. SFTFF also supports and co-presents other local TGNC arts programming.