The San Francisco Bay Times published an article about QWOCMAP’s 25th anniversary, written by Managing Director T. Kebo Drew, CFRE.

“Why Our Stories Matter More Than Ever: QWOCMAP at 25”
Published June 12, 2025

Read the article: https://sfbaytimes.com/why-our-stories-matter-more-than-ever-qwocmap-at-25/

“Our film festival is unique: it’s completely free, fully accessible, and open to everyone, with ASL interpretation, audio description, open captions, and COVID-conscious protocols. We believe our community deserves good things—including the chance to see ourselves as the complex, powerful people we’ve always been.

Queer and trans stories have survived book burnings and budget cuts, library raids, and legislative attacks. Our dreams will survive what’s coming. When we’re erased from the status quo version of history, we stitch fragments of the past into vibrant new stories. When someone attempts to silence us, we sing louder. When they try to steal our futures, we dream bigger, brighter, bolder.

Come dream with us. All of our lives depend on it.”

Community Funding Models for QTBIPOC Films

Breaking into the film industry is an uphill battle against systemic barriers for LBTQIA+ BIPOC filmmakers. The industry has traditionally been exclusive, with funding models that rely on those who already have access to resources, networks, and privilege. Big studios, private investors, and large grants favor projects that fit a narrow, commercial mold—one that rarely aligns with the authentic stories our communities want to tell.

This reality creates a double bind: filmmakers face misogyny, racism, homophobia, and transphobia that limit access to resources, while the stories they wish to tell are deemed “too niche” or “uncommercial” by mainstream funders. As director Ryan Coogler recently noted, “women are better filmmakers—they just need the opportunity.”* This applies even more acutely to queer cis and trans women of color filmmakers.

In today’s political climate, where LBTQIA+ BIPOC voices face increasing censorship and erasure, community-based funding becomes an essential and direct act of resistance against forces who seek to silence our stories.

Why Traditional Film Funding Fails Our Communities

The film industry has long operated on a “who you know” basis, with key decision-makers remaining overwhelmingly white, cisgender, heterosexual, and male. Even in independent film circles, where artistic expression is supposedly celebrated, limited funding typically flows to those already connected to power and privilege.

For LBTQIA+ BIPOC filmmakers, this creates nearly insurmountable barriers:

• Financial gatekeeping: Aspiring filmmakers are expected to work unpaid or severely underpaid “entry-level” positions to gain experience, options only available to those with financial safety nets
• Knowledge gatekeeping: Critical information about funding, production, and distribution is kept behind paywalls or exclusive industry networks
• Narrative gatekeeping: Stories centering QTBIPOC experiences are frequently rejected as “not relatable to broad audiences” despite evidence showing diverse stories perform well

This reality has become even more pressing with QWOCMAP’s recent loss of $500,000 in awarded funding that would have supported our Critical Juncture program for Black queer and trans filmmakers and QTWork Apprenticeship program. These cuts represent more than lost dollars—they are an attempt to silence our communities by shutting down the programs that nurture our storytellers.

QWOCMAP’s Revolutionary Approach to Funding

Unlike traditional film funding models (or even individual crowdfunding campaigns), QWOCMAP’s programmatic approach directly addresses these systemic barriers through comprehensive support:

Free Knowledge & Training

While most film organizations monetize information, QWOCMAP offers completely free filmmaker training programs. This approach disrupts the industry norm where people must pay (or not get paid) for the privilege of learning.

Our programs include:

• Technical filmmaking skills without financial barriers
• Professional-level equipment access
• Mentorship from established filmmakers

Direct Financial Support

Rather than leaving filmmakers to navigate crowdfunding platforms on their own (which can feel like a popularity contest favoring those already skilled at self-promotion), QWOCMAP provides:

• Direct grants to filmmakers through Critical Juncture
• Budget for meals during production (a critical but often overlooked expense)
• Stipends that value creators’ time and labor

Comprehensive Development Support

The support we provide goes far beyond what any crowdfunding platform could offer:

• Seminars on budgeting and fundraising specifically for QTBIPOC filmmakers
• Personalized feedback on proposals and pitch decks (services that would cost $2,000+ per filmmaker elsewhere)
• Research and resources on grants and funding opportunities
• Connections to community partners and platforms that amplify their work

Recent research by Color Congress confirms what we’ve always known: organizations specifically focused on supporting BIPOC filmmakers (like QWOCMAP) provide the only sustained commitment to these creators, regardless of industry trends or political climate.

While mainstream funders may temporarily increase support for “diversity initiatives” when it’s politically expedient, only community-centered organizations maintain their commitment through changing political landscapes and funding cycles. This is why supporting QWOCMAP directly creates more lasting impact than individual film crowdfunding campaigns.

Become a Producer TODAY

When you join the Producers Circle, you’re directly countering the systemic barriers we’ve described. You’re creating pathways where there were walls.

This isn’t about charity—it’s about collective power and resistance. Your monthly commitment fuels the creative fire of filmmakers who tell the stories mainstream media refuses to touch. You become part of our mycelial network of care and creation that won’t collapse when faced with funding cuts or political backlash.

Your support means:

• Free training remains accessible without economic barriers or gatekeeping
• Filmmakers receive direct funding instead of struggling through crowdfunding campaigns
• Our radical accessibility practices (ASL, captions, audio description) continue to flourish
• Staff receive livable compensation for revolutionary work
• Technical skills and equipment reach the hands that need them most

Join Our 25-Year Legacy of Resistance

For a quarter century, we’ve built what they said couldn’t exist without major institutional funding: 632 filmmakers trained, 507 films completed, the world’s largest collection of films by queer and trans people of color.

Let’s be clear: having $500,000 rescinded has devastated our work this year. The forces working to dismantle support for LBTQIA+ BIPOC arts know precisely what they’re doing.

We didn’t wait for permission to start this work 25 years ago, and we won’t stop now. But we need you with us.

By contributing $50 monthly or $500 annually to the Producers Circle, you become part of our unshakeable legacy. Together, we’ll reach our $75,000 goal by June 30th and ensure our stories continue to shatter stereotypes and ignite change for generations to come.

*Sinners’ Ryan Coogler Shares His Take On Why We Need More Women Filmmakers In Hollywood: ‘Put It On The Record’, May 8, 2025

Why Donors are Vital to QWOCMAP’s Mission

For 25 years, QWOCMAP has been at the forefront of amplifying the voices of queer and trans filmmakers of color. We’ve worked hard to build a community where our stories are not only told but celebrated. And one of the most important ways we’ve been able to continue this work is through the support of the Producers Circle, a special group of donors who make a yearlong commitment to our work starting at $45/month or $500 annually. These incredible individuals have made it possible for us to nurture, train, and uplift 632 LBTQIA+ filmmakers of color who imagine new worlds on-screen and create the kind of worlds we want to see.

So, what exactly is the Producers Circle, and why are they such an essential part of QWOCMAP? Let’s dive in.

What is the Producers Circle?

The Producers Circle is a community of people who are just as passionate as we are about seeing queer and transgender people of color thrive in the film industry. Members of this circle understand the urgency of going beyond mere representation in film, and have committed to making that possible through their support of QWOCMAP programs. Their generous donations directly fund our Filmmaker Training Program, which teaches participants how to tell their stories through film. But it doesn’t stop there. Through their year-long investment, Producers Circle donors also help us provide advanced skills-building opportunities, mentorship, and continued support for filmmakers navigating the often-challenging terrain of the film industry.

Since 2010, the Producers Circle has played a critical role for LBTQIA+ filmmakers of color, sustaining us as we’ve built and sustained careers, ensuring that our voices are heard in an industry that has historically sidelined us.

Why the Producers Circle Matters

If you’ve ever looked at the film industry and wondered why there aren’t more stories about people like us—stories about queer and trans folks of color told by queer and trans folks of color—you’re not alone. The truth is, representation in media has been sorely lacking, and Hollywood has a long history of excluding diverse voices, both on-screen and behind the lens. Most of the time, the stories that do get told about us are filtered through perspectives that don’t reflect our lived experiences. This can lead to harmful stereotypes, erasure, or a lack of authenticity in the stories we see.

But representation goes beyond what’s visible on screen. For queer and trans people of color to be accurately and authentically represented, we need to be the ones behind the camera, too. We need to be the directors, writers, producers, and decision-makers. The challenge? Breaking into the film industry isn’t easy, especially for those of us who don’t fit the traditional mold of who “belongs” in Hollywood.

This is where the Producers Circle steps in. The funding they provide helps us offer essential programs like the Critical Juncture Program, which supports LBTQIA+ filmmakers of color who are at crucial points in their careers. Whether it’s taking that first big step from shorts to feature films, learning how to navigate industry structures, or venturing into new genres, our filmmakers need support to overcome the challenges that too often force them out of the industry before they’ve had a chance to survive. The Producers Circle makes sure they don’t just survive—they thrive.

Beyond Financial Support: Creating Opportunities for Filmmakers

The Producers Circle represents a commitment to changing the industry from the inside out. Every dollar contributed helps to ensure that queer and trans filmmakers of color aren’t just making films—they’re building careers, becoming leaders, and making waves in an industry that isn’t built for us.

Every film that QWOCMAP nurtures is a direct result of Producers Circle support. And because of this, the Producers Circle receives credit on every film produced through our Filmmaker Training Program. A testament to the role they’ve played in bringing these stories to life. It’s a powerful thing to know that, together, we’re changing the face of film.

The Producers Circle: A Driving Force for Lasting Change

The Producers Circle is the fuel that keeps QWOCMAP’s mission alive and growing. Every year, our community of filmmakers expands, and with it, our ability to tell more stories that reflect the rich diversity of LBTQIA+ people lives and dreams. The importance of this work can’t be overstated. These aren’t just films—they are acts of resistance, defiance, and empowerment in a world that often tries to silence us.

Our films don’t just entertain; they challenge, inspire, and create change. By investing in QWOCMAP, Producers Circle members are actively participating in this movement, helping to build a more inclusive film industry and giving LBTQIA+ filmmakers of color the chance to tell our stories authentically. And with their support, we’re not just changing the narrative—we’re creating new ones, over and over again.

Want to Join the Producers Circle?

If you’re feeling inspired to make a difference, we’d love for you to consider joining the Producers Circle. It’s one of the most impactful ways to support our mission, and you’ll directly contribute to the creation of more films by LBTQIA+ filmmakers of color. You’ll help open doors for filmmakers who are pushing boundaries, telling groundbreaking stories, and transforming the way we see the world.

To join or learn more about how you can get involved, please feel free to contact us by phone at (415) 752-0868 or email at info@qwocmap.org. We’re always excited to welcome new members into this incredible community of changemakers.