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Sam Feder
they/them

Sam Feder looks toward the left. Sam is transmasc, is white and has a dark brown fade. He's wearing a navy T-shirt and sitting on a leather couch.

Places of practice

Los Angeles, California, United States of America

Images
A solid black documentary film poster with a large bigender symbol at the centre filled with various stills and images from the documentary. In the center of the gender symbol is the film title "Boy I Am: a documentary" in bold white text. At the top of the poster there are three wreaths from official selections from Newfest, Frameline and Outfest. The bottom reads "WMM a Women Make Movies release".
Photograph of Sam Feder seated on a couch looking off to the side with a slight smile. Sam is a white person with short hair and glasses. They are wearing a simple black t-shirt and are sitting in a relaxed leaning position with arms resting on their knees.
Kate Bornstein stands by a railing at the beach on a sunny day, facing the camera with their arms stretched out to their sides catching the breeze. She is a white person with a blonde short bob hairstyle. She is wearing a loose oversized sweater and jeans.
Kate Bornstein laying on a bed using her arms to prop up her upper body to pose for the camera with vibrant facial expression. Kate is a white person with short blonde hair. She is wearing tinted colourful glasses, has brightly coloured fingernails and has colourful tattoos on her legs and arms.
Sam Feder posing on a red carpet in front of a white backdrop with festival sponsor logos. Sam is a white person with short hair and glasses. They are wearing a leather motorcycle jacket on top of a dark shirt.
Sam Feder looking down in a calm and candid photograph. They are dressed in a sleeveless black shirt with a frayed edge, and a long gold necklace around their neck. The background of the photograph is overtaken by a strong wash of overexposed light.
Sam Feder captured with a slight smile, seated against a dark background in a professional studio setting. They are wearing a black and white patterned button up shirt with short rolled sleeves.
Sam Feder photographed while seated and engaged in an interview. Sam is a white person with short hair and glasses. They are wearing a leather motorcycle jacket on top of a dark shirt.
Sam Feder smiles while standing with arms crossed in a casual but confident pose in front of a white wall. Sam is a white person with short dark hair and glasses. They are wearing a short-sleeved, light-colored button-up shirt with a subtle pattern and a wrist watch.
Sam Feder sitting cross-legged on a stage floor and talking to the audience through a microphone during a post-film discussion period. Sam is a white person with short dark hair and glasses. They are wearing a dark jacket and light-colored pants.
Sam Feder and Kate Bornstein on stage. Sam is a white person with short hair and glasses while Kate is a white person with a blond bob, round sunglasses, and wears a beret. Sam looks at Kate who is holding the microphone and facing the audience.
Sam Feder sitting on a panel listening attentively in a well-decorated space. They are seated holding a microphone, and other chairs are partially visible in the frame. Sam is a white person with short dark hair and glasses. They are wearing a leather jacket, a light shirt, and dark pants.
Kate Bornstein and Sam Feder are equipped with microphones and seated on stage after a film screening as they engage with the audience in discussion. Kate, an older white person with an ear-length bob, smiles and listens attentively. She is wearing a long white sleeve top with a black vest on top. Sam, a white person with dark coiffed hair, also engages with the speaker that is off screen. They are wearing a subtle patterned button up shirt with a dark cardigan on top.
Sam Feder smiling while standing at a podium on stage. Sam is a white person with dark coiffed hair and glasses. They are wearing a leather jacket over a dark shirt.
A wide photograph capturing both the audience and panel speakers, Kate Bornstein and Sam Feder. Kate Bornstein, a white person with an ear-length bob, brown hat and round glasses, sits on the panelist's table in an engaging pose while speaking into a microphone towards the audience. Sam Feder, a white person with short, dark coiffed hair and bold glasses, leans comfortably in a chair behind the table while listening to Kate.
Friendly photograph of Kate Bornstein outdoors, standing proudly pointing with both hands to a cinema marquee above her that has her name and film promoted. Kate, a white person with a short light bob, round glasses and a statement hat. She is wearing a stylish long coat, a cross body bag and flared jeans. The picture was taken in the evening and is illuminated by the glowing marquee.
Sam Feder sitting on a brownstone staircase on a street in New York. Sam is a white person with dark coiffed hair and is wearing a dark top. Their face is turned away from the camera.
Full body studio portrait of Marquise, Sam and Amy in a group standing pose. Marquise Vilson, a Black person with dark facial hair and bald head, stands on the left. He has a muscular build and is wearing a black shirt with a dark vest and dark patterned pants. Sam Feder, a white person with dark coiffed hair and glasses, stands in the middle and wears a leather jacket and dark pants. Amy Scholder, a white person with shoulder-length light hair and glasses, stands on the right. She is wearing a dark sweatshirt and dark pants with a gold necklace.
Cropped photo of Sam Feder seated, holding one leg crossed in their lap. Another person is partially visible on the left of the image. They picture is taken indoors in a room with artifacts in the background.
Amy Scholder and Sam Feder on a podium on stage. Amy Scholder, a white person with shoulder length light hair, is speaking into the microphone. She is wearing a leather jacket with a black hoodie underneath. Sam Feder, a white person with dark coiffed hair and glasses, stands beside her and smiles to the audience. They are wearing a leather jacket on top of a dark shirt.
Two screenshots side by side of a Skype video call between Sam Feder and Alex Juhasz using webcameras. Sam Feder, a white person with dark coiffed hair and glasses, sits on the floor in front of a red patterned couch.
Sam Feder and Andrea James posing together for a photograph at a happy hour event taking place indoors in a living room. Sam is a white person with dark coiffed hair, bold glasses. They are wearing a leather jacket with a dark shirt underneath. Andrea James is a white person with shoulder length light hair and dark glasses. They are wearing dark clothing and a purple lanyard.
Candid photo of Sam Feder and Andrea James in a comfortable indoor living room, mid-conversation with an arm around each other. Sam is a white person with dark coiffed hair, bold glasses. They are wearing a leather jacket with a dark shirt underneath. Andrea James is a white person with shoulder length light hair and dark glasses. They are wearing dark clothing and a purple lanyard.
Sam Feder in linked arms with Amy Scholder and another person at a busy bar venue. Sam Feder is a white person with dark coiffed hair and bold glasses. They are wearing a leather jacket on top of a dark shirt and dark pants. Amy Scholder is a white person with wavy blonde shoulder-length hair, wearing a leather jacket. The other person is quite tall, white, with short dark hair and a beard. They wear a dark hoodie over a brown shirt, with a pair of glasses draped around their neck.
Candid photo of Sam Feder speaking into a microphone at the happy hour bar venue. Sam is a white person with dark coiffed hair and bold glasses. They are wearing a leather jacket on top of dark clothing.
Sam Feder photographed on the Sundance red carpet against a press background with various sponsor logos printed. Sam Feder is a white person with dark coiffed hair, bold glasses, and dark clothing.
Candid photograph of Sam Feder and Kate Bornstein sharing a laugh together on stage. Sam Feder, a white person with dark coiffed hair, is wearing a striped shirt and holds a microphone. Kate Bornstein, a white person with a short bob and round glasses, laughs beside them.
Kate Bornstein, a white person with a short bob hairstyle and round glasses, sits to the left of Sam Feder and laughs. Sam Feder, a white person with short coiffed hair, sits with microphone in hand while answering questions after a film screening.
A cinematic landscape poster for the film featuring the title in bold white letters against a blurred background of colorful, out-of-focus lights. Below the title, it reads 'A film by Sam Feder & Amy Scholder' in smaller white text.
Behind the scenes moment of Jen Richards on set being interviewed by Sam Feder off screen. Jen is a white person with light brown shoulder length hair. Sam Feder, a white person with dark grey coiffed hair and glasses, can be seen from the back and out of focus. The set is a spacious and airy white room decorated with sheer curtains and a fluffy white rug.
Behind the scenes photograph of Jazzmun during filming on set. Jazzmun is a Black person with purple-red long coily hair. She has silver jewelry and is wearing an all black suit and tie outfit. The set is a spacious and airy white room decorated with sheer curtains and a fluffy white rug.
Behind the scenes photograph of 18 cast and crew members on set, sitting on apple boxes and standing. Camera gear and backdrops are visible in the background.
Behind the scenes photograph of Sam Feder directing Laverne Cox on set. Sam Feder is a white person with dark grey coiffed hair and glasses. They are wearing dark clothing. Laverne Cox is a Black person with honey blonde long hair. They are wearing dark clothing.
Banner poster containing the film title and director names. The poster background is mostly white except for a slim black bar that has the director names in white text. At the center of the poster is the film title in a large font that is filled with images of prominent trans actors and artists.
Large group photo of 30 cast on a festival red carpet. The colourful backdrop is sprinkled with festival and sponsor logos.
White text on a black background, in a stylish serif font. The text reads: "Kate Bornstein is a Queer & Pleasant Danger."
Kate Bornstein, an older white person with light skin and shoulder-length blonde hair, sits in a red chair in a comfortable home surrounded by books and personal items. She is wearing a tank top and her iconic orange round glasses. Two pugs sit close to her attentively.
Close up joyful portrait of Kate Bornstein, an older white person with light skin and shoulder-length blonde hair. She is wearing a dark hat along with her her iconic colourful round glasses and silver nose and lower lip piercings. The background is soft and blurred red and brown tones. A beam of golden-hour sunlight illuminates Kate's hair.
Still of Kate Bornstein in a decorated living room, excitedly talking to the camera while holding three butterknives between her fingers, which are curled in a fist. Kate is an older white person with light skin and shoulder-length blonde hair. The room has dark walls and golden accents. Behind Kate is a shelf holding several awards and tiaras.
Sam Feder looks toward the left. Sam is transmasc, is white and has a dark brown fade. He's wearing a navy T-shirt and sitting on a leather couch.
Metadata
Biography

Sam Feder is a Peabody Award-nominated film director and writer. Sam created The Netflix Original Documentary, DISCLOSURE (Sundance, 2020), and is currently developing the scripted TV series, WEIMAR with Executive Producers Lilly Wachowski and Bruce Cohen, about trans life in Berlin during the Weimar Republic. Sam is also writing and directing an episode for The Netflix Original animation series, Calling All Superheroes. Sam’s films explore the intersection of visibility and politics along the lines of race, class, and gender and their filmmaking practice models inclusion and equity in the industry. Sam’s films have been programmed by Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, CPH:DOX, MOMA PS-1, The British Film Institute, The Hammer Museum, and in hundreds of film festivals around the world. Sam’s work has been supported by Ford/JustFilms, Fork Films, California Humanities, The Jerome Foundation, Perspective Fund, Threshold, IFP Film Week, Good Pitch USA/Doc Society, MacDowell Colony, and Yaddo artist residency.

Sam Feder. “About.” Accessed April 21, 2023. https://www.samfederfilms.com/about.

Sam Feder is a documentary filmmaker. Cited by Indiewire as one of the "exciting trans filmmakers shaking up Hollywood," Sam's award-winning documentaries center the intersections of race, class, gender, and conflict within the queer and trans community. Sam's current film--Disclosure: Trans Lives On Screen, which is being executive produced by Laverne Cox--examines the images of trans people that permeate popular culture and the ideologies behind them.

“Advisory Board | Transgender Media Portal.” Accessed July 11, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20211218173141/https://www.transgendermediaportal.org/advisory_board.

Sam Feder has created several award-winning documentaries that center the intersections of race, class, sexuality, and conflict within the queer and trans community. Sam seeks to connect transgender struggles and liberation to the context of the present and legacy of the past by showing that our communal history makes our present lives possible. Sam's second feature Kate Bornstein is a Queer & Pleasant Danger was named one of the best LGBT documentaries of 2014 by The Advocate, and cited by IndieWire as one of the must-see films of the 2014.

DISCLOSURE: Documentary by Sam Feder and Amy Scholder. “THE TEAM.” Accessed July 11, 2022. https://www.disclosurethemovie.com/the-team.

Sam Feder is a trans filmmaker whose work explores the visibility of trans lives at the intersections of race, class, sexuality, community conflict and empowerment. Sam's second feature documentary Kate Bornstein is a Queer & Pleasant Danger was named one of the best LGBT documentaries of 2014 by The Advocate, and cited by IndieWire as one of the must-see films of the 2014 festival circuit. Sam's films have won the James Aronson Award for Social Justice Journalism, and multiple international best feature film awards (Beacon Film Fest, Seattle LGBT Film Fest, TranScreen in The Netherlands, Identities in Austria, Gaze in Ireland, TransLations in Seattle). Sam has received national grants, fellowships, and residencies including those from The Jerome Foundation, Frameline Completion Fund, Astraea Foundation for Social Justice, and MacDowell and Yaddo Colony Fellowships. Sam has had screenings and lectures in over twenty countries, at film festivals, museums, galleries, and universities including MoMA PS1, the Hammer Museum, the British Film Institute, Hot Springs Doc Festival, Outfest, Frameline, NewFest, Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. Sam's films are distributed by Women Make Movies, Kanopy, and Frameline.

Vimeo. “Sam Feder.” Accessed July 11, 2022. https://vimeo.com/user3165847.
Filmography
References
Sam Feder and Alexandra Juhasz. “Does Visibility Equal Progress? A Conversation on Trans Activist Media by Sam Feder and Alexandra Juhasz, p. 1.” Jump Cut, Summer 2016. https://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/jc57.2016/-Feder-JuhaszTransActivism/index.html.Reddish, David. “‘Disclosure’ Director Sam Feder on the Complicated History of Trans Representation.” Queerty, February 16, 2020. https://www.queerty.com/disclosure-director-sam-feder-complicated-contradictory-history-trans-representation-20200216.indiewire. “How the ‘Disclosure’ Filmmakers Assembled the First Chronicle of Trans Narratives on Screen,” February 18, 2020. https://www.indiewire.com/2020/02/disclosure-film-trans-representation-1202211913/. Solzman, Danielle. “‘Disclosure’ Confronts Hollywood’s Rocky History of Trans Representation.” Logo TV, January 31, 2020. https://www.logotv.com/news/fpaz1l/disclosure-trans-lives-on-screen-director-sam-feder-on-his-sundance-2020-documentary.Anderson, Tre’vell. “It’s Time for a New Tipping Point for Transgender Folks in Hollywood.” Out, February 18, 2020. https://www.out.com/print/2020/2/18/its-time-new-tipping-point-transgender-folks-hollywood.