Evan Ever After
This short documentary explores the journey of Florida’s first transgender Homecoming Queen, Evan Bialosuknia, and her confidence and impact on youth faced with discrimination from Florida’s newly signed “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Interview with Directors/Producers Ariel Mahler and Radha Mehta
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
ARIEL: We were immediately so inspired by Evan, an out trans woman, winning homecoming queen! When I was in high school, I was deeply closeted, and would never have been able to imagine something like this happening. So the fact that Evan was not only able to be out, but that she received enough support from her peers to be elected homecoming queen, was mind-blowing in the best way. We wanted to understand more about the factors that led to Evan’s crowning, the effect it had on her community, and to increase visibility for her incredible journey.
RADHA: I felt Evan’s win at Homecoming in my hometown as the first trans person to do so was so compelling of a story within a state where divisive politics are rarely ever in favor of supporting the LGBTQ+ community. I was also curious to learn about Evan’s family dynamics and backstory on receiving the love and support she has from her family. Right out the gate, I felt this story, and particularly Evan’s self-confidence could be inspiring to LGBTQ+ youth as they navigate their own journey of self-expression.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
RADHA: If you’re ever curious about what a supportive family could look like while someone navigates their own gender identity and self-expression, then this is it. It’s a mother/daughter love story, and despite conflicting politics, love and acceptance are the heart of what we believe to be an entertaining film.
ARIEL: Evan Ever After is a touching, at times comedic, personal window into a trans person’s life, story, and community. If you want to be entertained by a fabulously iconic young woman, and in the process learn the value of self-confidence and unconditional love, then this story is for you.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
ARIEL: The most tangible theme in Evan Ever After is about how self-confidence can be a powerfully transformative tool for change. Part of why Evan’s transition was so deeply embraced and celebrated by her community was because of her unapologetic, “this is who I am” attitude. Evan never asked permission from her peers to be who she is, she boldly and proudly walks down the halls of Olympia High School as her proud, fierce, trans self. This theme goes beyond relevance to trans and queer people, it is absolutely a universal theme. I don't know anyone who doesn't struggle with self-confidence in some way. I hope that seeing Evan's story inspires queer and non-queer people alike to own their power and their brilliance. We should never feel like we have to ask permission to simply be who we are, and Evan shows us practical ways that we can do that.
RADHA: I feel that deeply personal themes are what makes them universal. The theme of love and acceptance is prevalent throughout this film. Evan has an undeniable confidence and love for herself, and through the love of her mother and family, she’s able to truly be the person she’d known herself to be all her life and hence, tap into her full potential.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
RADHA: Ariel and I knew a general idea of a story we wanted to capture when filming this documentary, mainly centered around Evan’s confidence. But we didn’t “find” the story until we started editing with our incredible editor Ji Ye Won. We had so much footage that the story could’ve easily been a feature, but once we started pinning down a narrative and character arc, we eventually landed on the version you see now. We shot most all our footage before the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill was signed, so it was only in post-production that we decided to include that mention and eventually film a follow-up with Evan and Marnie on that aftermath. That bill helped make our film relevant to today, giving clarity to our thesis on why self-confidence and this mentality of just owning it matters.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
ARIEL: The reception we've gotten has been amazing so far! We've already won three Awards with the film: The Audience Award for Best Florida Short at the Florida Film Festival, and Jury Awards for Best Documentary Short at OutonFilm Atlanta, and Stamped in Pensacola. But beyond the awards, the most moving feedback we receive is from people who were personally touched by the film. after our Outfest screening, a mother came up to us in tears, saying that her trans child was in the audience and was incredibly moved by the film and that she was so grateful that we were telling Evan's story so unapologetically. Stories like this, of how the film personally impacts trans young people and those who love them, are what this is all about for us.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
RADHA: The positive feedback has surprised us. We set out to make this little documentary on a compelling participant with no expectations on how far it would go, so we were pleasantly surprised at how well received it is by way of getting invited to screen at so many film festivals and winning awards.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We simply want people to see a positive story on the topic, and perhaps have some empathy for the many who struggle to come out or are not as supported as Evan has been.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
RADHA: We’d love for a distributor to pick this film up so that it can be widely seen!
ARIEL: We’re also looking to screen Evan Ever After at festivals across the country and the world, so we’d love to meet any festival directors who are interested in programming us. Finally, we have long-term ambitions of expanding Evan Ever After into a longer work, either a feature documentary or a docu-series. We’d love to hear from any collaborators who’d be interested in helping that dream come to life.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
ARIEL: I hope that trans young people see this film and are able to identify a possibility of how they could live their lives. There is such a dearth of meaningful, nuanced trans representation in the media. Oftentimes the trans films we do see are laden with trauma; stories where being trans is the sole conflict of the film. I know that if I had seen this film or heard about Evan's story when I was in high school, my life might have gone much differently… I may have been able to fully embrace who I was a lot sooner. So if there are any trans people out there who are struggling with self-acceptance, self-love, and finding community, I hope that this film inspires them and shows them a way forward.
I also hope that non-trans people watch this film as well, especially those who have trans loved ones in their life. Parents, teachers, siblings, and friends. The way the community around Evan, especially her parents, have embraced and celebrated her identity should be inspiring to others out there who have a trans young person in their life. And it wasn't always easy! Marnie, Evan's mother, shares about her own journey toward accepting her daughter, and the challenges she still faces. I hope that by getting to know Evan and her incredible family, audiences will be able to understand what it can look like to love and support trans young people, and the kind of powerful impact that it can have on the entire family dynamic.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
ARIEL: How does getting to know a trans person’s specific story change your perception of the trans community? If you’re struggling to accept or understand a trans person in your life, what are the barriers you’re facing toward celebrating them, and what would it take for those barriers to dissolve? What will it take for us as a society to create a more loving and just world for trans young people?
RADHA: How hard can it be to love and support your child irrespective of the way in which they choose to express themselves?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
RADHA: I’m working on 2 other short films, both stories within my South Asian diaspora. One touches on LGBTQ+ acceptance within the Muslim religion, and the other touches on acceptance of disability within our South Asian culture. I’m also developing my feature script Betee Ma (“Mother Daughter” in Hindi) with hopes to get accepted into Labs for guidance and support throughout its development.
ARIEL: I’m about to be finished with my AFI thesis film, Re-Entry, which is a narrative short film about a trans NASA scientist who’s forced to come to terms with her haunting past. I’m also developing a feature film script, Sea Legs, which is a comedic trans reimagining of a mermaid mythology.
We also have to shout out our phenomenal cinematographer, Leo Behrens, who has just won the Student Academy Award in the experimental category for his 35mm short film, Skin, and will have its US Premiere at AFI Fest. We’re so proud to have Leo on the team, and cannot wait to see where Skin goes from here.
Interview: November 2023
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Evan Ever After
This short documentary explores the journey of Florida’s first transgender Homecoming Queen, Evan Bialosuknia, and her confidence and impact on youth faced with discrimination from Florida’s newly signed “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Length: 14:43
Director: Ariel Mahler and Radha Mehta
Producer: Ariel Mahler and Radha Mehta
About the writer, director and producer:
ARIEL MAHLER is an award-winning LA-based filmmaker. Mahler’s AFI thesis film, Re-Entry, won the Alfred P. Sloan grant. Her short documentary, Evan Ever After, won an Audience Award at the Florida Film Festival and a Jury Award at OutOnFilm Atlanta. Mahler placed as a two-time finalist for Newfest’s New Voices Grant and a second-rounder in the Sundance Development Track. Mahler is driven to tell trans stories about misfits seeking authenticity through genuine connection.
RADHA MEHTA is an award-winning director/writer/producer based in Los Angeles. She’s compelled by themes of motherhood, disability, and womxn empowerment. She’s an Entertainment Fellow of RespectAbility, Sundance Feature Film Development Track 2024 Round 2 Finalist, Netflix / Tasveer Film Fund 2023 Finalist, WrapWomen/STARZ/Lionsgate "Telling Our Stories" Competition Finalist, and a short doc she Co-Directed, Evan Ever After is a Jury Award Winner at OutOnFilm and Audience Award Winner at Florida Film Festival.
Key cast: Evan Bialosuknia (herself), Marnie Bialosuknia (herself), Lex Berry (herself), Matt Bialosuknia (himself), Delaney Ocock (herself)
Looking for: distributors, sales agents, film festival directors, producers, buyers, journalists
Instagram: @evaneverafterdoc
Hashtags used: #queerfilm #transfilm #transonset #transdocumentary #lgbtqia #queerdocumentary #homecomingqueen #documentary
Funders: Self-funded
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Seattle Queer Film Festival/ Seattle, WA - October 15, 2023
NewFest/ New York, NY - October 19, 2023