Full Breakdown
Vera Drew’s “Trandemic” Wins Transgender Film Center Found Footage Feature Fund
7/7/2026, 12:28:32 AM
Inaugural Award Announcement
On July 2026, the Transgender Film Center announced Vera Drew’s feature “Trandemic” as the first recipient of its Found Footage Feature Fund. The award provides a $25,000 cash grant and a multi-component production support package.
Fund Purpose and Origins
The fund was created to support micro-budget feature filmmaking by transgender creators. Duplass Brothers Productions, a backer, joined the Transgender Film Center and partners in a multi-stage review that narrowed applicants to four finalists.
Principal Participants
Vera Drew, a director, writer, editor and performer, earned a John Cassavetes Award nomination for “The People’s Joker.” The selection panel included Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice, who will mentor Drew. The Transgender Film Center and Duplass Brothers Productions administer the award.
Award Package and Financial Support
The award includes a $25,000 cash grant, a $37,000 post-sound package, 15 days of in-kind post-production services, mentorship, development guidance from Kevin Nicklaus of Sandstone Artists, and festival submission waivers for Fantastic Fest and partners. Each of the three other finalists receives a $1,000 crowdfunding-matching contribution.
Official Statements
Vera Drew said the grant from the Transgender Film Center and Duplass Brothers Productions is an honor and cited Creep franchise’s influence on her found-footage approach. Mark Duplass noted the volume of submissions, the $25k budget threshold, and current momentum for auteur-driven found-footage horror.
Critical Reception
No criticism or opposition to the award or the project was reported in the source material.
Significance for Transgender Filmmakers
The award addresses financing gaps for transgender creators by pairing cash support with mentorship, post-production services, and festival access, encouraging low-budget genre experimentation such as the “cosmic found footage horror-comedy” concept of “Trandemic.”
Upcoming Steps
Production of “Trandemic” will begin under the grant timeline, with post-production services from Aesthetica Post and a distribution offer from Chroma. Festival waivers enable submissions to Fantastic Fest and other partners.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No conflicting reports were identified; all sources agree on the award details and the composition of the support package.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’m so wildly stoked and honored to be receiving this grant from the Trans Film Center and Duplass Brothers Productions,” — Vera Drew, director
- “Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass reinvented the found footage genre with the Creep franchise, so their support means the world to me as I gear up to do the same with my sophomore feature film Trandemic.” — Vera Drew, director
- “There were so many incredible projects submitted to us, I wish we could have picked every one of them,” — Mark Duplass, Duplass Brothers Productions
- “They can now go out, crowdfund it, and bring it to the world at a time when auteur-driven found footage horror is having a real moment.” — Mark Duplass, Duplass Brothers Productions
