In Advisor Studio sessions, film and television industry professionals share field experiences and insights into their specific areas of craft, including writing, directing and producing for TV and film.
The most unforgettable films don't just tell stories; they bare souls. When filmmakers dig deep into their own experiences, transforming raw personal truth into cinematic magic, something extraordinary happens on screen.
Step into an intimate conversation with Sundance Collab and filmmaker/actor River Gallo about turning their most vulnerable moments into Ponyboi, a groundbreaking feature that blazed through festivals and shattered barriers. After premiering at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, the film won Best U.S. Narrative Feature at NewFest and Best Performance at Torino—marking the first feature written by and starring an out intersex person.
Ponyboi throws you into one intense Valentine's Day in New Jersey, following a young intersex sex worker who must flee the mob when a drug deal spirals out of control, forcing a reckoning with buried truths. It's a crime thriller meets personal odyssey.
From proof-of-concept short film to festival darling, Gallo will pull back the curtain on their creative journey—the risks, the breakthroughs, and what it takes to transform lived experience into compelling cinema. Plus, get your burning questions answered in an exclusive Q&A.
Ponyboi hits select theaters June 27, 2025.
If you would benefit from an accommodation to fully participate in this event, please complete this form, contact us at (435) 776-7790, or email us at accessibility@sundance.org to discuss your specific requests. Every effort will be made to accommodate advance requests; however, requests made within 5 days of the event may not be guaranteed.
Live event registration for Sundance Collab Advisor Studios is free of charge. A recording of this event will be posted to our Video Library the next business day following the event. All registered attendees can watch the recording for two business days after it is posted. After that, on-demand access to the recording can be purchased for $10.
