Private Project

TRANS_CCS

An intimate take on the life of a transgender woman living in Caracas, Venezuela during the lockdown of 2021. Her name: Angelica Vitanza, who won Miss World Gay 2021.
Her emotional story from boy to girl. Her daily physical transformation. Her thoughts and experiences with hormone intake in a country where there is lots of discrimination, how does she survive?
She lost both of her parents but she is lucky enough to have a 'father' in the community who has supported her. Through her struggles, we learn about the current situation that transgender people face in a country where they’re denied rights. We observe the place she works in, witness the performance of different Drag Queens and their attitudes to the pandemic. We also dive into her relationships with men, and her worries about her future and aspirations.

https://www.instagram.com/angelicavitanzaoficial/

Una mirada íntima de la vida de una mujer transgénero en Caracas, Venezuela, durante el confinamiento de 2021. Su nombre: Angélica Vitanza, quién se coronó como Miss World Gay en el 2021.
Su emotiva historia de niño a niña. Su transformación física diaria. Sus pensamientos y experiencias con la ingesta de hormonas en un país donde hay mucha discriminación, ¿cómo sobrevive?
Perdió a sus padres, pero tiene la suerte de tener un 'padre' en la comunidad que la ha apoyado y guiado.
A través de sus luchas, aprendemos sobre la situación actual que enfrentan las personas transgénero en un país donde se les niegan derechos. Observamos el lugar en el que trabaja, somos testigos del performance de diferentes Drag Queens en medio de la pandemia.
También nos sumergimos en sus relaciones con su sexo, cuerpo, sus relaciones con los hombres y sus preocupaciones sobre su futuro y aspiraciones.

https://www.instagram.com/angelicavitanzaoficial/

  • Maria Millan
    Director
    The Refuge, "Family Pride, Queer Aside", Trans_CCS, The One-Armed Kitesurfer, The Style of Illusion, TV Addict Alienations
  • Maria Millan
    Producer
    https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5202542/
  • Muu Blanco
    Soundtrack
  • Alix Llovera
    Production Assistant
  • Gustavo Lagarde
    Production Assistant
  • Ezequiel Angarita
    Production Assistant
  • Maria Millan
    Film Editor
    Family Pride, Queer Aside
  • Maria Millan
    Executive Producer
    'The Refuge', 'Family Pride, Queer Aside'
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    LGBT, madebywomen, womenstories, latin
  • Runtime:
    20 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    October 8, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
  • Country of Filming:
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    DSLR
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival TIGLFF
    Tampa Bay
    United States
    October 8, 2022
    Worldwide Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Lonely Seal Film Festival
    Boston
    United States
    October 7, 2023
    North East Cost Premiere
    Finalist
  • Bangiff Thai Film Festival
    Bangkok
    Thailand
    October 21, 2022
    South East Asia Premiere
    Official Selection
  • 15th edition Seattle Latino International FIlm Festival
    Seattle
    United States
    October 7, 2023
    North West Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Grrl Haus International Film Festival
    Cambridge
    United States
    October 11, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Tokyo International Short Film Festival
    Tokyo
    Japan
    October 7, 2023
    Asian Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Maria Millan

Maria Millan is a Venezuelan Director/ Writer based in London. An alumna of the Hessen Lab, she showcased her screenplay 'The Hollow Women' at the B3 Biennale in Frankfurt, Germany, in October 2022, which is now a semi-finalist of the Stowe Lab Screenwriting Fellowship 2024.
'The Hollow Women' also got an honourable mention in the PrimeTime Network, UK.

Acknowledged for her talent, Maria was chosen for 'Talent Led: Next Gen' by the Independent Film Trust in London for the 2022/2023 term. Her academic foundation includes a BA Honours in Communications and Media, specialising in Audio-Visual Arts from the Catholic University Andres Bello in Caracas, Venezuela. Furthering her skills, she studied Video Editing techniques at the renowned International Film School in San Antonio de Los Baños, Cuba (EICTV).

Maria's journey in film and TV commenced in the art department, crafting sets for TV ads in Caracas. Relocating to London in 2011, she transitioned into photography, capturing stills for esteemed publications such as Vogue Italia, Cosmopolitan, Fruk Magazine, and more. Demonstrating her diverse capabilities, she led the Production Design for Christopher Granier-Deferre's film "Chop Chop" (2016) and produced the TV series "Las Aventuras de Sifo Diaz."

Her directorial prowess shone in the film ‘The Refuge’ featuring Lujza Richter Hugo and Demi Hannah Scott. The film earned a place in the official selection of The Women’s Film Festival in Seattle and L’Etrange Film Festival in Paris, with Maria receiving an exclusive screening and Q&A at David Lynch's Private Members Club: Silencio. 'The Refuge’ is now on Amazon.

In October 2022, Maria premiered her documentary ‘Trans_CCS' at the 33rd Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. The documentary found recognition in GRRL HAUS, the 8th edition of BANGIFF in Thailand, The Lonely Seal Festival in Boston, the Seattle Latino Film Festival, and the Tokyo International Short Film Festival in 2023.
Recently, Maria completed the feature-length documentary, 'Family Pride, Queer Aside' with a private educational screening at Lakeside School in Seattle and is set to premiere at the Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival this June alongside ‘Trans_CCS’.

Both films premiered in Caracas thanks to the Embassy of the Netherlands in Venezuela. Maria Millan serves as an inspiring example of resilience and perseverance using her work to honour the female gaze.

Maria Millan is a member of Film Fatales http://www.filmfatales.org/directors/mariamillan and
Prime Network https://primetime.network/@mariamillan/

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Transwomen are women.