Pride & Progress: The Unfolding Story of LGBTQ+ Content, from Financing to Distribution
Moderator:
Sav Rodgers, Founder & Executive Director, Transgender Film Center
Panelists:
Kathy Susca, Director of Content and Operations, The Film Collaborative
Frank Jaffe, Founder, Altered Innocence
Ahbra Perry, Vice President, Chroma
Jordan Bastian, Screen Festival Director, SXSW Sydney
Presented by Transgender Film Center
Speakers
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Sav RodgersFounder & Executive Director, Transgender Film CenterOriginally from Kansas, Sav Rodgers is an American filmmaker, writer, film curator, and pop culture documentarian.
Sav’s debut feature Chasing Chasing Amy explores the complicated legacy of Chasing Amy (1997) and its profound impression on his life. In 2018, Sav gave a TED Talk on the subject, appropriately titled, “The rom-com that saved my life.” The film had its World Premiere at the 2023 Tribeca Festival, and played at prestigious festivals including the BFI London Film Festival, Outfest Los Angeles, and the Palm Springs International Festival. Sav was awarded the Cleveland International Film Festival’s DReam Maker Award for pioneering LGBTQ+ filmmakers for his work on the documentary.
Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2024, Sav’s experiences as a queer Midwesterner with a wild imagination have spurred the writing of scripts that center on highly specific, surprising stories about LGTBQ+ people. His screenplays have been recognized by GLAAD, Outfest, ScreenCraft, among others. He has scripted projects in development with Elliot Page’s PAGEBOY Productions and Lilly Wachowski’s Anarchists United.
Sav is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Transgender Film Center, a nonprofit organization that helps trans creators bring finished films to audiences around the world. In 2024, the organization awarded $100K in funding to trans storytellers and is on track to grant $195K to trans artists in need in 2025. Additionally, in 2025, Sav and the Transgender Film Center were awarded SXSW’s Community Service Award for Film & TV.
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Kathy SuscaDirector of Content and Operations, The Film CollaborativeKathy coordinates operations for TFC’s festival and non-theatrical distribution program, spearheading TFC’s 2020 transition to virtual festivals, and served as the editor of How Not to Sign a Film Contract: Know What You’re Saying Yes To.
Kathy was the founding Director of Operations for the diversity initiative the Jane Bolin Project and consulted on the joint USC/Shoah Foundation film-based project Teaching Genocide Through Media.
She earned her Master’s in Cinema Studies from New York University.
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Frank JaffeFounder, Altered InnocenceFrank Jaffe is the founder of Altered Innocence, an LGBTQ and Coming-of-Age focused film distributor shining a light on young artists and transgressive pieces of arthouse cinema from around the world. Films released have included Vera Drew’s The People’s Joker, Yann Gonzalez’s Knife+Heart, Gaspar Noé’s Irreversible, and Iván Zulueta’s Arrebato (Rapture). Previous workplaces include Strand Releasing and Outfest Los Angeles. Passions include tacos, boys, and a good book.
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Ahbra PerryVice President, ChromaFormerly of Alamo Drafthouse and Giant Pictures, Ahbra Perry joined Narrative Distribution as Vice President to run Chroma. Chroma is a US-based film and TV distribution label launched in 2025 to champion bold, independent voices in science fiction and horror. Ahbra also works for Fantastic Fest, where she programs Burnt Ends and the Fantastic Pitches, a first-of-its-kind micro-budget funding competition.
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Jordan BastianScreen Festival Director for SXSW SydneyJordan Bastian is the Screen Festival Director for SXSW Sydney, where she leads programming and industry engagement across film, television, and immersive storytelling. With almost two decades in exhibition, distribution, and festivals, she has worked with Palace Cinemas, Moving Story Entertainment, and Arcadia. Jordan focuses on connecting filmmakers, distributors, and audiences, championing bold ideas and distinctive voices. At SXSW Sydney, she builds a platform that celebrates creativity and encourages collaboration across the global screen industry.