ALDEN PETERS
WRITER/DIRECTOR/VFX
ABOUT
Alden Peters is a queer writer, director, and visual effects artist whose work explores the intersection of queerness and technology.
FRIENDS OF SOPHIA, an independent science fiction pilot based on queer history starring Nana Visitor (STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE), is an expansion of his 2021 proof-of-concept short film which won directing, acting, and production design awards during its film festival run. FRIENDS OF SOPHIA premiered at BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival in March 2024 and is currently playing at film festivals around the world.
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In 2020, Alden created the queer pop culture podcast SHUT UP EVAN with columnist Evan Ross Katz, co-hosting the first season. The podcast explores “gay sh*t and internet culture” and includes guests such as Jennifer Coolidge, Rose McGowan, Zachary Quinto, and many more.
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In 2018, Alden directed FEMME, a heartfelt short comedy about navigating dating apps as an effeminate gay man. FEMME took the world by storm at over 40 film festivals worldwide, picking up awards along the way. FEMME stars Corey Camperchioli and Stephanie Hsu (EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE), and is executive produced by Emmy and Golden Globe winner Rachel Brosnahan (THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL). It was Revry’s most-streamed short film for two years in a row.
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In 2016, Alden’s documentary feature COMING OUT, a deeply personal film about coming out of the closet in the age of the internet, was acquired by Wolfe Releasing after winning multiple audience and grand jury awards on its international film festival run.
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Alden has co-created and edited shows such as WTF AMERICA at The Recount, BETWEEN THE LINES at HuffPost, and BODY HACKS at Mic.
Alden's writing has appeared in Hello Mr. and The Daily Beast. His photography has appeared in GAYLETTER, and his film work has been featured in NBC Out, Out Magazine, NPR, BuzzFeed, and many more. He has spoken around the world about filmmaking, crowdfunding, and telling queer stories.
Alden is a graduate of the Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film & Television at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his husband and two cats.
He loves sci-fi films with aliens and/or robots.
AWARDS
2024
Silver Winner
Collision Awards
Film - Fantasy & Sci-Fi
Friends of Sophia
2018
Webby Winner + People's Voice, Online Film & Video
Lighting Black Faces in HBO's "Insecure"
Best Comedy
Out Web Fest
Femme: The Film
Best Coming of Age Short, Audience Award
Wicked Queer Film Festival
Femme: The Film
2016
Grand Jury Award, Best Documentary
Milan International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
Coming Out
Jury Prize - Special Mention, Best Documentary
Queer Lisboa - Festival Internacional de Cinema Queer
Coming Out
2015
Best Documentary - Audience Choice
DOCUTAH International Documentary Film Festival
Coming Out
Best Documentary - Runner Up, Audience Choice
MiFo Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
Coming Out
PRESS
2024
Variety NewFest’s 2024 Slate
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2022
Film Pin Society Alden Peters: Representation Should Be Unapologetic
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2021
Certain Point of View Podcast Ep. #172 - Alden Peters
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NYC Video Podcast NYC Director Alden Peters on the Struggles of Short Films and Queer Cinema
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​2019
Advocate An Effeminate Gay Man Searches for Love, Sex in 'Femme'​
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​2018
Deadline Rachel Brosnahan To Executive Produce Series Adaptation Of ‘Femme’ Short
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The New Current Alden Peters Interview about 'Femme'
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Out Gender Performance Stigma Gets the Romcom Treatment in 'Femme'
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2017​​
Attitude UK The hottest gay films at BFI Flare this month
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2016
NBC News Filmmaker Documents His 'Coming Out' Journey​​
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Bleep Mag Alden Peters puts his story at the center of his ‘Coming Out’ doc
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Out In SA Filmmaker Alden Peters Shares His Coming Out Story in Intimate Documentary
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Winston-Salem Journal Director Wanted to Show a Positive Story of 'Coming Out'
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2015
The Daily Beast ‘Coming Out’: Why I Chose to Film My Emotional Coming Out Journey
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2014
​GAYLETTER Black Lives Matter: Millions March NYC Protest
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​2011
NPR Urban Legend: NYC Bookseller Has Held Same Parking Spot For 11 Years​
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