DIRECTOR / VFX
ALDEN PETERS
DIRECTOR / VFX

ABOUT
Alden Peters is a queer writer, director, and visual effects artist whose work explores the intersection of queerness and technology.
He created the sci-fi world of FRIENDS OF SOPHIA in a 25-minute short film and a 7-episode series. The film is streaming on DUST after a playing at film festivals in London, New York, Rio de Janeiro, and Antwerp. In 2024 it won the Silver Collision Award for excellence in animation and visual effects.
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The 7-episode series FRIENDS OF SOPHIA: TIDBITS & BYTES uses cutting edge virtual production technology to improve the quality, speed, and resources needed for VFX. It is streaming on YouTube, along with over an hour of behind-the-scenes content breaking down the virtual production workflow.
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The projects star Nana Visitor (STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE), B.J. Minor, Wesley Han, Alexei Sebastian Cifrese, Vishaal Reddy, Janine Hartmann, Chakendra Fennell, and Adrienne Unae.
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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
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Best Short Film, Audience Award
Seattle Queer Film Festival
Friends of Sophia
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Festival Favorite - Short Film
Cinema Diverse: Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Film Festival
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