In 2008, 18 year-old, Mexican-American Angie Zapata was found dead in her small apartment in Greely, Colorado. The media quickly reported that she was a typical teenager – she loved using her cell phone, babysitting her nephews and nieces, and listening to music. What was not reported was that Angie was born as Justin. That same year, there were 44 reported murders of transgender persons worldwide and the United States Congress was beginning to debate whether or not to include sexual orientation and gender identity in the federal hate crime law. Angie’s case was the first time the murder of a transgender person was successfully prosecuted under hate crime laws in the United States.

A haunting documentary, PHOTOS OF ANGIE, winner of the Best Documentary Award at the Long Beach Q Film Festival, tells the story of Angie Zapata and her loving family. This film contains footage of the murder trial, and interviews with anti-violence activists and Angie’s family. Divided into five chapters, PHOTOS OF ANGIE shows how Angie’s simple life ended at the hands of a mysterious man whose true nature was finally revealed during the trial.

PHOTOS OF ANGIE is part of the Queer Essentials Collection.