Visiting Filmmakers Series: Daniel Junge with I Was Born This Way

More Information

Daniel Junge is visiting George Mason University for two days. All events are free.

The screening on Monday, Nov 10, is open to the public.

Our host for the screening is Vic Adebusola, Programming and Engagement Manager at George Mason's Center for the Arts. A seasoned arts manager, he is passionate about community engagement, dance education, and access to the arts. See Vic's bio here.

The Class Visit and the Masterclass are open to George Mason students and seating is limited: please see registration links at left

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The film at our screening is open-captioned.

George Mason University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations in its services, programs, and activities. Please make accommodation requests related to a disability by contacting film@gmu.edu at least one week prior to the event.

Monday, November 10, 2025 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM EST
Johnson Center, Cinema

Daniel Junge, co-director and producer of I Was Born This Way, will visit George Mason University for two days.

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When Archbishop Carl Bean sang the 1977 disco hit and gay anthem, “I Was Born This Way,” it was just the start of his mission to create positive change in the world. He went on to found the Minority AIDS Project and the world’s first LGBTQ+ church for people of color.

Co-directed by Daniel Junge and Sam Pollard, I Was Born This Way spans Archbishop Bean's life and legacy, and celebrates his resounding message, “Love is for everyone.” It includes gorgeous archival footage and innovative rotoscope animation, as well as appearances by Lady Gaga, Questlove, Billy Porter, and Dionne Warwick. The documentary premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in June 2025, and went on to screen at DC/Dox Film Festival, Frameline: the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, and Sheffield DocFest in the United Kingdom.

Daniel Junge will be at three events, November 10-11.

Monday, Nov 10, 5pm, Johnson Center Cinema: Screening of and conversation about I Was Born This Way.

Free and open to the public: Register at this link for the movie screening.

Monday, Nov 10, 1:30pm: Class visit

Free and open to all George Mason students. Seats are limited: see this link for information and to register for the class visit.

Tuesday, Nov 11: Masterclass

Daniel will discuss the creation of a scene in I Was Born This Way. Free and open to all George Mason students and alumni. Seats are limited: see this link for information and to register for the Masterclass with Daniel Junge.

Carl Dean Smiling

See film site here.

Daniel Junge is an Oscar-winning and Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker.

His films include the Oscar-winning Saving Face (co-directed with Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy), Being Evel, Iron Ladies of Liberia, Fight Church, A LEGO Brickumentary, Tribeca-winner Chiefs, Oscar-nominee The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner and Oscar-short-listed They Killed Sister Dorothy. Junge also served as showrunner and director on the AMC series, Secret History of Comics, and Netflix's Emmy-nominated Challenger: The Final Flight.

Junge has taught documentary filmmaking at USC, UCLA, Loyola Marymount, and other institutions. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Please see this interview with Daniel and I Was Born This Way co-director Sam Pollard.

And read this interview with Mitch Pond, about the phenomenal rotoscope animation in I Was Born This Way.

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With support from College of Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Visual and Performing Arts; Film and Video Studies; CVPA's Office of Belonging and Inclusive Engagement+; African and African American Studies; English Department; History and Art History; Screen Cultures, University Life; LGTQ+ Resources Center, Office of Alumni Relations, Center for the Arts, and Women and Gender Studies.

#VisitingFilmmakersSeries #FAVS

For more information: contact film@gmu.edu