State of Firsts

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State of Firsts
Directed byChase Joynt
Produced byJenna Kelly, Justin Lacob
StarringSarah McBride
CinematographyMelissa Langer
Edited byChris McNabb
Production
companies
Optimist, XTR, Level Ground
Running time
93 minutes
CountryUnited States of America
LanguageEnglish

State of Firsts is a 2025 documentary film presented by the production companies Optimist., [1] XTR, [2] and Level Ground. [3] The film follows Delaware Representative Sarah McBride’s history-making campaign as the first openly transgender person ever elected to the U.S. Congress. With exclusive behind-the-scenes access, the film captures McBride's fight for equality, dignity, and representation during this time of intensifying political backlash against the transgender community. The film premiered [4] at Tribeca Film Festival on June 11, 2025. The film has yet to release publicly.

Contents

Plot

Director’s Statement

“Trans people have long been at the center of US culture wars, positioned as both red herrings and scapegoats for broader socio-political anxieties and debates. I approached this film understanding that Sarah McBride’s run for Congress would reveal the pressures and contradictions of working within systems destined to, and designed to, fail minoritized communities. State of Firsts is a reckoning with the tensions between establishment and activist strategies of social change, and a summons to consider the possibilities and pitfalls of identity-based organizing. We could not have anticipated the force with which Sarah herself would become the central target of transphobic assaults in the rise of Trump’s second presidency. It is from this intimate position within her campaign that we consider the enduring impact of the personal and political contexts shaping the future of trans life.”

- Chase Joynt

Reception to Film

Following its world premiere in June, State of Firsts was nationally reviewed by sources such as Rolling Stone, [5] The Hollywood Reporter, [6] The Advocate, [7] and People Magazine. [8] McBride and director Chase Joynt also spoke with MSNBC [9] and CBS. [10] The film was included by Parade, Pride.com, Queerty, [11] GLAAD, and YAHOO! News [12] in articles listing “must-see films” to premiere at Tribeca 2025.

Rolling Stone writes, "State of Firsts paints a picture of a woman caught in a tug of war between the laurels of historic achievement, the expectations of both her constituents in Delaware as well as the trans community, and the emotional terror of being a target of the GOP’s anti-trans vitriol.” [5]

The Hollywood Reporter writes, "Whether we’re seeing McBride the person or McBride the politician, McBride the Delaware rep or McBride the trans pioneer, State of Firsts portrays a young person realizing she can’t avoid being all of these things at once — and facing, perhaps for the first time, the idea that she can’t be a perfect representative of everything at all times. That’s more interesting than if State of Firsts were just a love letter." [6]

Festivals

State of Firsts [4] made its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival 2025. It also premiered at DC/DOX Film Festival 2025 [13]

References

  1. ↑ "Optimist". Optimist. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  2. ↑ "XTR - BASED ON A TRUE STORY". XTR. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Level Ground". www.levelground.co. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "State of Firsts | 2025 Tribeca Festival". Tribeca. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Ramirez, Nikki McCann (June 6, 2025). "'I'm More Confident Now': Sarah McBride Reflects on Trans Attacks in Congress". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Fienberg, Daniel (June 9, 2025). "'State of Firsts' Review: Trans Congresswoman Sarah McBride Steps Into the Spotlight for a Doc That's More Than Your Average Political Puff Piece". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Sarah McBride doc to premiere at Tribeca Film Festival". www.advocate.com. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Rep. Sarah McBride Details Unique Bond with AOC Over the 'Spotlight' They've Both Faced in Congress (Exclusive)". People.com. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  9. ↑ "'State of Firsts' chronicles the historic rise of Rep. Sarah McBride". MSNBC.com. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  10. ↑ "At Tribeca Festival 2025, music rules on screen and on stage. Here's a guide to this year's lineup. - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. June 6, 2025. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  11. ↑ Scheetz, Cameron (June 5, 2025). "Closeted footballers, zombie queens & Pat! The 10 must-see LGBTQ+ features at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival". Queerty. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  12. ↑ "'State of Firsts' documentary explores Sarah McBride's historic first months in Congress". Yahoo News. June 4, 2025. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  13. ↑ "State of Firsts". DC/DOX. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
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