RuPaul’s Drag Race judge and Drew Barrymore talk show co-host Ross Matthews has joined the short film Poreless as an executive producer.
Directed by Haris Dolan, who co-wrote the screenplay with Fauzia Mirza, Poares stars Akbar Hamid as Akram. Akram is a brilliant queer Muslim beauty entrepreneur who must find a way to compete in a Shark Tank-like product pitch competition after suffering an untimely allergic reaction. The film’s official synopsis reads: “At its core, ‘Poreless’ is a story about the tension between how the world wants us to look and the liberation of being who we are.” “Through comedy, this film reframes the queer Muslim experience as both deeply personal and deeply universal.”
After its premiere at the Tribeca Festival, Poreless screened at over 20 festivals including Frameline, Inside Out, Bentonville, Woodstock, Newfest, Indie Shorts, and Aspen Shortsfest. The Oscar-winning film was acquired by Switchboard Magazine and is currently being shown through their YouTube channel.
“When I was growing up, there weren’t many social mirrors in our community. There were few LGBTQ+ stories and very few that fully reflected who we were,” Matthews said in a statement Wednesday. “While we are fortunate to have more work available today, we still need to peel back the layers and tell stories that show every part of our community in its complexity. ‘Poreless’ does that. I’m honored to help champion films that are bold, fun, upbeat, and deeply human and expand the possibilities of expression.”
Hamid, who is also a producer on the film, said: “I have followed Ross’s journey for years and his joy, visibility and honesty are a huge inspiration, especially to someone like me who is thinking about what it means to be gay and Muslim. ‘Poreless’ was a reclamation of my identity and a reminder that I don’t have to choose between different parts of myself, and having Ross join us feels like an affirmation of that truth and a celebration of so many stories.” Our community sustains it. ”
