25 new faces of independent film | A New Film Lab Is Uplifting Emerging Storytellers | Essence | kqed | hold me close, held me tight at sundance, glaad | when the revolution
doesn't come,the guardian | vimeo's creator spotlight | hold me close at sundance | frameline completion fund | 2025 sffilm rainin recipient | we are moving stories |
the philadelphia citizen | pov shorts /chicken & egg - deadline | sffilm | writing downtown residency
LaTajh Simmons-Weaver is a screenwriter, director, and producer from Oakland, CA. They were named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film.
Their work blends humor, imagination, and irony to explore overlooked stories within Black Queer dynamics. They have produced commissioned films for The Guardian, the Museum of African Diaspora, and the San Francisco Queer Arts Foundation. In 2025, Weaver had two films premiere on the festival circuit: Budget Paradise, which debuted at the SFFILM Festival and Hold Me Close, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Weaver also served as Associate Producer on Earth Mama (A24), which premiered at Sundance 2023 and won a BAFTA for Outstanding Debut. A recipient of the SFFILM Rainin Grant, Weaver is currently developing their debut feature, No One Turned Away for Lack of Funds, a dark comedy exploring identity politics and belonging within the Bay Area’s Queer scene.
Contact ~ LaTajhasw@gmail.com