Director / Writer Dana Ziyasheva Talks About 'Defenders of Life'
Director Dana Ziyasheva made her directorial debut, 'Defenders of Life' which focuses on the Ngäbe community, and the hardships Ngäbe girls faced in Costa Rica.

When ghost hunters Sam and Colby bring twenty of their friends and fellow YouTubers together for their largest paranormal investigation of all time, what begins as a lighthearted adventure slowly morphs into a sinister series of events that lead them to a demonically possessed church.
Director Dana Ziyasheva made her directorial debut, 'Defenders of Life' which focuses on the Ngäbe community, and the hardships Ngäbe girls faced in Costa Rica.
The film, which focuses on an Argentinian family during an intimate birthday dinner, efficiently captures the eccentricities of each character as well as the nuances of their interpersonal dynamics.
Films staring black transgender actresses/actors are few and far between, it’s refreshing to see a demographic represented in film that hardly gets any attention. This is especially important as the Black trans community has been shown in studies to face the highest level of discrimination amongst general trans and non-binary groups. That is why it’s so crucial that we amplify their voices through any way we can, storytelling being a great medium to do so.
In the spirit of Halloween, here's a list of body horror films which can be interpreted as trans allegories.
"Driveways" is a nuanced portrait of an Asian American family, touching on themes of loss, growth, and belonging.