The Garden Left Behind is a 2019 drama film directed by Flavio Alves, and starring Michael Madsen, Ed Asner and Carlie Guevara. The story centers around the life of Tina Carrera, a Mexican trans woman, struggling to make a life for herself as an undocumented immigrant in New York City. The film premiered at SXSW in 2019, where it won the Audience Award. The Garden Left Behind became the first independent film to be funded substantially through donations and sales via eBay.

Tina (Carlie Guevara), a 30-year-old transgender woman and her grandmother, Eliana (Miriam Cruz), have been struggling to make a life for themselves in New York since emigrating from Mexico when Tina was only five years old. Left alone to raise her grandchild, Eliana yearns to return to Mexico, while Tina struggles for acceptance as a transgender woman in America. Driving for an illegal taxi operation to save money for her transition, Tina battles the constant anxiety of being undocumented. Despite her trepidation, she meets with Dr. Cleary (Ed Asner), a psychologist, whose attempts to guide her though the process dredge up Tina's resistance and fear. After yet another brutal beating in the transgender community, she emerges as an outspoken advocate, a role that changes everything. When she joins a trans advocacy group, Tina gains courage and dignity, along with a secret admirer, Chris (Anthony Abdo), who works in the neighborhood bodega and longs for a different life as much as Tina does. Underlying this universal story of family, friends and community, is the theme of transphobia and the very real threat of violence toward women like Tina, especially trans woman of color.

Script development began in January 2014 when director Flavio Alves and co-writer John Rotondo delved into the subject of transgender immigrants in New York City, conducting research and interviews while working closely with the local trans community. In addition, Alves and Rotondo worked closely with advocates and health care professionals in order to authentically portray the steps involved in the transition process for transgender individuals.

The Garden Left Behind was selected as one of ten films by IFP to be developed in their 2017 Narrative Lab project. In addition, the film has received support from organizations such as GLAAD, PFLAG, NALIP, New York Foundation for the Arts, New York Council for the Arts, Film Society of Lincoln Center, Trans Filmmakers Project, and Jerome Foundation.

While in pre-production, Alves and his team raised more than $100,000 through a crowdfunding campaign via eBay. The film became the first independent film to be funded substantially through donations and sales via eBay.

In the spring of 2016, newcomer Carlie Guevara was cast in the lead role of Tina. Guevara decided to audition after reading the script and feeling a close connection to the character. She recalls that the script's "powerful, intense and necessary" ending propelled her to audition for her first acting role.

The Garden Left Behind cast transgender actors in all transgender roles as well as Latinx performers in all Latinx roles, and bilingual performers/native Spanish language-speakers in Spanish-speaking roles.

Principal photography began in New York City in September 2016.