Vera Drew

Vera Drew
Vera Drew
	Drew in 2019
Born	May 22, 1989 (age 36); Chicago, Illinois, United States
Occupation(s)	Director, writer, editor, actress
Years active	2009–present
Notable work	Who Is America?; Comedy Bang! Bang!; On Cinema at the Cinema; The People's Joker;
	Drew's voice Drew giving an introduction and a plea to be a Hot Topic brand ambassador
Website	https://veradrew.com
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Vera Drew is an American editor, director, writer and actress.^[1] She is best known for her film The People's Joker, which she directed, wrote, produced and starred in.

Early life

Drew was born in Chicago, Illinois.^[2] As a teenager, she studied improv comedy through a Second City youth pilot program.^[1]

Career

Drew has worked in entertainment television since 2009, including work as an editor for On Cinema, Comedy Bang! Bang! and Who Is America?. In 2019, Drew was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the category Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming for her work on the series Who Is America?.^[3]

The crowd-funded film The People's Joker, which was directed by and stars Drew as The Joker, debuted at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.^[4]

Personal life

Drew is a transgender woman and resides in Los Angeles.^[1]

Filmography

Film work
Year	Title	Editor	Director	Other	Notes
2022	The People's Joker	Yes	Yes	Yes	Wrote, starred, and produced
2024	Carnage for Christmas	Yes	No	No	Post-production
2024	Castration Movie	No	No	Yes	Appears as Persephone^[5]

Television work
Year	Title	Editor	Director	Other	Notes
2013	The Birthday Boys	Yes	No	No	1 episode
	Nathan for You	No	No	Yes	Digital imaging technician for 8 episodes
	Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories	No	No	Yes	Digital imaging technician for 1 episode
2013-2016	Comedy Bang! Bang!	Yes	No	Yes	62 episodes, digital imaging technician for 20 episodes
2014	Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule	No	No	Yes	Digital imaging technician for 5 episodes
2017	Joe Mande's Award-Winning Comedy Special	Yes	No	No	TV special
2018	Alone Together	Yes	No	No	4 episodes
2018	Who Is America?	Yes	No	No	7 episodes
2019	KRFT PUNK'S Political Party!	Yes	No	No	TV special
2019	Two Pink Doors	Yes	No	No	—
2020	Beef House	Yes	No	No	1 episode
2020	An Evening with Tim Heidecker	Yes	No	No	TV special
2021	I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson	Yes	No	No	6 episodes

Web series work
Year	Title	Editor	Director	Notes
2017, 2021	On Cinema	Yes	Yes	Edited 10 episodes in 2017, directed 10 episodes in 2021
2018–2019	An Emmy for Megan	Yes	No	12 episodes
2019	Tim and Eric Qu?z Game	No	Yes	6 episodes
	I Love David	No	Yes	6 episodes
	Scum	No	Yes	6 episodes
2021	Rock House	Yes	No	—

Awards and nominations

Accolades
Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref(s)
2019	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming	Who Is America?^[a]	Nominated	^[6]
2023	Chicago International Film Festival	Gold Q-Hugo	The People's Joker	Nominated	^[7]
	L.A. Outfest	Special Mention, North American Narrative Feature		Won^[b]	^[8]
	Oslo/Fusion International Film Festival	Best Feature Narrative		Won	^[9]
	Seattle Queer Film Festival	Best Feature Film		Won	^[10]
2024	Chicago Film Critics Association Awards	Milos Stehlik Award for Breakthrough Filmmaker		Nominated	^[11]
	Gotham Awards	Breakthrough Director		Won	^[12]
	Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards	New Generation Award		Won	^[13]
	Online Film Critics Society Awards	Best Debut Feature		Won	^[14]
	Toronto Film Critics Association Awards	Best First Feature		Nominated	^[15]
2025	Austin Film Critics Association Awards	Best First Film		Nominated	^[16]
	Austin Film Critics Association Awards	Robert R. "Bobby" McCurdy Memorial Breakthrough Artist Award^[c]		Won	^[16]
	Dorian Awards	"We're Wilde About You!" Rising Star of the Year		Nominated	^[17]
	Dorian Awards	LGBTQIA+ Film Trailblazer		Nominated	^[17]
	Independent Spirit Awards	John Cassavetes Award		Nominated	^[18]

Notes

^ Nominated alongside Eric Notarnicola, Roger Nygard, Mark Davies, Matt Davis, and Jeremy Cohen.
^ Shared with Erica Tremblay for Fancy Dance.
^ Shared with Clarence Maclin (Sing Sing), Mikey Madison (Anora), Katy O'Brian (Love Lies Bleeding), and Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge).

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Alter, Rebecca (April 12, 2024). "A Joker by the People, for the People". Vulture. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
^ "The People's Joker". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
^ "The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Announces The 71st Annual Primetime Emmy® Award Nominations". Emmy Online. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
^ Adams, Sam (September 14, 2022). "The Trans Joker Movie Is a Sight to See. Too Bad It Might Never Be Seen Again". Slate. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
^ T, Amber (May 24, 2023). "Exclusive: Meet The Cast Of Louise Weard's New Six Hour Epic". Fangoria. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
^ n.a. "Outstanding Picture Editing For Variety Programming - 2019". Emmys. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
^ Sanders, Kyle (October 23, 2023). "The 59th Annual Chicago International Film Fest -- That's a Wrap!". Ksanders Writes. 107.1 Chirp Radio. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
^ Reynolds, Daniel. "Outfest 2023: And the Winners Are..." Out. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
^ "Oslo/Fusion Jury Award winners 2023". Oslo/Fusion International Film Festival. 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
^ Strangeways, Michael (October 23, 2023). "Seattle Queer Film Festival Wraps Up Live Screenings But Online Festival Continues…Also, The Award Winners!". SeattleGayScene.com. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
^ Haskell, Christopher (December 11, 2024). "Oscars Watch: 2024 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards". Retrieved February 25, 2025.
^ Lewis, Hilary; Kirsten Chuba (December 2, 2024). "2024 Gotham Awards: A Different Man Wins Best Feature as Nickel Boys, Sing Sing Each Take Two". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
^ Richlin, Harrison (December 8, 2024). "Anora Wins Best Picture from Los Angeles Film Critics Association — Winners List". IndieWire. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
^ "2024 Awards (28th Annual)". Online Film Critics Society. January 31, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
^ "Nickel Boys Leads 2024 TFCA Awards Winners". Toronto Film Critics Association. December 15, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
^ ^a ^b Whittaker, Richard (January 6, 2025). "Austin Film Critics Association Picks Anora As Year's Best Film". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
^ ^a ^b "2025 Dorian Film Awards". GALECA. Archived from the original on February 25, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
^ Richlin, Harrison; Alison Foreman (February 22, 2025). "The People's Joker Filmmaker Vera Drew Believes Mainstream Queer Representation Has Gotten 'So Stale'". IndieWire. Retrieved February 26, 2025.

External links

Official website
Vera Drew at IMDb

[6] Nominated alongside Eric Notarnicola, Roger Nygard, Mark Davies, Matt Davis, and Jeremy Cohen.

[9] Shared with Erica Tremblay for Fancy Dance.

[19] Shared with Clarence Maclin (Sing Sing), Mikey Madison (Anora), Katy O'Brian (Love Lies Bleeding), and Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge).

[vulture-1] Alter, Rebecca (April 12, 2024). "A Joker by the People, for the People". Vulture. Retrieved April 14, 2024.

[tiff-2] "The People's Joker". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved September 18, 2022.

[emmy-3] "The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Announces The 71st Annual Primetime Emmy® Award Nominations". Emmy Online. Retrieved May 29, 2020.

[tpj-4] Adams, Sam (September 14, 2022). "The Trans Joker Movie Is a Sight to See. Too Bad It Might Never Be Seen Again". Slate. Retrieved September 14, 2022.

[5] T, Amber (May 24, 2023). "Exclusive: Meet The Cast Of Louise Weard's New Six Hour Epic". Fangoria. Retrieved March 27, 2025.

[2019emmy-7] .a. "Outstanding Picture Editing For Variety Programming - 2019". Emmys. Retrieved April 14, 2024.

[chirp-8] Sanders, Kyle (October 23, 2023). "The 59th Annual Chicago International Film Fest -- That's a Wrap!". Ksanders Writes. 107.1 Chirp Radio. Retrieved April 14, 2024.

[out-10] Reynolds, Daniel. "Outfest 2023: And the Winners Are..." Out. Retrieved April 14, 2024.

[11] "Oslo/Fusion Jury Award winners 2023". Oslo/Fusion International Film Festival. 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2025.

[12] Strangeways, Michael (October 23, 2023). "Seattle Queer Film Festival Wraps Up Live Screenings But Online Festival Continues…Also, The Award Winners!". SeattleGayScene.com. Retrieved February 25, 2025.

[13] Haskell, Christopher (December 11, 2024). "Oscars Watch: 2024 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards". Retrieved February 25, 2025.

[14] Lewis, Hilary; Kirsten Chuba (December 2, 2024). "2024 Gotham Awards: A Different Man Wins Best Feature as Nickel Boys, Sing Sing Each Take Two". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 25, 2025.

[15] Richlin, Harrison (December 8, 2024). "Anora Wins Best Picture from Los Angeles Film Critics Association — Winners List". IndieWire. Retrieved February 26, 2024.

[16] "2024 Awards (28th Annual)". Online Film Critics Society. January 31, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.

[17] "Nickel Boys Leads 2024 TFCA Awards Winners". Toronto Film Critics Association. December 15, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2025.

[Austin_2025-18] Whittaker, Richard (January 6, 2025). "Austin Film Critics Association Picks Anora As Year's Best Film". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved February 26, 2025.

[Dorian_Awards_2025-20] "2025 Dorian Film Awards". GALECA. Archived from the original on February 25, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.

[21] Richlin, Harrison; Alison Foreman (February 22, 2025). "The People's Joker Filmmaker Vera Drew Believes Mainstream Queer Representation Has Gotten 'So Stale'". IndieWire. Retrieved February 26, 2025.

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Vera Drew
Drew in 2019
Born	(1989-05-22) May 22, 1989 (age 36) Chicago, Illinois, United States
Occupation(s)	Director, writer, editor, actress
Years active	2009–present
Notable work	Who Is America? Comedy Bang! Bang! On Cinema at the Cinema The People's Joker
Drew's voice Drew giving an introduction and a plea to be a Hot Topic brand ambassador
Website	https://veradrew.com