Panorama: State of Firsts

Featuring a post-film discussion with filmmaker Chase Joynt!

State of Firsts is an all-access documentary following Sarah McBride’s historic run to become the first transgender member of Congress. Throughout her campaign, she navigates the complex terrain between activist and electoral strategies for change, confronting mounting pressure from her constituents. On the night that Sarah wins, so too does Trump, underscoring a nation intensely divided and sending Sarah to an increasingly hostile new workplace. 

About Chase Joynt: 

Chase Joynt is a non-fiction filmmaker and writer who works at the edges of genre. His documentary feature Framing Agnes was named a Best Movie of the Year by The New Yorker after premiering at Sundance where it won two awards. Chase co-directed No Ordinary Man, which was presented at Cannes Docs-in-Progress before premiering at TIFF, and most recently The Nest which premiered at Hot Docs 2025.