About

Ash Verwiel (he / they) is a trans & queer filmmaker and editor from the Netherlands, based in Oakland. His first feature documentary edit ASSEMBLY (SXSW Premiere, BFI Flare, Frameline49) has been a worldwide success, with 50+ festival screenings in Fall 2025 alone. His focus on documentary film, often through an experimental lens, mirrors his often reflective personal work.

They received their BA in Cinema from San Francisco State University. SFSU’s Queer Cinema Project supports creators finish production of their LGBTQ+ film through the annual Barbara Hammer Award, which Ash received in 2019. Experimental short doc HEART WHISPERS (2020), which has won various festival awards, voices the struggle to find oneself as a trans person and immigrant from a rural small town.

In May of 2021, Ash was granted the Marcus Culminating Funds by SFSU, towards completion & distribution of UNBOXING (2021), the 2nd chapter of a trilogy finding his identity as a trans person. His work often excavates such topics of rebirth and belonging, as well as in commissioned work and collaborations with other artists. He is currently in production of the 3rd film in his personal film trilogy.