The Gloria! Project (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

The Gloria! Project is a short documentary about Gloria Casarez, a queer Latinx civil rights leader whose organizing shaped Philadelphia’s anti-poverty, HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ advocacy movements. Made over a decade, the film combines personal archives and community voices to examine her public work, historic appointment and enduring legacy.

The Gloria! Project is a 28-minute documentary centered on Gloria Casarez, a queer Latinx civil rights leader whose work left a lasting mark on Philadelphia. The film follows her path from childhood in the city’s “Badlands” to grassroots organizing and public service.

Produced over the course of a decade, the documentary uses personal archives and testimony from members of Casarez’s community to present her approach to activism and the continuing importance of her example.

The Gloria! Project movie details

Story without spoilers

The film traces Gloria Casarez’s development from her childhood in Philadelphia to her work in anti-poverty and HIV/AIDS movements. It also covers her historic appointment as the city’s first Director of LGBT Affairs, placing that achievement within a broader account of grassroots organizing and community advocacy.

Rather than focusing only on official milestones, The Gloria! Project emphasizes Casarez’s “boots on the ground” philosophy: an approach built around breaking down barriers and making sure marginalized people have a place in civic life. Personal archives and community voices help frame how her work continues to inform the fight against erasure.

What to expect

As a short documentary, The Gloria! Project offers a focused portrait rather than an expansive biography. Its subject matter includes queer and Latinx civil rights, Philadelphia community organizing, anti-poverty activism, HIV/AIDS advocacy and LGBTQ+ public policy.

The supplied synopsis points to a blend of archival material and perspectives from people connected to Casarez’s community. Viewers can expect the film to connect her personal history with her public work and to consider how her methods and example remain relevant to marginalized communities.

Cast and creative team

The Gloria! Project is directed by Kelly Burkhardt and Kemar Jewel. No cast or writer credits are supplied; the documentary’s account is described as drawing on personal archives and voices from Gloria Casarez’s community.

Release and production context

The Gloria! Project is a 2026 documentary with a runtime of 28 minutes. It is listed as released on October 3, 2026. The supplied information does not specify a country, spoken language or production company.

Movies Dock view

The Gloria! Project presents Gloria Casarez’s life through the connected stories of her upbringing, organizing and public leadership. Its short format and archival, community-based approach make it a concise record of a Philadelphia activist whose legacy is tied to inclusion, representation and continued resistance to marginalization.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb