Room to Grow premiers at Outfest

by Garrett Pattiani
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Revry Original ROOM TO GROW chronicles the lives and stories of seven LGBTQ+ teens and families in cities across the country, offering an up-close and intimate glimpse into their daily lives as they endeavor to find an identity that fits and a place in their communities.  ROOM TO GROW shows just how important it is for LGBTQ+ teenagers to receive the support they need at home, at school, at church, and in the world to reach their full potential.  Kids grow up fast, and it’s amazing how much these teenagers changed within 12 months.  The Bridging Voices Queer Youth Chorus is a singing group that provides a safe and supportive space for LGBTQ+ youth.  The teens and families of Bridging Voices were the inspiration and catalyst for the beginnings of the documentary we would go on to create with them.  The film includes the enchanting Savannah, featured in the HBO/Live Nation documentary feature BELIEVER. 


Matt Alber, Co-Director / Producer, is a two-time Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter, filmmaker and LGBTQ+ youth educator based in Portland, OR.  Matt’s music has been featured on ABC’s The Fosters and Bones.  He has performed on stages worldwide from Lincoln Center to Tchaikovsky Hall.  In 2015, the U.S. State Department sent Matt to Russia, Hungary, Kosovo, Estonia, Finland, and Sudan as an Artist Diplomat to work with young artists and at-risk youth.  He holds a degree in voice and composition and is the co-founder of Room To Grow Productions, a documentary-focused film studio in Portland, OR.


Jon Garcia, Co-Director / Producer, is an accomplished musician and Emmy-nominated filmmaker currently living in Portland, OR.  He earned a BA in Film Studies from Portland State University.  He has released feature films in varying genres in his short career as a filmmaker, including the cult trilogy THE FALLS, THE FALLS: TESTAMENT OF LOVE, and THE FALLS: COVENANT OF GRACE being the most well known.  The films have screened in film festivals all over the world and have been available on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, iTunes, and many other platforms.  He is also the co-founder of Room To Grow Productions, a documentary-focused film studio in Portland, OR.