ABOUT THE FILM
Maya, a successful Senior Crown Prosecutor and trans woman, must persuade a young trans victim to testify against her violent partner, but as the negotiations commence, Maya is forced to confront echoes of her own past.
Born Sebastian in Malaysia, she grew up in a devout Christian family within a society that outlawed her identity. Determined to live freely, she fled to London under the guise of studying law but with the secret hope of becoming her true self.
In London’s queer scene, Maya finds freedom, belonging, and an unexpected bond with Robert, an older benefactor who helps her navigate love, ambition, and identity. When she joins the Crown Prosecution Service, it marks both a professional triumph and a personal rebirth.
Now, the trial compels her to face the survival, shame, and transformation that made her and the courage it takes to live authentically.
At its heart, Making Maya is about truth; the courage to live it and the grace to see it in others. It asks us to believe people when they show us who they are, through their actions, their truths, and their identities.
The film shows how belonging can come from unexpected places: faith, friendship, family, and love, while revealing the danger of words unbacked by truth. It challenges the misconception that transition is deception, presenting it instead as an act of courage and necessity.
As both a trans and immigrant story, Making Maya celebrates the freedom to live authentically and the responsibility to fight for justice. In an era of backlash and scapegoating, it stands as both affirmation and defiance: visibility is not just representation, it is resistance.
WHY THIS STORY?
While Maya’s story does contain trauma, heartbreak and loss, it is also just as full of joy, love, humour and success and from the beginning, we were clear that we did not want to make a film centred on her trauma but one that celebrated her success. Trans stories on screen are often framed through violence, victimhood or hypersexualisation. Many narratives have understandably focused on trans people forced into the margins of society, and while those are of course extremely valid, we felt strongly that this film should offer a different perspective.
Making Maya tells the story of a trans woman who has achieved power, stability and purpose. By grounding the film in the courtroom, the place where Maya is most formidable, we see her at the height of her professional authority. A trans immigrant woman standing confidently in a British courtroom, advocating for justice. It is an important image and an important story, and it deserves to be told.
In the current social and political climate this story couldn’t be more urgent. In the UK, media narratives and political rhetoric are increasingly positioning transgender people and immigrants as subjects of suspicion or fear. Maya is both. Her life story challenges those narratives directly. She is an immigrant who has dedicated decades of her life to serving the British justice system and protecting vulnerable people. In a time when public discourse can feel hostile and divisive, it feels vital to tell stories that restore humanity and complexity to communities who are often reduced to negative headlines.
Making Maya is a story about finding where you belong. It is about friendship, chosen family, love, courage and the strength required to live truthfully. These themes are universal. While the film centres on Maya’s specific experience as a trans immigrant woman, the emotional journey, the desire to be seen, accepted and loved for who we truly are, is something every audience member can recognise.
Making Maya should be made, now. In a time of division and uncertainty, stories that celebrate humanity, resilience and compassion feel more necessary than ever.
