Beautiful by Night follows a trio of older drag performers who work at Aunt Charlie’s Lounge, the last gay bar in San Francisco’s gritty Tenderloin neighborhood. Both the film and its accompanying photo series explore these performers’ ritualistic transformations, along with themes of aging, labor, and self-acceptance.

This film highlights the power of performance and resilience found at all ages. It speaks to how our city organizes to inspire one another and fosters freedom of self-expression as a political act.