River Gallo, a talented and multifaceted individual, is a Salvadoran-American filmmaker, actor, writer, model, and intersex activist born in New Jersey. Their impressive list of accolades includes the 2019 GLAAD Media Rising Star Award, the 2020 Ryan Murphy HALF Initiative for television directing, and a 2021 Berlinale Talent fellow selection.
River's educational background is equally impressive, having graduated from the NYU's Tisch School of the Arts Experimental Theatre Wing and the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts MFA program.
One of their most notable projects is "Ponyboi," a film that River wrote, starred in, and co-directed with Sadé Clacken Joseph. The film premiered at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, where it was praised by Forbes as one of the "Five not to be missed short films." What's more, "Ponyboi" holds the distinction of being the first narrative film created by and starring an out intersex person in cinema history, with executive producers Stephen Fry and Emma Thompson.
River's impact extends beyond the film world, as they were named one of the "Most Exciting Queer People to Follow in 2019" by Out Magazine, featured on PAPER Magazine's list of "100 People Taking Over 2019," and graced the cover of UK Hunger Magazine's Fall/Winter 2019 issue, shot by RANKIN.
In addition to their work in film, River has also appeared in an episode of Hulu's "Love, Victor" and is currently developing "Ponyboi" as a feature film, with River attached to write and star in the project, produced by actor Ezra Miller.
