Railfan - Feature Documentary

Railfan is an intimate and heartfelt documentary feature that follows a photographer as he makes a portrait series of autistic kids who love subways in New York City. Our crowdfunding campaign is launching this summer, and you can sign up here!  We're a team of filmmakers from New York and Toronto who have come together to tell this story because we believe it will create more empathy in the world, one subway car at a time… 

And we need YOUR help to do it. 

(Stills credit: Joe Tomcho, 2026) 

We wrapped filming in August 2025. Along the way we met a cast of sweet, curious kids; made a pop-up gallery for their families at the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn and explored the many aspects of their phenomenal interest in transit. And we're almost ready to go.  

There's NO doubt whether we're going to finish -- the film is complete! What we need is the funding to help us cover  expenses like: 

 
* Film Festival Submission Fees

 
These materials will help us reach the many families for whom autism is part of their daily life. People who want stories like their own reflected on the screen. It will also bring our film to autism organizations, institutions or educators who can make Railfan's message of inclusion and empathy part of their programming. 

 
Supporting our campaign doesn't just help us get our film completed - it gives us the resources to find those resilient and courageous kids with autism, their families and friends - wherever they happen to be! 

Share your email and you'll be the FIRST to know when our campaign launches. Join a community of railfans and those who love them and share their passion for the magic of mass transit in our cities. You'll be part of a community that wants to encourage ongoing dialogue about autism, disability, inclusion, and what it means to be a parent.

And isn't that something you want to be part of?

Join us on our social media on Instagram and Facebook! 

Railfan was inspired by the photography of Travis Huggett. To find out more: read this New York Times article about the original Railfan portrait series!