CMG Productions has announced its new feature documentary, Heklina, exploring the life and legacy of international drag performer Heklina, alongside an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death and the institutional response which prompted questions about her case.
Heklina was a pioneering performer, producer and activist in the drag and LGBTQIA+ communities. She helped shape San Francisco’s drag and cultural scene for more than three decades. In 1996 she co-founded the influential San Francisco drag night Trannyshack (later rebranded as Mother).
On 3rd April 2023, Heklina was found dead in a flat in Soho, London, while on tour, and three years later, the cause of death was confirmed on 15th September 2026. The case has drawn attention from the queer community and allies worldwide, prompting transatlantic public demonstrations and calls for further transparency and investigation.
The documentary draws on Heklina’s personal archival material, which was preserved and digitised through a community crowdfunding campaign to provide never seen before insight into Heklina, and the pivotal role she played in the San Francisco drag scene. It features exclusive interviews with her closest friends, collaborators, and the many performers she inspired. Internationally renowned drag performer, filmmaker and producer Peaches Christ, who shared a decades-long friendship with Heklina, plays a pivotal role in the documentary. Through her personal perspective, the film follows Peaches’ search for answers surrounding the circumstances of Heklina’s death, while honouring her extraordinary life, enduring legacy and profound influence on drag culture.
The project is led by CMG’s India Woods whose producer credits include The Devil on Trial (Netflix, 2023) and American Zoo, which was selected as part of the Documentary Competition at Tribeca this year and screened at SXSW London. Heklina is an international co-production with US-based producer Brian Benson (Dolores, Sorry to Bother You) and Senior Editor Ronna Malson (Roger and Me). Further partners are to be announced soon.
Claire McArdle, Co-Founder and CEO at CMG says: “Heklina was a trailblazer whose influence extended far beyond the stage. This documentary is not only about celebrating her extraordinary legacy, but also about asking difficult questions around the circumstances of her death. Bringing together partners from the UK, US and Iceland allows us to approach this documentary with a truly international perspective one that honours her cultural impact while also examining the unanswered questions that remain.”
Brian Benson, Producer says: “The controversy surrounding Heklina’s death may be what grabs people’s attention, but it isn’t why I want to make this film. Heklina was already an incredible story. Her life was worthy of a documentary long before the tragedy in London. She was outrageous, unapologetic and a transformative creative force who helped shape what drag became. What happened with the Met Police gives this story urgency and raises serious questions about institutional bias, but at its heart, this film is about showing the world who Heklina was, what she created and why she mattered. Those of us who knew her already know why she mattered. I want the rest of the world to know, too.”
Drag performer, filmmaker and producer Peaches Christ says “I met Heklina in San Francisco in 1996, and that moment changed my life. We spent nearly three decades as friends and collaborators, so losing her was horrific beyond words. I hope this film exposes the institutional biases that still exist within the Met and helps push for real systemic change and share Heklina’s extraordinary story with a wider audience continues to inspire and warp young queers for generations to come.”
Founded by former Paramount executives Claire McArdle and Rebecca Knight, CMG has worked with networks and studios including Netflix, Sky, ITV, NBC Peacock, and Paramount+ delivering programming including award-winning documentary The Footballer, His Wife and the Crash, and true crime feature documentaries including The Footballer Fraudster, The Durban Axe Murderer: The Rugby Killer, and Death in the Heartlands.
Jon Creamer
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