“On October 15, 2013 David Weissman presented an evening of his short films, which he introduced and contextualized with the wit and intelligence of a first-class raconteur. By all accounts the event was a highlight of CLAGS’s calendar of events. The space was filled to capacity, and the audience represented a cross-section of New York LGBT communities. Historians, film buffs, glitterati, activists, and scholars reveled in the filmic exploits of drag queens and political impersonators, and there was a palpable hush with presentation of documented images of AIDS and its devastating impact. This was more than just a night at the movies: This was a time for the LGBT and straight communities to come together to celebrate history—our history—and David Weissman created a space for dialogue, mutual understanding, and healing.”

“In addition to his powerful, sharp-eyed, nuanced filmmaking, David Weissman is a first-rate speaker. Our students left the room thinking, knowing, and feeling in new ways. Weissman fields questions with generosity and smarts, and plants seeds that are likely to sprout at unexpected times in the weeks–maybe even the years–to come.”

“What I was most impressed by during Weissman’s visit was his power as a communicator. During the Q+A after his screening and during his visit to my class the next morning, he was adept at setting students at ease and drawing them into a thoughtful and valuable discussion about both the nuances of filmmaking and the often-sensitive content of his films. His visit was a highlight of the semester.”

“The screening of We Were Here and the discussion with filmmaker David Weissman were the highpoint of our semester and indeed of the year at the University of Central Oklahoma! This exceptional, eye-opening film and the moving and deeply personal discussions that We Were Here inspired continue to resonate for each and every one of us who was privileged to participate in this remarkable experience, and we thank David for sharing so generously with us this remarkable film and the lived experiences that it records so eloquently and powerfully.”