Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship program opens the door to nonprofit funding for independent filmmakers and media artists. Donate today and help bring Exit 9 to life.
 

Logline

At a Catholic high school in 2009 New Jersey, a closeted queer Filipino-American teen—born with HIV—has his status outed by his eye doctor, who also happens to be the mom of the school’s most popular girl. But a chaotic day ends in refuge with his ride-or-die friends, a high school dance, and a shared Four Loko.

Synopsis

Set in 2009 New Jersey, Exit 9 follows Tommy, a closeted, biracial Filipino-American teen who was born with HIV. When his status is accidentally outed by his eye doctor—who also happens to be the mother of the school’s most popular girl—Tommy spirals through one of the most emotionally chaotic days of his adolescence.

From singing in a worship choir at a school mass dragging on during peak disciplinary crackdowns to a nerve-wracking talent show dance audition, Tommy navigates a Catholic high school teetering between performative purity and hormonal rebellion. But just as shame threatens to overtake him, he finds refuge in the love of his ride-or-die best friends, a deliciously nostalgic late-2000s high school dance, and a shared Four Loko. By the time they exit the New Jersey Turnpike at Exit 9, Tommy’s world hasn’t changed—but something inside him has.

With sharp period specificity, emotional clarity, and a lyrical visual palette, Exit 9 is first and foremost a standalone short. Though set 14 years before its predecessor NEXT OF KIN, it has a clear beginning, middle, and end — it is not just a sizzle reel with vibes. Both stories exist within the same narrative universe of the feature currently in development: a three-chapter intergenerational Filipino-American film blending grounded realism with lyrical, memory-driven storytelling across three decades and generations of a Northeast-based Fil-Am family.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Timothy Guion Smith — Writer/Director
Timothy Guion Smith is a New York City-born, LA-based filmmaker and actor. His debut short Next of Kin, which he wrote, directed, and starred in, screened at Outfest Fusion, CAAMFest, San Diego Asian Film Festival, Soho International Film Festival, and DisOrient, among others. The SF Bay Area Times called it “absorbing… a filmmaker’s auspicious debut,” while POZ Magazine described it as “beautiful, heart-tugging, and modern.” A graduate of NYU Tisch, Timothy tells queer, Filipino-American stories with bold emotional clarity, often blending personal narrative with formal experimentation. As of 2025, he is currently developing a short and his first feature.

Cecilia Ye Suil Kim — Producer
Cecilia Ye Suil Kim is a Korean American actress and filmmaker from Snellville, GA, and a graduate of NYU Tisch and The New School (BFA in Drama, MFA in Creative Writing). Her acting credits include A24’s MaXXXine, Hulu’s The Valet, and Samuel Goldwyn Films’ Stars Fell on Alabama and its sequel Stars Fell Again. As a writer, she has been published in The Washington Post and was a semifinalist in the 2021 ScreenCraft TV Pilot Competition. Her short Death Is a Favor, which she directed and produced, is currently on the festival circuit and recently screened at LA Shorts International Film Festival (Oscar-qualifying) and Atlanta ShortsFest, where it was nominated for Best Horror Short.

Michael Moskewicz — Producer
Michael Moskewicz grew up in Florida and now lives in Los Angeles. His recent short film Forest Giants, that he produced, wrote, and starred in, premiered at the Sarasota Film Festival. He’s thrilled to collaborate with Timothy again following their co-writing of [Un]afraid. Recent acting credits include Reboot (Hulu), American Crime Story: Impeachment (FX), Dear White People (Netflix), and cult digital series Everyone I Love Is Dead.

Nathaniel Thomás Elegino — Director of Photographer
Nathaniel Thomás Elegino is a San Diego native and graduate of San Diego State University’s School of Theatre, Television, and Film. In 2013, he attended the inaugural ASC Cinematography Masterclass, studying under legends Dean Cundey, ASC, and Caleb Deschanel, ASC. Based in Hollywood, Nathaniel has shot numerous feature films, shorts, and music videos and is known for his meticulous approach to visual storytelling. Exit 9 marks his third collaboration with Timothy, following Next of Kin and [Un]afraid.

Make a donation to Exit 9.

Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.