"This is survival work. This is risky shit."

In Kokomo City, Black trans sex workers speak out: about their identities, sex, society, and oppression. Directed by D. Smith, the feature documentary —shot entirely in black and white — stars Daniella Carter, Koko Da Doll, Liyah Mitchell, and Dominique Silver, living across Atlanta and New York. The result is an unfiltered, stunning portrait, which was hailed as a stand-out feature documentary at both Sundance Film Festival and Berlinale this year.

Smith, a songwriter, singer, and now-acclaimed director, said in a press statement she wanted to create "the vision of a truth".

"In this film, I was able to share the private lives of four transgender sex workers who are never represented publicly. I offered the girls freedom. Freedom to talk like us. Look like us. Don’t worry about the politics," she says. "Forget about makeup. Don’t worry about calling your glam squad today. Just tell your story. I wanted to humanize the transgender experience".

Kokomo City will appear in theaters on July 28.