For Your Consideration
Best Documentary Short Film


About the Film

At the height of the AIDS crisis, thousands of queer people sold their life-insurance policies for quick cash after being abandoned by their families and public institutions. “Cashing Out” explores this billion-dollar "AIDS profiteering" industry, and one filmmaker's unexpected connection to it.


Director: Matt Nadel
Producers: Luke Hodges and Matt Nadel
Executive Producers: Julie Cohen, Matt Bomer, and Angeria Paris VanMicheals

Hear about the making of Cashing Out from director Matt Nadel, in conversation with:

  • Caroline Waterlow (O.J.: Made in America), with executive producer Julie Cohen (RBG)

  • Ben Proudfoot (The Last Repair Shop, The Queen of Basketball)

  • Molly O’Brien (The Only Girl in the Orchestra)

  • David France (How To Survive A Plague)

  • Beth Levison (The Martha Mitchell Effect)

  • John Hoffman (The Barber of Little Rock)

  • Waad Al-Kateab (For Sama)

  • S. Leo Chiang (Island In Between)

  • Matt Wolf (Pee-wee As Himself)

  • Carla Gutierrez (Frida)

  • Ryan Harrington (The Cave)

  • Tyler H. Walk (editor of the Oscar® nominated How to Survive A Plague), with Cashing Out editor Will Mayo

  • Bill Weber (We Were Here)

  • Yoruba Richen (The New Black)

  • Sandi DuBowski (Sabbath Queen)

  • Roberta Grossman (Seeing Allred)

  • Hilton Als (staff writer, The New Yorker)

  • Sarah Stillman (staff writer, The New Yorker)

Recorded Q&A’s

Film Website