ATHENS — A University of Georgia student from Valdosta has earned a student Emmy award nomination for his film about the drag community in Athens, Georgia. 

The work of film producer Trey Leonard was nominated for a Student Production Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Southeast. 

Leonard, who moved to Valdosta when he was an infant, is a rising senior at UGA, where he is studying entertainment and media studies.

His film, “Classic City Queens” earned him and his team the Student Emmy nomination, according to Kaci Pollack, a public relations spokesperson representing Leonard. The team were listed in the long-form, nonfiction category.

The awards were held Saturday in Atlanta. Leonard confirmed his film did not win.

“It was just really incredible to be nominated for this award that other people can experience the story, as well,” he said.

Leonard created ‘Classic City Queens’ alongside three other UGA students as part of a school assignment. He said it took a total of two months to complete.

The 19-minute documentary focuses on rising UGA junior Alex Suarez and the drag community in Athens. “The film explores Alex as an artist in Athens, as well as his struggle being an artist in the south and how that’s a little bit less freeing than it would’ve been maybe in a different region, different city,” Leonard said.

The filmmaker deemed drag as an interesting and underserved art form. It is people’s lack of knowledge regarding the drag community that urged the four students to showcase it.

It is a culture that’s not really spoken of much in Athens, according to Pollack. She believes this documentary “told a story that needed to be told.”

“I think it was a great way to education people on this unique part of Athens that isn’t really talked about,” she said. “It really isn’t publicized much.”

Leonard said he was able to learn more about drag performing through the filming process.

“I had no idea what drag was before I produced this project, and it was just incredibly humbling for me to experience that community and how open it was and how accepting it was,” he said.

It was at the age of 10 that Leonard decided he wanted to become a filmmaker. It was a passion that lingered, he said.

“I always thought going to the movies was an adventure when I was young,” he said. “I really love doing it.”

“Classic City Queens” is available for viewing on Youtube, according to Leonard.

Amanda Usher is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1274.