Executive Producer Dominique Jackson and Director Andrew Rasmussen bring Micky Angelo Petrillo’s inspiring story of transitioning at 59 to Fire Island, September 11–12
Call Me Micky, the deeply personal documentary following Micky Angelo Petrillo’s journey of transitioning at age 59, has been selected for the Fire Island Transgender Film Festival, taking place September 11–12, 2026.
Directed by Andrew Rasmussen and executive produced by Dominique Jackson, Call Me Micky is an intimate, funny and ultimately uplifting portrait of a man who spent decades hiding an essential part of himself before making the decision to finally live openly and authentically.
For a documentary built around the idea that “it’s never too late to become yourself,” its selection for a festival devoted to transgender stories carries special significance.
A native of Fort Lee, New Jersey, Petrillo began his transition at 59, turning what could have been presented simply as a story of hardship into something much richer. Under Rasmussen’s direction, the film captures the challenges Petrillo faced while also embracing his humor, friendships, community, resilience and the unexpected joy of finally allowing the world to see him as he truly is.
“It’s about still choosing joy,” Petrillo has said of the project. “Because at the end of the day, if we can’t laugh… what’s the point?”
That philosophy gives Call Me Micky much of its distinctive personality. Petrillo is candid, outspoken, vulnerable and often very funny, bringing an unmistakably Jersey sensibility to a story with a universal message about identity, acceptance and the freedom that can come from finally living life on your own terms.
Dominique Jackson serves as executive producer, adding her name to a project centered on transgender visibility and authentic storytelling. Andrew Rasmussen directs, shaping Petrillo’s experiences into a documentary that allows its subject’s personality and humor to remain at the center of the story.
The Fire Island Transgender Film Festival provides an especially fitting setting for the film, creating a platform where transgender experiences can be explored through the voices and lives of the people who have actually lived them.
Petrillo’s story also offers a perspective that is still too rarely represented on screen: transitioning later in life.
Stories about transgender identity frequently focus on younger generations, but Call Me Micky reminds audiences that self-discovery doesn’t operate according to a calendar. People can find the courage to change their lives at 19, 39, 59 or beyond.
For Petrillo, 59 wasn’t the end of his story.
It became the beginning of an entirely new chapter.
The documentary previously screened to a packed house in Jersey City on March 5. Now its selection for the Fire Island Transgender Film Festival gives another audience the opportunity to experience Petrillo’s journey and the humor, heart and humanity that Rasmussen and Jackson have helped bring to the screen.
Call Me Micky will be featured as part of the Fire Island Transgender Film Festival, September 11–12, 2026.
About Call Me Micky
Call Me Micky is a documentary featuring Micky Angelo Petrillo and chronicling his decision to transition at age 59 after decades of hiding his true self. Directed by Andrew Rasmussen and executive produced by Dominique Jackson, the film explores identity, courage, community, humor and the belief that it is never too late to become yourself.
About Micky Angelo Petrillo
Micky Angelo Petrillo is a transgender filmmaker and advocate from Fort Lee, New Jersey. Through his filmmaking, public appearances, panels, conferences and community events, Petrillo speaks about transgender visibility, late-life transition and the importance of living authentically.
Watch the official trailer:
Call Me Micky Official Trailer on YouTube
Official Website:
Call Me Micky