Poreless (2025)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

2025 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!

Akram (Akbar Hamid), a queer Muslim entrepreneur, looks to make it big in the beauty industry as he’s asked to compete against others in a Shark Tank-esque presentation. Poreless explores the challenges faced by Akram, but extends itself to explore the challenges faced by each of us every day. 

Poreless is a social commentary on a number of things, including diversity and the LGBTQ+ community. On the surface, Poreless appears to be a film that aims to reach one group of people and analyze the struggles that befall them each and every day. Sure, the majority of the film tackles the idea of diversity and its importance–but it approaches this conversation with a gusto and originality that I’m not sure viewers could have anticipated. Writer-Director Harris Doran and Co-Writer Fawzia Mirza seem to be shaming the idea of success based on appearance; expressing that the idea of someone being hired just to meet a quota is absurd. Again and again Akram, his family, and the rest of the characters present in this film poke fun at these ideas and almost promote the idea of a merit-based society. Poreless is a perfect example of “don’t judge a book by its cover,” as it effectively presents multiple sides to an argument–and it does so with a blend of satire and honesty. 

Furthermore, Poreless dives into the ideas of what it means to be too gay or too Muslim–that somehow these things are quantifiable. Doran and Mirza attack these beliefs–begging viewers to be themselves, rather than attempting to adhere to asinine expectations forced on us by people that don’t know a thing about us. Homosexuality and religion are the forms of discrimination and social commentary that exist within Poreless, but it’s abundantly clear that the film looks to express these sentiments on behalf of everyone. 

Poreless often presents itself as hyperreal–teeming with vibrant colors, exaggerated light, and over-the-top performances. The film is elegant in its message, but intentionally aggressive in its presentation. The juxtaposition of overly-expressive visuals and a grounded, highly-accessible narrative creates an effective balance that transcends the entirety of Poreless. Doran and Mirza grasp the importance of their short film, and just as importantly understand what’s necessary to keep audiences engaged. 

With only minor blemishes along the way, Poreless is a poignant analysis of the modern world–questioning the norms, challenging the expectations, and effectively extending itself beyond my initial beliefs. A sometimes over-the-top venture, Poreless still creates a sense of understanding that is both hilarious and elegant. 

Directed by Harris Doran. 

Written by Harris Doran & Fawzia Mirza. 

Starring Akbar Hamid, Allyce Beasley, Parvesh Cheena, Gia Crovatin, Sureni Weerasekera, etc. 

7.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING