December 10th, 2025

TRIBECA FILMS TO RELEASE THE INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY FILM ‘BEAM ME UP, SULU’ BY TIMOUR GREGORY AND SASHA SCHNEIDER

(Photo courtesy of BEAM ME UP, SULU.)

NEW YORK – (December 10, 2025) – Tribeca Films, the distribution label from Tribeca Enterprises and Giant Pictures, today announced the upcoming release of the independent documentary film BEAM ME UP, SULU from directors Timour Gregory and Sasha Schneider. The film, which features George Takei and other Star Trek cast members, had its world premiere at the 2025 Raindance Film Festival and is set to have its U.S. premiere on February 12 as part of a Tribeca Membership screening. Tribeca Films will release it digitally on February 17, 2026.

 

In 1985, Star Trek's George Takei joined a group of dedicated fans to make a student film deep in the California forest—only for the footage to mysteriously vanish. Nearly 40 years later, BEAM ME UP, SULU unearths this lost film, revealing not just a piece of fan history but a broader story of representation, resilience, and the ongoing fight for inclusion in media and society.

 

“We were interested in figuring out what it is about Star Trek that makes people care so much — what made these student filmmakers spend 35 years making a fan film, what made George participate in it, what makes all of the fans so passionate,”  said directors Timour Gregory and Sasha Schneider, “We found that it really comes back to this idea of 'infinite diversity in infinite combinations' that’s been baked into the show from the beginning and resonates now more than ever.” 

 

“This documentary is about so much more than a student film I appeared in. It’s about the importance of diversity and inclusion — something that Star Trek pioneered on television and has excelled at for nearly 60 years. Given the current political climate, we need to see more of that reflected in our popular culture,” said George Takei.

 

BEAM ME UP, SULU is directed by Timour Gregory and Sasha Schneider and stars George Takei, Alexander Siddig, Christina Chong, Garrett Wang, and Ian Alexander. Also featured in the film is executive producer Eugene Roddenberry, son of STAR TREK creator Gene Roddenberry. Additional producers include Timour Gregory, Sasha Schneider, Ashu Rai, and Matthew Drake. The filmmakers were represented by Evan Krauss and Kevin Thomson of Midnight Creative.

 

“Beam Me Up, Sulu is a powerful reminder of the impact of fandom, storytelling, and representation. What began as a student film has become a moving reflection on identity, resilience, and Star Trek’s lasting cultural influence,” said Jane Rosenthal, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Tribeca Enterprises. “As Tribeca Films builds on a standout year of championing bold, independent voices, we’re proud to bring this story to audiences and to continue supporting filmmakers who expand the way we see the world.”

 

The title comes on the heels of a dynamic 2025 slate of nearly twenty releases from r Tribeca Films, including Pasqual Gutierrez and Ben Mullinkosson’s SERIOUS PEOPLE; Carina Mia Wong and Alex Simmons’ WE CAN BE HEROES; Christopher Bouckoms and Sam Pezzullo’s THE PREMIERE; Hugo Ruíz’s ONE NIGHT WITH ADELA; Sadie Bones’ IF THAT MOCKINGBIRD DON’T SING; Jill Campbell’s BEYOND THE GAZE: JULE CAMPBELL’S SWIMSUIT ISSUE; Patrick Moreau’s THE BRITTO DOC; and Chazz Palminteri’s A BRONX TALE: ONE MAN SHOW.

 

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About Tribeca Films
 

Tribeca Films is a distribution label from Tribeca Enterprises and Giant Pictures that brings independent films from top film festivals to streaming platforms and creates revenue-generating opportunities for filmmakers. Tribeca Films presents these films to new audiences across a wide distribution infrastructure and on the Tribeca Channel. Learn more at tribecafilm.com/tribecafilms.

 

 
 

 

Press Contacts
 

Annie Davis, adavis@tribecafilm.com 
Mia Ogle, mogle@tribecafilm.com