Ross Mathews Joins Comedy Short ‘Poreless’ as Executive Producer (EXCLUSIVE)

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” judge and Drew Barrymore’s talk show co-host Ross Mathews has joined the film short “Poreless” as executive producer.

“Poreless,” directed by Harris Doran, who co-wrote the script with Fawzia Mirza, stars Akbar Hamid as Akram, a fabulous, queer Muslim beauty entrepreneur who must figure out how to compete in a “Shark Tank”-like product pitch contest after suffering an untimely allergic reaction. “At its heart, ‘Poreless’ is about the tension between how the world demands we appear and the liberation of being authentically ourselves,” the movie’s official summary reads. “Through comedy, the film reframes the queer Muslim experience as both deeply personal and profoundly universal.”

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Following its Tribeca Festival premiere, “Poreless” has screened at more than 20 festivals, including Frameline, Inside Out, Bentonville, Woodstock, NewFest, Indy Shorts and Aspen Shortsfest. The Oscar-qualified film was acquired by Switchboard Magazine and is currently available to screen via their YouTube Channel.

“When I was growing up, our community didn’t have many mirrors in society — very few LGBTQ+ stories, and almost none that reflected the full spectrum of who we are,” Mathews said in a statement Wednesday. “Today we’re fortunate to have more, but we still need to tell stories that peel back the layers and show every part of our community in all its complexity. ‘Poreless’ does that. It’s bold, joyful, hilarious, and deeply human, and I’m honored to help champion a film that expands what representation can look like.”

Hamid, who also serves as the film’s producer, said, “I’ve followed Ross’s journey for years, and his joy, visibility, and authenticity have been such an inspiration — especially for someone like me, navigating what it means to be both gay and Muslim. ‘Poreless’ was a reclamation of my identity, a reminder that I don’t have to choose between the different parts of who I am. Having Ross join us feels like an affirmation of that truth and a celebration of the many stories our community holds.”