A documentary feature that follows a photographer taking portraits of autistic kids who love subways in NYC.
Railfan is 99% completed. We filmed between December 2021 and September of 2025. We’re now in the final steps of our postproduction stage, adding the final music tracks and getting ready for our sound mix in July. Our fundraising is to share the film with as many families and give it the best chance of being seen in theatres near you.
Hello! We’ve made this page to make it easier for supporters who want to share the word about Railfan to their communities. Think of it as a resource where you can just copy and paste anything you need to tell people about the film. Feel free to use any of the information you find here, and thanks for being part of it!
WHAT’S A RAILFAN?
Railfan (verb): to ride trains or subways with no particular destination in mind.
Railfan (noun): a person who is recreationally interested in trains and rail transport systems.
Railfan (the film): a documentary feature that follows a photographer taking portraits of autistic kids who love subways in NYC.
We need YOUR help to finish our film so we can create more empathy in the world, one subway car at a time.
TLDR:
We are a team of filmmakers from Toronto and NYC running a crowdfund for a new documentary about autistic kids’ fascination with subways. It’s told by a fine-art photographer and father creating a portrait series in New York City. It’s launching this summer, and you can sign up here!
HOW CAN I BE A PART OF THIS?
https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/c243dbbc-064e-41c0-8df8-3afa0e0ac397/landing
This link lets you sign up for the Railfan mailing list and be the first to hear when we launch our campaign. That doesn’t mean you have to give financially – it will be the main point of contact for our community as we get the word out about the film. Please share it, especially if you or someone you love is connected to the autism and disability world; this film is made for them.
WHEN ARE YOU LAUNCHING?
Summer 2026. Right now recruiting as many supporter as we can; so please join our list and share the word with parents and friends by signing up here!
PHOTOS AND ART FROM THE FILM!
You can grab our press stills from this link here.
SYNOPSIS (SHORT)
A documentary about autistic kids’ fascination with subways and transit systems, told by a fine-art photographer and father creating a portrait series in New York City. A film about kids who love trains, and the people who love them.
SYNOPSIS (LONG):
Travis Huggett is a fine-art photographer from Manhattan, whose grade schooler, Orson, is an autistic railfan, much like his slightly older cousin, Booker. At first, Travis thought it was just an odd coincidence. When Orson started going to a school for ASD kids in Brooklyn, Travis noticed just how many other autistic boys shared this obsession. Why did they all like trains, and why did they relate to them in so many different ways? Some loved maps and schedules, others were lulled by the sensation of the ride.
Travis pursued this notion as an art project. He asked other parents in his son’s class if he could travel with them and their child on their favourite subway routes to take their portrait. A 2020 New York Times article about Travis’ project caught the attention of Toronto director Ian Daffern, whose non-spectrum child was also a railfan. Together they set about making a documentary about these unique individuals and their journeys.
In their film, you’ll meet Booker, who can name the car number of any subway he has ever been on; Marley, a non-verbal girl from Queens who finds peace in the rocking motion of the F train; and twelve-year-old Colin from Brooklyn, who dreams of being a YouTube star.
Railfan concludes with a pop-up gallery at the MTA’s New York Transit Museum. At this once-in-a-lifetime event, Travis shares the children’s portraits with their families on the museum’s working subway platform, followed by a ride on the museum’s special heritage trains. And we were there to capture their love of trains, and love for each other to share with railfan families around the world.
Railfan finishes on a note of reflection. For Travis he’s discovered the subway is a place where he can “freeze time” and show the love that holds them all together. Our film has been a journey into a secret world where imagination and urban geographies overlap. And it shares the journey all these young Railfans and their parents will soon make, the “transfer” from children to adulthood.
Why are subways so important?
While overlooked by many commuters, for some, subways retain a magic in their ability to transport us to the destinations of our choosing. And for autistic children, they can mean so much more. By following a group of these unique kids in New York City, Railfan explores the deep fascinations and passions that many autistic people have (a.k.a. “special interests”) through gentle observation, and invites you into a secret world where imagination and urban geographies overlap. For the kids in Railfan, the subway is a refuge, a source of fascination, a history lesson, an unfolding mythology, a system to be decoded. Joyriding on the subway with their parents becomes a special way to bond, as this very public place becomes a miraculous world of their very own. Railfan is a fly-on-the-wall story of these children, for whom regular life can be a struggle – but on trains they find joy and release. It is also about the bond between children and the caregivers who find themselves pulled along for the ride by this unusual hobby.
Want to make your own button to use our link on your website – grab this jpg!
FAQ
How do we know this project will be completed?
Railfan is 99% completed. We filmed between December 2021 and September of 2025. We're now in the final steps of our postproduction stage, adding the final music tracks and getting ready for our sound mix in July. So yes! It will be done. Our fundraising is to share the film with as many families and give it the best chance of being scene in theatres near you.
Is the art final for any of the physical rewards?
No, the art is not final.
When will I get to see Railfan?
We have not announced any dates yet, we are aiming for a festival release in Fall 2026, followed by theatrical / community screenings in 2027 and beyond.
How can I bring Railfan to my community group, class room or local cinema?
We are working with partners to arrange for both virtual and live screenings of our film in locations across North America. Details will be announced as we have them. In the meantime write us at info@idfactory.ca to ask for a local screening.
Who is making this film and why?
A group of Toronto and New York City filmmakers have come together to make Railfan because they believe in positive parenting and want to make a difference in their communities. The film is inspired by the photography of Travis Huggett, who started making a portrait series of autistic kids who loved trains after watching his son and nephew. The team includes Ian Daffern (Director); Joe Tomcho (Director of Photography); Jeremy McCracken (Editor); Disasterpeace (Composer); Colin Geddes (Producer); Katarina Gligorijevic (Producer).
But WHY do these kids love subways so much?
That’s not a question we’re looking to answer. We accept it – and then we explore and celebrate that fascination.
What are your favourite subway lines?
Ian: “I’m from Toronto, so I currently really like our Eglinton LRT line, the 5. I had a fantastic day out railfanning on it with my 14 year old son Ted going from one end to the other when it opened this year.”
Does the team have anything to do with the Beastie Boys?
Not officially, but we did get this photo while grabbing a slice.