TICKETING & FESTIVAL INFORMATION
ATTENDING NEWFEST VIRTUALLY
Virtual All-Access Streaming Pass $95
Individual Film Streaming Tickets $14.50
ATTENDING NEWFEST IN-PERSON
Silver Pass: $350
Gold Pass: $750
Diamond Pass: $1500
General Admission Ticket: $19.50
Centerpiece Ticket: $28.50
Opening Night + Party Ticket: $75
Closing Night + Party Ticket: $75
WHERE TO SEE IN-PERSON SCREENINGS
SVA Theatre: 333 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011
The LGBT Community Center: 208 W 13 St, New York, NY 10011
BAM Rose Cinemas: 30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Nitehawk Cinema Prospect Park: 188 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, NY 11215
*VENUE BOX OFFICES WILL OPEN 1 HOUR BEFORE THE FIRST SCREENING OF THE DAY AND CLOSE 30 MINUTES AFTER THE START OF THE LAST SCREENING OF THE DAY. WILL CALL TICKETS CAN BE PICKED UP AT ANY BOX OFFICE LOCATION WITH A VALID PHOTO ID.
HOW TO BUY TICKETS AND PASSES
ONLINE: NewFest.org
OVER THE PHONE: (929) 390 - FEST
October 7-9, 2pm-6pm; October 10-22, 2pm-9pm
FOOD & BEVERAGES AT SCREENING
VENUE
SVA: No outside food or drinks may be brought into the venue; concessions including snacks and drinks are available for sale.
Nitehawk: No outside food or drinks may be brought into the venue; food and drinks are available for sale.
BAM: No outside food or drinks may be brought into the venue; food and drinks are available for sale.
The LGBT Community Center: No outside food or drinks may be brought into the venue.
VENUE ACCESSIBILITY
SVA: SVA accommodates wheelchair seating and has assisted Listening, Audio Description, and Closed Captions devices available upon request.
Nitehawk: Nitehawk theaters are accessible by elevator and can accommodate wheelchair seating. To ensure that the wheelchair seating is available for your showing, please contact prospectpark@nitehawkcinema.com.
Assisted Listening, Audio Description, and Closed Captions devices available upon request.
BAM: All BAM venues are wheelchair accessible. Accessible seats cannot be reserved in advance. Audio amplification headsets are available for all films. Closedcaptioning devices and descriptive audio tracks via headsets available on select films. Contact BAM Ticket Services at 718-636-4100 or let an usher or BAM staff member know when you arrive.
The LGBT Community Center: The LGBT Community Center is wheelchair accessible and can accommodate wheelchair seating.
HOW TO RUSH AT NEWFEST!
For events where there are no longer advanced tickets available for purchase, we highly encourage guests to make use of our successful Rush Sales policy. Rush Sales Lines will form at the venue approximately 45 minutes prior to the scheduled event start time. Admission will begin approximately 10-15 minutes before the event’s start time based on availability. Admission is not guaranteed. Rush Sales are limited to one (1) ticket per person. We accept cash or credit cards.
*PLEASE NOTE: Each venue may have a slightly adjusted Rush plan; please check in with venue and box office staff for exact instructions.
ADMISSION & SALES POLICIES
To guarantee admission, all pass and ticket holders must be present in line at the venue at 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. We reserve the right to sell any empty seats after that time. Late seating is at the discretion of the venue management team and is not permitted 30 minutes after the start time of any screening or event.
*ALL SALES ARE FINAL. NO REFUNDS. NO EXCHANGES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
FESTIVAL GUIDELINES & THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
• Content may not be suitable for all ages. Children under the age of 12 years old are not permitted at any festival event due to this reason.
• Saving space in line or saving seats within the theater for other guests is not permitted.
• Any and all audio or video recording and/or photography is strictly prohibited at the event.
• NewFest is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment for its staff and guests. The festival reserves the right to refuse service and maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding harassment of any kind. If you are found in violation of this policy, you will be asked to leave and not return. You will not be issued a refund.
• By attending any NewFest screening or event, you give NewFest permission to use your image or likeness for marketing and promotional purposes, both digital and print.
• Please remember to be a good film-goer: silence or turn off your electronic devices prior to the film presentation, no talking during the film, and don’t forget to turn in your completed Audience Award ballots immediately following the screening.
HELP DESK SUPPORT
Please visit newfest.org/festival/faq for the answers to all your questions about virtual and in-person attendance for this year's festival. If you need more assistance please email us at boxoffice@newfest.org or call us at (929) 390-FEST October 6-8, 2pm-6pm; October 9-21, 2pm-9pm.
HOW TO STREAM BASICS
WHAT DO I NEED TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WATCH NEWFEST, VIRTUALLY?
You will need to be based in the U.S., have a valid email address, a NewFest virtual Festival Pass or ticket, and a computer, mobile phone, tablet, or Apple TV (device not the app), Amazon Fire Stick, or Roku on your television. For additional Technical Requirements, please visit https:// newfest.org/festival/faq.
HOW DO I STREAM A PROGRAM?
After purchasing your Festival Pass or Individual Film Streaming Ticket, and logging into our on-demand platform at watch.newfest.org, simply click on your desired selection, then click on the play button to begin.
WHEN CAN I BEGIN STREAMING?
Based on individual rights from content licensors, the majority of our films will be available for Pass and Ticketholders to stream beginning at 12 PM (EST) on Thursday, October 9. All programs must be watched by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday, October 21.
STAFF & BOARD OF DIRECTORS
YEAR ROUND STAFF:
David Hatkoff, Executive Director
Nick McCarthy, Director of Programming
Julie Manorahan, Director of Staff & Administration
Monisha Gandhi, Festivals Producer
Anton Astudillo, Programmer
Madeline McLaughlin, Marketing & Communications Manager
Rachel Newkirk, Social Media Manager
Molly Grace Fulton, Publications & Design Manager
Abygai Peña, Community Outreach Coordinator
Julia Maddox, Bookkeeper
Jen Jacoby, Audience Services Manager
Natalie Polanco, Production & Operations Manager
Marwa Eltahir, Operations & Productions Coordinator
Martine McDonald, Sound & Scene QTBIPOC Initiative Manager
Arno Mokros, New Voices Filmmaker Grant Coordinator
FESTIVAL STAFF:
Anita Raswant, Programming Manager
Murtada Elfadl, Senior Programmer
Jorge Molina, Programmer & Industry Manager
Marta Denny, Industry Coordinator
Ariel Ottey, Programming Operations Coordinator
Amy Currul, Volunteer Coordinator
Zack Solomon, Venue Operations Manager
Anna Peters, Venue Operations Coordinator
Carmen Lozano, Special Events Manager
Renee Lamay, Production Coordinator, Special Events
Kir Alshanetsky, Publications & Design Editor
Hannah Tymann, Database Consultant
Jason Lemos, Digital Content & Social Media Coordinator
Diego Leon-Martinez, Marketing Coordinator
Patrick Carnes, Filmmaker Relations Manager, Shorts
Carly Reicho, Sponsor & Filmmaker Relations Dept. Manager
Antreise Lacey, Filmmaker Relations Manager, Features
Trey Jordan, Filmmaker Relations Coordinator
Johnny Lemaire, Box Office Manager
Rachel Cox, Virtual Exhibition Manager
Chrissy Griesmer, Technical Coordinator
Galen Bremer, Print Traffic Coordinator
Isabella Jackson, Virtual Exhibition Coordinator
Robert Pounding, Virtual Exhibition Coordinator
Sultan Ali, Production Assistant, Screenings
Austin Davidson, Lounge Coordinator
Meredith Gill, Audience Services Coordinator
PROGRAM DESIGNER
LuisMarquesDesign.com
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jane Sasseen, Co-Chair
Ellery Washington, Co-Chair
Josh Schiowitz, Treasurer
Ramón Torres, Secretary
Mike Balaban
Bill Berman
Ann Bradstreet Brown
Thomas Dima
Afua Kafi-Akua
Mathew Lasky
Ron Lense
Aviva Michelman-Dumas
Adam Natale
Isabel Sandoval
Andrew Uriarte
IN MEMORIAM
Michael Dinwiddie
Ron Simons
SCREENING COMMITTEE
Jared Abbott
Sarah Albrecht
Cameron Asharian
Patrick Carnes
Gloria Cook
Aidan Croft
Drew de Pinto
Cori Diaz
Alyza Enriquez
Mack Flake
Rory Fox
Rian Grey
Mara Kleinberg
Aniko Kovecsi
Maksym LaRouche
JJ Maley
Chris Mardirossian
Shane Mendoza
Maeve Murphy
Rachel Malia
Newkirk
Olivia Pearson
Ozzi Ramirez
Ziggy Rosado
Jude Schoenfeld
Morgan Sullivan
Chynah Thomas
S Tricker
Katherine Wizeman
Paige Yancey
MAJOR DONORS & PASSHOLDERS NEWFEST THANKS OUR MAJOR DONORS, MEMBERS, AND PASSHOLDERS!
Our donors, members, and passholders are the heart of our NewFest community. Support from individuals allows us not only to present the annual New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival, but to offer two more annual series, Queering the Canon and NewFest Pride, in addition to year-round programs and artist development initiatives. As a not-for-profit organization, we’re proud to offer community-based screenings and events throughout the year that bring us together to share stories, open minds, celebrate the LGBTQ+ experience, and support the next generation of queer filmmakers. Thank you to all of our Annual Members, as well as the following individuals:
MAJOR DONORS
Richard Fye Charitable Fund
Josh Schiowitz
Ramón Torres
DIAMOND STAR MEMBERS
Anonymous
Richard Fye Charitable Fund
Mike Karp
Bob Ouimette
GOLD STAR MEMBERS
John Davis & Thomas Clark
Ruben Dicker
SILVER STAR MEMBERS
Thomas K. Duane
Laurent Germain
Laurel Hell
Caitlin Ladda
Kevin P. McAnarney
Michele McEnroe
Dr. Aaron Oom
Benjamin Silliman
Timothy Warmath
Cameron Woods
Michael D. Woody
DIAMOND PASSHOLDERS
Rob Anderson
P.J. Dantonello
MG Evangelista
Courtney K. Ford
Joe Kaiser
David Pareja
Gregory Pratt
Christian Santos
Hudson River Trading
Matthew Weiss
GOLD PASSHOLDERS
Greg Battaglia & Dillon Fitzgerald
Andrea Himmel
Cristina Kotz Cornejo & Bear
Secunda
Dave Miller
NHL Pride Employee Group
Paul Travis
Liesl Wilke
SILVER PASSHOLDERS
Scott Barton
April Consalo
Clarke Griffith
Kaycee Hailey
Scott Hunter & Frank Unabia
Wouter Jansen
Jacob Kirsch
David Levithan
Lambda Literary
Kate O'Carroll
Alyse Pecoraro
Richard Pleak & Jon Weatherman
Rockland Pohl
Lora Spain
Wayne Sunday
G Tharp & Joseph Fitzpatrick
Lindsay Weisberg
Member and passholder listings as of September 21, 2025
SPONSORS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WELCOME LETTER
Welcome to NewFest37!
Queer film has always been an act of rebellion. And at NewFest, what makes that resistance so powerful is that it’s filled with joy — the joy of seeing ourselves reflected, of connecting with one another, and of laughing, crying, and dancing (sometimes all at the same time!) in a space made for us, by us. In a moment when LGBTQ+ stories and communities are under attack, gathering to celebrate them is both radical and necessary. That’s why this year’s festival campaign is built around a simple call to action: Watch films, fight back.
This year, NewFest brings you 13 days of queer stories from around the world: over 130 films including bold, moving documentaries, daring shorts, and unforgettable features that honor the creativity and resilience of our community.
We’re also proud to launch the Arizona Queer Film Access Initiative, offering free virtual access to a curated slate of films for LGBTQ+ audiences in Arizona, where festivals like Desperado have been dismantled by antiDEI laws. It’s one way we’re using our profile and resources as the largest queer film festival in the U.S. to make sure queer stories continue to reach people even in places where they’re being silenced.
But NewFest isn’t only about what’s on screen. It’s Dyke Nyte, the T4T Mixer, the Queer Media Mixer, and countless moments of connection that remind us why queer joy matters. Whether you’re here for the first time or the thirty-seventh, we hope you feel the magic of this community — and the power that comes from being part of it.
And the rebellion doesn’t stop when the credits roll. Year-round, NewFest keeps queer stories alive through NewFest Pride, Queering the Canon, advance screenings, and community events that continue the celebration. Membership is the best way to stay connected long after Closing Night.
We’re grateful to our sponsors, Board of Trustees, staff, and volunteers for making this possible — and to you, our audience, for turning these 13 days into more than a festival. By showing up, you’re proving that joy itself is resistance, and that queer stories will always find the light.
Enjoy the Festival!
All the best,
David Hatkoff Executive Director
BLUE MOON
Dir. Richard Linklater, 100 min, USA/Ireland
THURSDAY, 10/9, 7:00PM, SVA THEATRE
Sardi’s Bar. March 1943. Opening night of OKLAHOMA!. A new cultural sensation is about to be born — and legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart is not happy about it.
As brilliantly played by Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke, Hart is a uniquely New York creation: brilliant, queer, alcoholic, and nursing a bitter resentment toward his longtime collaborator Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott, NewFest35’s ALL OF US STRANGERS), who has recently left him for the steadier Oscar Hammerstein.
BLUE MOON refracts the glitter of a Broadway smash through the intimate lens of the songwriter left behind, weaving a witty, bittersweet tale of artistic ambition, theater lore, and personal loss. Directed with humanist verve by Academy Award nominee Richard Linklater and scripted with dazzling dialogue by Robert Kaplow, the film features a dynamic ensemble including Scott (winner of the Silver Bear at Berlinale for his performance here), Margaret Qualley, and Bobby Cannavale. Hawke imbues Hart with quippy charm and aching vulnerability, making BLUE MOON an unforgettable ode to artistry and queer resilience.
CAST: Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale, Andrew Scott
ALL TICKETS TO THE OPENING NIGHT FILM INCLUDE AN INVITATION TO THE OPENING NIGHT PARTY
SLATE (54 W 21ST ST, NEW YORK, NY) FOLLOWING THE SCREENING.
NEW YORK CITY PREMIERE
SUNDAY, 10/19, 6:00PM, SVA THEATRE
CHRISTY
Dir. David Michôd, 135 min, USA
Fueled by determination and an unrelenting will to win, Christy Martin (Sydney Sweeney) explodes from her small-town West Virginia roots into the world of professional boxing. Under the guidance of trainer Jim (Ben Foster), she becomes a champion, commanding a fiery persona inside the ring. But outside of it, her life begins to unravel as she confronts her family, her identity, and a relationship that turns violent and life-threatening.
Based on remarkable true events, CHRISTY is a rare sports film with a queer real-life figure at its center—a gripping story of resilience, courage, and the fight to reclaim one’s life against all odds.
CAST: Sydney Sweeney, Ben Foster, Merritt Wever, Katy O'Brian, Ethan Embry
ALL TICKETS TO THE CLOSING NIGHT FILM INCLUDE AN INVITATION TO THE CLOSING NIGHT PARTY
SLATE (54 W 21ST ST, NEW YORK, NY) FOLLOWING THE SCREENING.
FUCKTOYS
Dir. Annapurna Sriram, 107 min, USA
FRIDAY, 10/10, 7:30PM, SVA THEATRE
Audacious and visually rich, FUCKTOYS blends satire, fantasy, and sexually frank comedy into a wild, heartfelt ride. As writer, director, and star, Annapurna Sriram crafts a bizarre yet emotionally grounded world — cheekily named “Trashtown, USA” — where her part-time sex worker character AP must lift a curse by earning $1,000. (Don’t ask!) Along the way, she encounters sex parties, eccentric queers, and a murder-obsessed love interest. Vibrant colors, witty dialogue, and offbeat characters fill the screen, evoking the titillating textures of early Pedro Almodóvar and John Waters. Yet beneath the outrageousness lies empathy and heart. Recipient of the Special Jury Award at both SXSW and Fantasia film festivals and featuring a starry madcap ensemble including Big Freedia, Sadie Scott, François Arnaud, and Brandon Flynn, FUCKTOYS is a cult hit in the making — at once uniquely strange, weirdly warm, and completely unforgettable.
CAST: Annapurna Sriram, Sadie Scott, François Arnaud, Brandon Flynn, Damian Young, Big Freedia
THURSDAY, 10/16, 8:00PM, SVA THEATRE
NIGHT STAGE
Dirs. Filipe Matzembacher & Marcio Reolon, 119 min, Brazil
Matias, a Brazilian theatre actor hungry for mainstream success, begins an erotic power game with a discreet man who shares his taste for risky public sex. When Matias discovers his new fling is a rising politician on the verge of a major campaign, their affair quickly becomes a dangerous liability.
Directors Filipe Matzembacher and Marcio Reolon (HARD PAINT, NewFest30) deliver a singular, contemporary erotic thriller — one that reimagines what it means for public figures to live openly today. NIGHT STAGE dazzles with neon style, drawing bold parallels between the polished lives we perform in public and the dangerous desires we play out in the bedroom — or a dark alleyway, as the case may be.
CAST: Gabriel Faryas, Cirillo Luna, Henrique Barreira, Ivo Müller, Kaya Rodrigues, Larissa Sanguiné
A DEEPER LOVE: THE STORY OF MISS PEPPERMINT
Dir. Oriel Pe'er, 86 min, USA
SATURDAY, 10/12, 6:30PM, SVA THEATRE
This triumphant documentary is a testament to the irrepressible spirit of Miss Peppermint, a radiant figure in New York City’s nightlife and the first openly trans woman to compete on RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE. With irresistible charisma and an open heart, she invites us into the highs and lows of her artistic journey, often accompanied by her chosen family, including some iconic divas and drag royalty. Beyond being a portrait of her professional life, the film offers an intimate look at the resilience required to thrive as a queer and trans artist in a world that rarely offers stability. Executive produced by Bob the Drag Queen and Elliot Page, this local, inspiring, and deeply personal film celebrates Miss Peppermint’s unwavering perspective: that joy, determination, and community are not only possible, but necessary to overcome any challenge.
CAST: Peppermint, Sherry Vine, Laverne Cox, Sasha Velour, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Bob the Drag Queen
FRIDAY, 10/17, 6:30PM, SVA THEATRE
COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT
Dir. Ryan White, 109 min, USA
This Sundance Festival Favorite Award-winner is a luminous portrait of poet Andrea Gibson, an artist whose words defined a generation. This tender documentary, flowing with the rhythm of Gibson’s poetry, follows Gibson through their cancer diagnosis and their profound love story with fellow poet Megan Falley, celebrating their joy, friendship, and romance that endured alongside volcanic sorrow. After Gibson's passing in July 2025, the film becomes an even more poignant tribute, capturing their fierce spirit, enduring influence, and boundless capacity for love. With intimate direction from Ryan White, this affectionate film honors a voice whose power transcends a lifetime.
CAST: Andrea Gibson, Megan Falley
ALL ABOUT EVE (1950): 75TH ANNIVERSARY
Dir. Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 138 min, USA
SATURDAY, 10/11, 8:00PM, BAM ROSE CINEMAS
One night after a performance, aging stage actress Margo Channing (Bette Davis) meets an adoring young fan, Eve (Anne Baxter), who slowly insinuates herself into her life. But Margo quickly learns Eve is far from naïve—her ruthless ambition threatens to topple Margo’s career and closest relationships.
Written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, ALL ABOUT EVE is one of cinema’s most scathing (and most endlessly quotable) dissections of ambition, aging, and the theater world. Bette Davis delivers a career-defining performance in a film that earned rare double Best Actress Academy Award nominations (Davis’ ninth, Baxter’s second) and left an enduring legacy that extends to everything from pop culture journalism to prestige television.
CAST: Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders, Celeste Holm, Gary Merrill, Hugh Marlowe, Thelma Ritter, Marilyn Monroe, Gregory Ratoff, Barbara Bates, Walter Hampden
BORN YESTERDAY (1950): 75TH ANNIVERSARY
Dir. George Cukor, 103 min, USA
SATURDAY, 10/11, 2:00PM, BAM ROSE CINEMAS
In this uniquely American spin on Pygmalion, Judy Holliday plays Billie, the unsophisticated mistress of junkyard tycoon Harry Brock (Broderick Crawford). Embarrassed by Billie’s lack of refinement, Harry hires a local journalist (William Holden) to educate her, only to spark Billie’s awakening to the world and her own power.
Though sometimes overshadowed by Holliday’s surprise Oscar win over frontrunners Gloria Swanson and Bette Davis, George Cukor’s BORN YESTERDAY remains a sharp comedy of American politics and class, with Holliday delivering an effervescent, era-defining performance that earned her a place in film history.
CAST: Judy Holliday, Broderick Crawford, William Holden
DESERT HEARTS
Dir. Donna Deitch, 91 min, USA
SUNDAY, 10/12, 6:30PM, BAM ROSE CINEMAS
Donna Deitch’s classic of lesbian cinema is one of the greatest love stories of all time. The year is 1959 and Professor Vivian Bell has arrived in Reno, Nevada for a divorce. There she meets Cay Rivers, a backwards-driving, jean short-wearing sculptor/ casino employee who is brazenly herself. These two opposing forces circle around each other, falling in lust and love, Cay daring Vivian to take a risk for something more.
Nearly four decades since its release in April 1986, join us in revisiting a film that was ahead of its time and beyond time. From an overwhelming kiss in the rain to one of the best sex scenes ever put on film, DESERT HEARTS redefined what queer women could expect from our movies. The romance crackles with possibility, but its love story goes beyond this central pair — it’s also about the bonds of friendship, the challenge of family, and the importance of embracing the entirety of oneself.
CAST: Helen Shaver, Patricia Charbonneau, Audra Lindley, Andra Akers
SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950): 75TH ANNIVERSARY
Dir. Billy Wilder, 110 min, USA THIS FILM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A Q&A
SATURDAY, 10/11, 5:00PM, BAM ROSE CINEMAS
Billy Wilder’s timeless and prescient masterpiece Sunset Boulevard is perhaps the ultimate film about Hollywood. It tells the story of Joe Gillis (William Holden), a down-on-his-luck screenwriter who stumbles into the decaying mansion of former silent-movie star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson). When Norma hires Joe to polish the script for her comeback, he is drawn into a celluloid web of delusion and madness.
In this biting satire of the intoxicating highs and excruciating lows of show business, Swanson delivers one of the most electrifying performances ever put on film — embodying a woman who could not, or would not, change with the times.
CAST: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson, Fred Clark, Lloyd Gough, Jack Webb
THE CELLULOID CLOSET (1995):
30TH ANNIVERSARY
Dirs. Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman, 102 min, USA
THURSDAY, 10/16, 7:15PM, SVA THEATRE
Based on the landmark book from pioneer Vito Russo, THE CELLULOID CLOSET is an exuberant, eye-opening documentary from 1995 that serves up a dazzling hundred-year history of LGBTQ+ representation on the silver screen. Lily Tomlin narrates as Oscar-winning filmmaker Rob Epstein (THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK) and Jeffrey Friedman assemble illuminating clips and footage from 120 films. This archival collection shows the changing face of cinema sexuality from cruel stereotypes to covert love to the activist correctives of the early 1990s. Harvey Fierstein, Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Hanks, Susan Sarandon, Quentin Crisp, and Gore Vidal are just a few of the many actors, writers, and commentators who provide funny and insightful anecdotes. Join us as we reflect on the past, present, and future of LGBTQ+ visibility on screen.
CAST: Lily Tomlin, Whoopi Goldberg, Harvey Fierstein, Gore Vidal, Susie Bright, Shirley MacLaine, Ron Nyswaner, Tom Hanks, Susan Sarandon, Quentin Crisp, John Schlesinger
JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS (MOCKTAIL MATINEE)
Dirs. Harry Elfont & Deborah Kaplan, 98 min, USA
THURSDAY, 10/18, 12:00PM, NITEHAWK PROSPECT PARK
Rediscover the purr-fect all-girl rock band in this outrageous satire nearly 25 years after its very millennial release in 2001. Josie (Rachael Leigh Cook), Melody (Tara Reid) and Val (Rosario Dawson) are three small-town musicians with big dreams but little future. Then fate gives the Pussycats the chance of a lifetime when band manager Wyatt (Alan Cumming) of MegaRecords signs them overnight to an awesome recording contract. Suddenly, Josie and the Pussycats are living life in the fast lane with sold-out concerts, a number one single and global stardom. But it’s not all limousines and private jets. The Pussycats soon discover they’re being played like pawns in an evil plot by the record label’s maniacal CEO Fiona (Parker Posey) to control the youth of America.
CAST: Rachael Leigh Cook, Tara Reid, Rosario Dawson, Alan Cumming, Parker Posey, Gabriel Mann, Paulo Costanzo, Missi Pyle, Carson Daly
MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE (FILM FEAST): 40TH ANNIVERSARY
Dir. Stephen Frears, 97 min, UK
WEDNESDAY, 10/15, 6:45PM, NITEHAWK PROSPECT PARK
Join us for our fifth annual Film Feast and enjoy the 40th anniversary of a queer classic paired with a thematically curated multi-course meal!
Set in the Pakistani community of London, MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE follows the fortunes of handsome young Omar (Gordon Warnecke), who takes over a run-down laundrette given to him by his rich uncle. Together with his street-punk friend Johnny (Daniel Day-Lewis), they transform it into a popular, neon-lit palace as their emotions bubble alongside the spin cycles. Against a background of social and racial tension in the rough London suburb, Omar and Johnny’s own budding relationship blossoms to love with tenderness and passion.
Featuring a sharp, Academy Award-nominated screenplay by Hanif Kureishi and loving direction by Stephen Frears, MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE captures Thatcher-era London while telling an enduring, timeless romance.
CAST: Gordon Warnecke, Daniel Day-Lewis, Saeed Jaffrey, Roshan Seth, Shirley Anne Field
MAMMA MIA! (2008)
Dir. Phyllida Lloyd, 108 min, USA
SUNDAY, 10/12, 2:30PM, SVA THEATRE
Get ready to sing, dance, and have the time of your life in our first-ever audience-chosen singalong musical screening! In this modern classic of (not so) guilty-pleasure cinema, a young bride invites the three men that could potentially be her father to her wedding on a Greek island, all through the toe-tapping tunes of worldwide Europop sensation ABBA.
Based on the hit stage musical and boasting an all-star cast that includes Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski, and Colin Firth, MAMMA MIA! has become a rewatch essential across generations. So put on your platform boots, glitter up your overalls, and join us on the dancefloor!
CAST: Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski, Pierce Brosnan, Dominic Cooper, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters
U.S. PREMIERE
AT THE PLACE OF GHOSTS
Dir. Bretten Hannam, 89 min, Canada
THURSDAY, 10/16, 7:30PM, BAM ROSE CINEMAS
Haunted by the past, siblings Mise’l (Blake Alec Miranda) and Antle (Forrest Goodluck) are destined to reunite and join forces against a dark spirit that emerges from their shared childhood. Once inseparable, their fractured relationship—set by years of silence and a violent episode rooted in homophobia—is tested as they must return to Sk+te’kmujue’kati (the Place of Ghosts) a forest steeped in ancestral memory where time bends. What initiates from trauma soon transforms into an odyssey of healing, as Mise’l and Antle confront their caretaker’s cruelty, the weight of family secrets, and their own deepest fears. Visually stunning and emotionally raw, this extraordinary tale explores how love, even when repressed, can become the fiercest weapon against hate. Directed by NewFest alum Bretten Hannam (WILDHOOD), AT THE PLACE OF GHOSTS makes its U.S. Premiere at this year’s festival.
CAST: Blake Alec Miranda, Forrest Goodluck, Glen Gould, Brandon Oakes, Cherish Violet Blood
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
BEARCAVE
Dirs. Krysianna B. Papadakis, Stergios Dinopoulos, 127 min, Greece/UK
THIS FILM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A Q&A
SATURDAY, 10/18, 9:30PM, SVA THEATRE
In BEARCAVE, two close friends, Anneta and Argyro, stand at the edge of adulthood, compelled to follow imposed futures. Argyro must take over her family’s declining farm; Anneta is forced to be with a man who is celebrated as a hero police officer in their small town. Their friendship is shaken and transformed as their affection for each other begins to grow into something deeper. Set in the green mountains of Greece, BEARCAVE is a raw, unconventional tale of two young women who dare to defy what’s expected. Echoing the spirit of Greek mythology, the protagonists challenge their fates in a place still clinging to tradition. BEARCAVE makes its North American premiere at NewFest, after world premiering at Venice and it is the feature directorial debut of Stergios Dinopoulos and Krysianna Papadakis.
CAST: Hara Kyriazi, Pamela Oikonomaki
THIS FILM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A Q&A
BLUE FILM
Dir. Elliot Tuttle, 79 min, USA
SATURDAY, 10/11, 9:30PM, SVA THEATRE
Jaded fetish camboy Aaron agrees to spend a night with an anonymous client. As the two men’s defenses come down, Aaron realizes the two share a darker, more complicated past than he ever imagined.
By tackling the most taboo and thorny edges of desire head on, director Elliot Tuttle crafts a fearlessness of sex, memory, and connection—one that pulses with both erotic intrigue and startling humanity. Anchored by remarkably layered performances from Kieron Moore and Reed Birney, BLUE FILM transforms a single night into a chamber drama that provokes deep introspection and invites open dialogue about the ways desire can wound and reveal.
CAST: Reed Birney, Kieron Moore
THIS FILM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A Q&A
NEW YORK PREMIERE
DREAMERS
Dir. Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, 78 min, UK
SUNDAY, 10/12, 4:00PM, BAM ROSE CINEMAS
Two migrants fall in love in a UK detention center as they await the court’s decision on their requests for asylum. Farah helps newcomer Isio navigate the harsh bureaucracy, and together they find comfort in a fragile but growing romance. Their tender connection becomes an oasis in a desert of fear and uncertainty, and they discover solidarity among fellow residents who share the same dream of freedom. Writer/director Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor makes a striking feature debut, condemning the inhumane systems faced by those fleeing for their lives while framing it through the tender, sensual lens of a queer love story that refuses to be silenced.
CAST: Ronke Adékoluejo, Ann Akinjirin, Diana Yekinni, Aiysha Hart, Harriet Webb
FANTASY
Dir. Kukla, 98 min, Slovenia/North Macedonia
MONDAY, 10/13, 7:30PM, BAM ROSE CINEMAS
In Slovenia, three best friends push back against the rigid norms of their conservative surroundings. Their bond is tight, their world small — until they meet Fantasy, a vibrant transgender woman whose presence disrupts their dynamic and sparks a quiet revolution within each of them. As Fantasy draws them into her orbit, the film shifts — friendships evolve, desires surface, and identities begin to blur. Set in the charged, transitional space of early adulthood, this coming-of-age story explores both the fragility of long-standing bonds and the magnetic intensity of new connections.
CAST: Sarah Al Saleh, Alina Juhart, Mina Milovanović, Mia Skrbinac
NEW YORK PREMIERE
FOUR MOTHERS
Dir. Darren Thornton, 89 min, Ireland/UK
TUESDAY, 10/14, 7:00PM, SVA THEATRE
Gay Irish novelist Edward (James McCardle) longs for creative freedom and independence as he cares for his ailing mother (Fionnula Flanagan), who has lost her speech, though none of her edge. When three of his equally stuck friends take a spontaneous vacation, Edward is left in charge of their mothers as well. Suddenly surrounded by four stubborn, old-fashioned women — and further unsettled by unresolved feelings for his dreamy ex-boyfriend — Edward must decide when it’s time to stop living for others and start living for himself.
Darren Thornton’s heartwarming comedic drama brings two generations into lively collision while posing an essential question: When does our duty to our loved ones end, and our commitment to our own lives begin?
CAST: James McArdle, Fionnula Flanagan, Dearbhla Molloy, Paddy Glynn, Stella McCusker
I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST
Dir. Tommy Dorfman, 92 min, USA
SUNDAY, 10/12, 3:30PM, SVA THEATRE
In this lucid adaptation of the novel by Mason Deaver, Tommy Dorfman brings to life the story of Ben, a nonbinary high school junior and their journey of self determination. After they are kicked out of their home by their ultra-conservative parents, Ben finds an unexpected lifeline with their estranged older sister and her husband. Starting over at a new school, Ben begins to heal, thanks to the quirky open-minded art teacher (played by Lena Dunham) and a growing bond with a charismatic classmate. Just as things begin to settle, their parents return with plans to force Ben into conversion therapy. But none of this will stop their truth. With the fierce support of their chosen family, Ben finds the strength to resist and reclaim their voice to become their full, unapologetic, authentic self.
CAST: Corey Fogelmanis, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Amy Landecker, and Lena Dunham, with Alexandra Daddario, and Cole Sprouse
EAST COAST PREMIERE
THIS FILM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A Q&A
IF YOU ARE AFRAID YOU PUT YOUR HEART IN YOUR MOUTH AND SMILE
Dir. Marie Luise Lehner, 87 MIN, Austria
SUNDAY, 10/19, 1:00PM, THE LGBT CENTER
+ STREAMING
Winner of the 2025 Teddy Jury Prize, this moving portrait follows a deaf mother and her 12-year-old child, Anna, as they navigate class struggle, identity, and bodily autonomy in the heart of Vienna. In their cramped flat, daily life is shaped by facing economic precarity and social exclusion. When Anna starts high school, she confronts the cost of fitting in — and finds unexpected solidarity with a classmate whose parent is a queer, trans man, played by Daniel Sea (THE L WORD).
More than a story of survival, this is a cinematic letter of dissent from Vienna’s dissident community, drawing strength from queer and trans voices to demand change and imagine futures worth living.
CAST: Siena Popović, Mariya Menner, Jessica Paar, Daniel Sea
IN TRANSIT
Dir. Jaclyn Bethany, 82 min, USA
10/10, 8:45PM,
Two women meet at a crossroads in their lives and find something unexpected in each other. One woman is wasting away, bartending in a small Maine town while stuck in a relationship that’s lost its spark. The other, a painter, yearns to reconnect with her artistic practice. When the painter asks the bartender to model, a magnetic pull grows between them.
In this perceptively written and delicately observed drama, Jennifer Ehle and newcomer Alex Sarrigeorgiou (also the film’s screenwriter) deliver quietly bristling performances that reveal how making art together can unlock buried emotions. With hushed tones and simmering passion, director Jaclyn Bethany crafts a singular meditation on muses, desire, and the transformative power of creativity.
CAST: Alex Sarrigeorgiou, François Arnaud, Jennifer Ehle
WORLD PREMIERE
JASON AND SHIRLEY REVISITED
Dir. Stephen Winter, 84 min, USA
FRIDAY, 10/10, 7:30PM, BAM ROSE CINEMAS
A radical revisitation. This updated version of Stephen Winter’s 2015 film unearths the ghosts of Jason and Shirley, restaging the volatile 12-hour shoot of the 1967 documentary PORTRAIT OF JASON—held at the Chelsea Hotel—which blurred the line between subject and storyteller. Jason Holliday (Jack Waters), a sharp-witted Black gay man, whose identity splits between personas—performer, hustler, muse, provocateur–is once again in the room with Shirley Clarke (queer pioneer Sarah Schulman), the Oscar-winning filmmaker who insisted on framing his life.
Now, with newly unearthed footage, Stephen Winter returns 10 years later, not to resolve the contradictions, but to reopen them. What was once a document becomes a haunting, a conversation with what was left outside the frame. Time folds. Power shifts. And Jason, still impossible to contain, speaks back.
CAST: Jack Waters, Sarah Schulman, Orran Farmer, Tony Torn, Peter Cramer, Eamon Fahey, Tristan Cowen, Mike Bailey Gates, Denise Dixon
NEW YORK CITY PREMIERE
LESBIAN SPACE PRINCESS
Dirs. Emma Hough Hobbs, Leela Varghese, 87 min, Australia
WEDNESDAY, 10/15, 7:30PM, NITEHAWK PROSPECT PARK
BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER meets Adult Swim in this hilarious and heartfelt romp that won the prestigious Teddy Award at this year’s Berlinale. Hailing from the land of Clitopolis, awkward princess Saira yearns for the approval of her moms and their kingdom. It’s not her fault she prefers table magic to partying! But when her emotionally unavailable bounty hunter exgirlfriend is kidnapped by Straight White Maliens, Saira sees an opportunity to win back her love and prove she’s just as cool and gay as the rest of her planet.
With a silly sense of humor full of in-community jokes, LESBIAN SPACE PRINCESS is an animated sci-fi musical adventure for any queer person who has ever been afraid to be their authentic self — even if that self is a big gay loser.
CAST: Shabana Azeez, Demi Lardner, Richard Roxburgh, Mark Samual Bonanno, Madeleine Sami
LOVE LETTERS
Dir. Alice Douard, 97 min, France
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
WEDNESDAY, 10/15, 8:00PM, SVA THEATRE
Paris 2014. Lesbian DJ Céline eagerly awaits the arrival of her first child — though it’s her wife, Nadia, who is six months pregnant. Under French law, Céline must collect letters of testimony to adopt their child once she’s born. As she navigates this arduous process and reconnects with her eccentric mother, Céline is forced to confront her own ideas of what makes a good parent. What begins as bureaucratic red tape evolves into a heartfelt journey of self-discovery and love, as Céline and Nadia redefine motherhood for a modern world. LOVE LETTERS is a moving, deeply personal drama direct from the Cannes Film Festival.
CAST: Ella Rumpf, Monia Chokri, Noémie Lvovsky
ONLY GOOD THINGS
Dir. Daniel Nolasco, 104 min, Brazil
Catalão, Brazil, 1984. The rural region of Batalha dos Neves is made up of large crop pastures and is divided in half by the São Marcos River. Antonio lives alone and is taking care of his small farm, isolated, until the day he encounters Marcelo, a lonely motorcycler who suffers an accident while passing through. Antonio takes care of Marcelo’s wounds and the two fall in love. Their romance transforms, destabilizes, and causes ruptures in each of them in this beautifully bold journey from writer/ director Daniel Nolasco (DRY WIND, NewFest32).
CAST: Lucas Drummond, Liev Carlos, Guilherme Théo
WORLD PREMIERE
OTHER PEOPLE’S BODIES
Dir. Alan Brown, 85 min, USA
SATURDAY, 10/11, 9:00PM, SVA THEATRE
Married couple Olivia and Seb are enjoying a secluded vacation in a country estate when they receive an unexpected visit from Olivia’s former dance partner — who also happens to be Seb’s old lover. They haven’t seen each other since a painful rupture in their friendship, and as the weekend unfolds and more guests arrive, old grudges and sexual tensions rise to the surface.
This queer reimagining of the French classic LA PISCINE from director Alan Brown puts modern relationship dynamics at its center, while reminding us that even in an age of sexual fluidity, the raw mess of desire and emotion never really changes.
CAST: McKinley Belcher III, Jasai Chase-Owens, Annie Parisse, A.J. Shively, Adam Jepsen, Julienne Hanzelka Kim
QUEENS OF THE DEAD
Dir. Tina Romero, 99 min, USA
PRESENTED BY
SATURDAY, 10/18, 9:00PM, SVA THEATRE
Doors are about to open for Brooklyn’s wildest queer party, and nothing seems to be going right. The drag performers are fighting, staff members have gone missing, and the event organizer is about to have a nervous breakdown. Oh and there’s a zombie outbreak slowly circling in on them. The eccentric group trapped in the venue must now put their differences aside if they want to survive, and become the heroes humanity didn’t know it needed.
Directed by Tina Romero (daughter of zombie movie legend George A. Romero) and boasting an all-star cast featuring Jaquel Spivey, Katy O’Brian, Dominique Jackson, Cheyenne Jackson, and Margaret Cho, QUEENS OF THE DEAD is a zombie flick that shows you don’t have to stop looking fabulous to save the world.
CAST: Katy O'Brian, Jaquel Spivey, Nina West, Tomas Matos, Margaret Cho, Jack Haven, Quincy Dunn-Baker, Cheyenne Jackson, Riki Lindhome, Dominique Jackson, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Becca Blackwell, Eve Lindley, Tom Savini, Julie J
THIS FILM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A Q&A
QUEERPANORAMA
Dir. Jun Li, 87 min, Hong Kong/USA
SATURDAY, 10/11, 12:45PM, NITEHAWK PROSPECT PARK
In this formally assured slow-burn drama, a gay man in Hong Kong cycles through a series of lovers, each time impersonating the last man he slept with. It's a strange but poignant way of loving: Only by pretending to be somebody else can he come close to being himself. The film unfolds in long, unbroken scenes where conversation, both awkward and intimate, takes center stage. Dialogue feels at once natural and deliberately stilted, capturing the dissonance of early encounters. Shot in gorgeous black and white, this is cinema at its most quietly daring: patient, uncomfortable, and rewarding. QUEERPANORAMA offers a haunting meditation on identity, desire, and the masks we wear to be seen.
CAST: Jayden Cheung, Erfan Shekarriz, Sebastian Mahito Soukup, Arm Anatphikorn, Zenni Corbin
SAME, AGAIN
Dir. Ruth Caudeli, 121 min, Colombia
MONDAY, 10/13 AT 6:45PM, NITEHAWK PROSPECT PARK
A powerful, emotionally charged ensemble drama, SAME, AGAIN follows a theater group as buried tensions begin to surface during their rehearsal process. What appears to be a standard production slowly unravels, exposing layers of invisible abuse, homophobia, and long silenced pain. As the women in the cast begin to speak openly, they discover how much they've endured, and how rarely they've been heard. With a sharp point of view, a fearless cast, and a script improvised with remarkable precision, this new work from prolific NewFest alum Ruth Caudeli pulses with authenticity. Intimate, raw, and quietly radical, SAME, AGAIN is a striking narrative that shows the power of shared truth.
CAST: Silvia Santamaría, Ana María Otálora, Camila Pujana, Marcela Robledo, David Moncada, Camila Vallejo, Santana Rosa, Alejandra Chamorro, Víctor Tarazona
NEW YORK PREMIERE + STREAMING
SAUNA
Dir. Mathias Broe, 103 min, USA/Denmark
SATURDAY, 10/11, 6:00PM, SVA THEATRE
Set in a Copenhagen bathhouse where nightly encounters blur fantasy and reality, SAUNA follows Johan, a young cis man adrift in a world of casual hookups. When he meets William, a trans man navigating Denmark’s labyrinthine medical system in pursuit of hormones, he begins to confront his own fears, prejudices, and sense of self. A breakout international success at Sundance, Mathias Broe’s timely debut is an inviting, intimate film that daringly imagines queer love beyond fetishization and lays bare the discrimination trans men still face—even within gay spaces.
CAST: Magnus Juhl Andersen, Nina Terese Rask, Dilan Amin, Klaus Tange, Peter Oliver Hansen, Morten Burian, Theo Suissa, Anton Hjejle, Daniel Muniz
SHE’S THE HE
Dir. Siobhan McCarthy, 82 min, USA
SUNDAY, 10/12, 5:30PM, SVA THEATRE
SATURDAY, 10/18, 12:45PM, NITEHAWK PROSPECT PARK
When high-schooler Alex convinces his best friend Ethan they should pretend to be trans to hook up with girls, Ethan makes a startling discovery: She isn’t pretending. Blending farce with genuine emotion, this subversive comedy takes rightwing locker-room panic to its funniest and most poignant conclusion. With a fresh spin on the coming-out narrative, debut director Siobhan McCarthy pays homage to iconic high school comedies like SHE’S THE MAN and BRING IT ON while adding a distinctly queer twist. Led by Misha Osherovich and Nico Carney, an ensemble of trans actors deliver both irreverence and heart—cementing this as a new teen comedy classic.
CAST: Misha Osherovich, Nico Carney, Suzanne Cryer, Malia Pyles, Mark Indelicato, Emmett Preciado, Tatiana Ringsby, Aparna Nancherla, Kyle Butenhoff, Emma Orr
THIS FILM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A Q&A
EAST COAST PREMIERE
SUMMER’S CAMERA
Dir. Divine Sung, 83 min, South Korea
SUNDAY, 10/12, 12:45PM, NITEHAWK PROSPECT PARK
After her father's death, young photographer Summer puts her camera away, unable to create art. But her passion is rekindled when she meets Yeonwoo, a charismatic soccer player who makes her shutter click. While navigating the thrills and tenderness of first love, Summer also discovers a collection of mysterious photos her father left behind—images that point to a hidden past. As she delves deeper into the life of the man she thought she knew, Summer unravels a truth that will forever change her understanding of romance, family, and the power of seeing the world–and each other–clearly.
CAST: Kim Sia, Kwak Minkyu
THIS FILM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A Q&A
NEW YORK CITY PREMIERE
THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER
Dir. Kristen Stewart, 130 min, USA
MONDAY, 10/13, 7:00PM, SVA THEATRE
Kristen Stewart’s stunning directorial debut charts the journey of Lidia Yuknavitch, a scholarship swimmer who reconciles her turbulent upbringing and resurfacing trauma by finding solace in the art of literature. Adapted from Yuknavitch’s autobiographical bestseller, this Un Certain Regard official selection from this year’s Cannes film festival is an aesthetically bold portrait that ecstatically captures the cathartic experience of breaking through.
Featuring a tour de force performance from Imogen Poots and sterling support from Thora Birch, Tom Sturridge, Jim Belushi, and Kim Gordon, THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER is at once visceral and poetic – a formally fragmented and fluid ode to the processing and reclamation of one’s past and identity that clearly heralds a distinct new voice in cinema.
CAST: Imogen Poots, Thora Birch, Susannah Flood, Tom Sturridge, Kim Gordon, Michael Epp, Jim Belushi
NEW YORK PREMIERE
THE SERPENT’S SKIN
Dir. Alice Maio Mackay, 83 min, Australia
TUESDAY, 10/14, 6:45PM, NITEHAWK PROSPECT PARK
Horror auteur Alice Maio Mackay (CARNAGE FOR CHRISTMAS, NewFest36) returns to NewFest with a film that fuses occult terror and pulsating sexuality. After leaving home to live with her sister, Anna encounters a magnetic tattoo artist who recognizes their shared supernatural powers. As their bond deepens, so does the peril — forcing the pair to battle the inner demons they’ve unleashed. Drawing inspiration from THE CRAFT and BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, Mackay delivers a trans horror vision that burns with rebellion, lesbian desire, and righteous fury.
CAST: Alexandra McVicker, Avalon Fast, Jordan Dulieu, Charlotte Chimes, Scott Major, Lewi Dawson, Alyssa Peters
2025 FILM SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10
11
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14
OCTOBER 15
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19
WE ARE FAHEEM & KARUN
Dir. Onir, 74 min, India
STREAMING FRIDAY, 10/17, 7:15PM, SVA THEATRE
Writer/director Onir and co-writer Fawzia Mirza offer a new and singular spin on the timeless tale of star-crossed lovers. When a border patrol guard accepts an apple from a man crossing from Kashmir into India, an ostensibly doomed romance begins. Divided by religion, ethnic origin, and the weight of societal pressures, these two young men press forward, building a fragile but passionate connection in defiance of the forces against them. Anchored by two luminous performances, this film is both a sensually charged drama and a powerful statement against love’s ability to resist the borders, prejudices, and traditions that seek to crush it.
Mir Tawseef, Akash Menon, Mir Salman, Sana Javeid and Bashir Lone.
THIS FILM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A Q&A
CAST:
Warner Bros. Discovery is proud to support NewFest and champion their mission to ensure LGBTQ+ stories are seen, heard, and celebrated.
ASSEMBLY (NEWFEST PRIDE VIRTUAL ENCORE)
Dir. Rashaad Newsome & Johnny Symons, 99 min, USA
STREAMING
Follow visionary artist Rashaad Newsome as he gathers community to transform New York’s historic Park Avenue Armory into a Black queer utopia—blending imaginative art, creativity, and performance.
In addition to being a NewFest Pride Encore Virtual Exclusive, ASSEMBLY will be screening in theatrical release at Cinema Village from October 10-16.
CAST: Rashaad Newsome, Being the Digital Griot, Dazié Rustin Grego-Sykes, Kyron EL, Nekia Zulu, Puma Camillé, Koppi Mizrahi, Dana Vitkovski, Zenabu Abubakari, Florence Newsome
EAST COAST PREMIERE
NIGHT IN WEST TEXAS
Dir. Deborah S. Esquenazi, 83 min, USA
FRIDAY, 10/17, 7:30PM, THE LGBT CENTER
In 1981, James Reyos, a young gay Apache man from Odessa, Texas, was pressured into confessing to the murder of a Catholic priest and sentenced to 38 years in prison. Nearly four decades later, armed with new evidence, justice-driven lawyers from The Innocence Project of Texas fight to clear his name.
With NIGHT IN WEST TEXAS, Peabody-winning journalist and Emmy-nominated documentarian Deborah S. Esquenazi transcends the tropes of true crime to expose decades of systemic injustice stacked against marginalized communities. The result is a powerful and deeply moving portrait of a man seeking redemption and a legal system reckoning with its failures.
NIÑXS
Dir. Kani Lapuerta, 86 min, Mexico/Germany
+ STREAMING THURSDAY, 10/16, 6:45PM, NITEHAWK PROSPECT PARK
Fifteen-year-old Karla navigates the turbulence of adolescence while making the life-changing decision to legally transition. Supported by her parents and community yet confronting the prejudices of her rural Mexican town, Karla tells her own story alongside trans filmmaker Kani Lapuerta, who has documented her since childhood.
Together, they craft a vivid portrait of what it means to grow up proudly trans in a world mediated by the ever-present lens of a front-facing camera. NIÑXS is a nuanced and intergenerational coming-of-age story that reimagines small-town life—and a whimsical reminder that no one escapes the painful, awkward, and beautiful parts of adolescence.
CAST: Karla Bañuelos, Assur Bañuelos, Rocío Aranda, Óliver Salas, Valentina Salcedo and Kani Lapuerta
JOIN US AFTER THE SCREENING FOR OUR ANNUAL T4T MIXER
THIS FILM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A Q&A
U.S. PREMIERE
QUEER AS PUNK
Dir. Yihwen Chen, 88 min, Malaysia/Indonesia/France
+ STREAMING TUESDAY, 10/14, 7:30PM, BAM ROSE CINEMAS
QUEER AS PUNK is a riotous documentary following “Shh…Diam!” (“shut up!”), a queer Malaysian punk band led by trans frontman Faris. With biting lyrics and explosive energy, the group takes a fearless stand against the country’s anti-LGBTQ government, turning every performance into both protest and celebration. Humor, heart, and deeply personal stories collide as the band creates space for queer joy in a society that tries to silence them. For Faris and Shh…Diam!, punk isn’t just an aesthetic — it’s resistance, resilience, and a lifeline that keeps them going.
ROCK OUT
Dir. Dustin Lance Black, 116 min, USA/UK
WEDNESDAY, 10/15, 7:00PM, SVA THEATRE
While disco and pop are labeled as queer friendly, the reality is that LGBTQ+ artists have shaped every corner of music for over a century. Inspired by his late, queer, punk-rock brother, Oscar-winner Dustin Lance Black (MILK; MAMA’S BOY, NewFest34) takes an electrifying deep dive into the ways queerness has always shaped the otherwise hypermasculine worlds of heavy metal, punk, and rock-and-roll.
With a pulsating score from Hole drummer Patty Schemel and candid interviews with artists, performers, managers, and scholars, ROCK OUT uncovers the often-erased queer roots of these hardcore genres, revealing how rebellion, subversion, and queerness have always been at the heart of rock.
CAST: Rebeks Clark Mane, Jim Farber, Jann Wenner, Vince Eager, Simon Napier-Bell, Vivek Tiwari, Peter Brown, Nat Weiss, Peter Asher, Kevin McCormick, Billy Gaff, Lynne Volkman, Arthur Brown, Jayne County, Tony Zanetta, Jim Fouratt, Danny Fields, Dolly Parton, John Reid, Joe Genaro, David Russell, Bobby Campbell, Brandon Creed
THIS FILM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A Q&A
WORLD PREMIERE
SECOND NATURE
Dir. Drew Denny, 81 min, USA/The Netherlands/Costa Rica
SATURDAY, 10/18, 6:45PM, SVA THEATRE
This bold, visually rich documentary invites viewers to rediscover the natural world as a place of diversity, fluidity, and complexity. While science remains our most powerful tool for understanding life in an era clouded by fear and prejudice, it’s easy to forget what the natural world truly reveals. SECOND NATURE dismantles outdated assumptions and highlights the very real biological presence of LGBTQIA+ identities across species. Narrated by Elliot Page and featuring groundbreaking research from scientists like Joan Roughgarden, the film celebrates the wonderful, inherently queer essence of nature and calls on us to look, listen, and learn without bias.
NARRATED BY ELLIOT PAGE
THIS FILM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A Q&A
BOOTS: SCREENING & CONVERSATION
Dir. Peter Hoar, 41 min, USA
FRIDAY, 10/10, 6:45PM, SVA THEATRE
Join NewFest for a screening of BOOTS Episode 1: The Pink Marine, followed by a conversation with talent from the Netflix series. Set in the tough, unpredictable world of the US Marine Corps, this coming-of-age story follows directionless, closeted Cameron and his straight best friend Ray as they join a diverse group of recruits in the unpredictable world of the US Marine Corps in the ’90s.
CAST: Miles Heizer, Max Parker, Vera Famiga, Liam Oh, Cedrick Cooper, Ana Ayora, Angus O’Brien, Dominic Goodman, Kieron Moore, Nicholas Logan, Rico Paris, Blake Burt
SCREENING WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A Q&A
Amida Care complies with Federal civil rights laws. Amida Care does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-800-556-0689, TTY 711.
1-800-556-0689, TTY 711. With the HIV and Gender-Affirming Care Experts
SHORTS: ALL ABOUT THE T
Runtime: 93 min
THURSDAY, 10/16, 7:30PM, NITEHAWK
PROSPECT PARK
A trans-led, nonconforming program of bold, unfiltered short films — original, smart, and brilliantly made. Rooted in community, resistance, and care, these radical works center self-determination beyond mere survival. Dissident bodies come together to claim space, embrace each other, and create futures. ALL ABOUT THE T means no compromise.
JOIN US AFTER THE SCREENING FOR OUR ANNUAL T4T MIXER.
ARE YOU SCARED TO BE YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU THINK THAT YOU MIGHT FAIL?
Dir. Bec Pecaut, 17 min, Canada
While recovering from top surgery, Mad struggles with wanting the attention of their partner and accepting the help of their mother.
A KIN SIN
Dir. Gulzar, 5 min, Canada
While oiling a friend’s scalp, filmmaker Gulzar seeks to understand their gender amidst their familial and cultural wishes.
PUREBRED
Dir. Caleb J. Roberts, 15 min, Ireland/UK
During a heatwave, transgender man Owen returns to the flat of his on-off-again lover Seán after taking a pregnancy test.
FLASH SALE
Dir. Autumn Boxley, 12 min, USA
Two trans men living in Brooklyn call upon an unlikely audience to raise money for top surgery.
RED LIGHT GREEN
Dir. Eva Wu, 7 min, USA/Germany
Experience this rotating and hypnotic sensory-world, where gyrating nymphs express love beyond your wildest fantasies. This is a love letter to trans, queer, sex working, and otherwise marginalized and criminalized folks who surpassed the boldness of their parents.
ROPE
Dir. Lucas Manuel-Scheibe, 12 min, USA
During a night of erotic bondage, Aki begins to recall the story of his grandmother’s disappearance. An “ama,” or “sea woman” of Japan, her gradual descent into the ocean’s loving arms reflects Aki’s drift from the ropes and lover who bind him.
PUPPIES PUPPIES (JADE GUANARO KURIKI-OLIVO): RADICAL TRANSPARENCY
Dir. Drew de Pinto, 9 min, USA
Two late-twenty-somethings — and former high school theatre department legends — house-sit in the Hamptons, where they try their best to avoid their exes and keep a goldfish alive for the weekend.
MOONBEAMS
Dir. Elo Santa Maria, 15 min, USA
When Frankie is thrown in solitary confinement for taking hormones, his lover June is cut off from him. The two must find a way to reunite and plot Frankie’s escape.
SHORTS: LAUGH RIOT
Runtime: 85 min
FRIDAY, 10/17, 9:30PM, SVA THEATRE
+ STREAMING
SHE RAISED ME
Dir. Ben Lewis, 14 min, USA/Canada
When a struggling writer discovers he’s dating the son of his favorite actress, he’ll do anything to make (and keep) a meaningful connection.
CLEAN SLATE
Dir. Emily May Jampel, 9 min, USA
Two Asian nonbinary best friends and actors must make some sacrifices when they go up for the same breakout role.
MUNCHIES
Dir. Brittany Alexia Young, 11 min, USA
After lighting up and getting the munchies, a group of stoned college girls with a complicated history stumble into a botched robbery at their local convenience storeforcing them to squash their giggles to make it out alive.
BUGGED
Dirs. Kieran Altmann & Katie Schiller, 20 min, USA
Kieran & Katie, two amoral queers in their 20s, host an open house at their Bushwick apartment in a desperate attempt to find a subletter. There's just one catch… the apartment is infested with bed bugs.
GAY JESUS
Dir. Aaron Jin, 6 min, USA
Jesus tries to save humanity and fulfill his purpose on earth, but runs into some unexpected, internalized hurdles.
THEY’RE PACKING
Dirs. Noah Wolfe & Gabi Carrubba, 11 min, USA
Hoping to gain a sense of security, a group of queers head upstate to learn how to shoot a gun. But when the first shot goes off, the day of mishaps and mayhem devolves into something much darker.
MANGO CHILE PIE
Dir. Karan Sunil, 16 min, USA
On the anniversary of their mother’s death, three estranged sisters, Sonam, Dar, and Trisha, get stuck in their family-owned fire station and their decades-long resentments come spilling out.
From hilarious romps to sharp satire, this collection of comedies will have you laughing through the toughest times. A botched robbery, a shooting range gone wrong, family chaos, and even gay Jesus himself appear in films that prove humor thrives in the wildest situations. THIS PROGRAM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
SHORTS: AVANT QUEER
Runtime: 101 min
WEDNESDAY, 10/15, 7:30PM, BAM ROSE
CINEMAS
+ STREAMING
These bold films offer inventive visions that expand the possibilities of cinema while illuminating the spectrum of queer experience. Through experimental narratives, striking aesthetics, and complex queer characters, each work pushes the medium forward with daring originality. Themes of family, connection, and transformation are woven throughout, showing how emotion and innovation can converge to reimagine both storytelling and queer life.
TWO BLACK BOYS IN PARADISE
Dir. Baz Sells, 9 min, UK
A movingly tender animation, based on Dean Atta’s eponymous poem, sees Edan (19) and Dula (18) on a journey of self-acceptance and love – for each other and themselves.
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE
Dir. Deborah Devyn Chuang, 21 min, Taiwan
Fantasy bleeds into reality when 16-year-old Lolo becomes entangled in a Freudian loop centered around a strawberry shortcake and her mother, Norma.
SPA NIGHT
Dir. Jeremy Feight, 7 min, USA
When a lonely heart seeks solace at a luxe Manhattan spa, a night of steamy glances and awkward encounters spirals into a surreal blend of lust, longing, and unexpected chaos.
GRANDMA NAI WHO PLAYED FAVORITES
Dir. Chheangkea, 19 min, Cambodia/France/USA
During her chaotic family’s Qingming visit, dead Grandma Nai sneaks away from her peaceful afterlife after overhearing that her queer grandson is about to get engaged to a woman.
HOUSTON, WE HAVE A CRUSH
Dir. Omer Ben Shachar, 10 min, USA
After finding a phone accidentally left behind by an astronaut, a lonely alien develops an all-consuming crush that tests his hold on reality.
THE IMMACULATE HONEY
Dir. Mauricio Calderon Rico, 18 min, Mexico
Chucho is taken care of by his mother Alma for a few days, during which they will grow closer.
ONE DAY THIS KID
Dir. Alexander Farah, 17 min, Canada
In a world that’s never made room, a young brown man contends with desire, shame, and the quiet weight of his father’s expectations – seeking a self he’s never been shown how to become.
SHORTS PROGRAMS
SHORTS: QUEER TEEN POWER
Runtime: 96 min
+ STREAMING
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Now in its eighth year, NewFest is thrilled to collaborate with NYC’s Department of Education on this uplifting shorts program curated for LGBTQ+ teens. These upbeat, affirming films — featuring everything from intergenerational bonds to magical drag foxes — give queer youth the chance to see themselves on screen and feel inspired to tell their own stories.
The in-person screening of this program on Thursday, October 16th at 4pm is open exclusively to LGBTQ+ students and staff, youth organizations and school GSAs. Registration is free. For GSA leaders, students and school staff, please contact gsafilm@newfest.org with your information to inquire and receive a registration form.
BABA I’M FINE
Dir. Karina Dandashi, 13 min, USA
A teen battles heartbreak while spending Friday out with her unknowing father.
A FRIEND OF DOROTHY
Dir. Lee Knight, 22 min, UK
A lonely widow's quiet life is upended when a teenage boy accidentally kicks his football into her garden.
ONE FOR THE TEAM
Dir. Rain Valdez, 33 min, USA
When trans lacrosse hotshot Nico Ramirez transfers to a wealthy high school to save his Ivy League scholarship, he’s forced to navigate privilege, peer pressure, and conflicting feelings about his new access to the toxic boy’s club. Will he fight for what he believes and jeopardize his future, or fall in with the crowd and risk losing himself?
DRAGFOX
Dir. Lisa 'Lee' Ott, 8 min, UK
Sam's search for identity gets interrupted by a mysterious neighbourhood fox. Together they embark on a magical journey to discover the surprising things they might have in common, and how to celebrate the ways in which they differ.
DANDELION
Dir. Fiona Obertinca, 20 min, USA
In 1970s Los Angeles, rebellious queer teen Margaret gets thrown out of her catholic school and finds herself in the company of a social worker who’s tasked with finding her a new home before the break of dawn. At odds and forced to travel the city together, Margaret realizes that running may not be her only option.
SHORTS: FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD
Runtime: 99 min
SATURDAY, 10/11, 12:00PM, NITEHAWK
PROSPECT PARK
Break bread with us at our annual Brooklyn Brunch as we share stories of how food — messy or magical — shapes our lives. From unexpected dinner guests to home-cooked comfort, absurd family shenanigans, mysterious meal pals, and more, this nourishing, chaotic collection proves we are what we eat. And this time, we’re really cooking.
IN THE FLESH
Dir. Emily Frances Kaplan, 16 min, USA
The perfect housewife has a secret: She's obsessed with expensive meat, and the local butcher who knows how to handle it. When her dream of a chance encounter with the butcher comes true, the cracks in her home life are exposed.
THE EATING OF AN ORANGE
Dir. May Kindred-Boothby, 7 min, UK
A juicy and surreal exploration of convention and sexuality told through slugs, rituals and the eating of an orange.
HOME
Dir. Donja R. Love, 14 min, USA
Home follows T, a homeless queer teen, on the night he makes a life-changing decision in hopes of finding shelter.
CONEY ISLAND BABY
Dir. Fernando Lopez, 7 min, USA
A recently released, formerly incarcerated father tries to reconnect with his daughter & take her to Coney Island, fumbling to connect along the way—only to find Luna Park is closed.
CARROTICA
Dir. Daniel Sterlin-Altman, 13 min, Germany
A teenage boy is writing an explicit gay erotica in secret in his bedroom and his mother is falling in love with a carrot. They’re doing okay…
MEAL PAL
Dir. Chen Xie, 11 min, China/USA
In an empty motel after midnight, two lonely souls have a magical encounter.
LONG PORK
Dir. Iris Dukatt, 14 min, USA
In a Post-Roe America where theocracy reigns, a renowned butcher meets the political predator responsible for the killing of her daughter and exacts bloody revenge, setting the stage for a revolution.
SUNDAY SAUCE
Dir. Matt Campanella, 14 min, USA
A repressed Italian-American father is thrust into his worst nightmare when his secret online crush shows up to his family's Sunday dinner. +
SHORTS PROGRAMS
SHORTS: IF YOU WANNA BE MY LOVERBOY
Runtime: 104 min
SATURDAY, 10/18, 6:00PM, SVA THEATRE
ORION’S QUEST
Dir. Steven Chew , 15 min, USA
+ STREAMING
Get ready, boys. Sexual and romantic desire between men fuels this shorts program, capturing the thrill, ecstasy, and heartbreak of wanting. From bathhouse shadows and Fire Island feuds to forbidden hookups, interstellar love, and erotic rituals, these films revel in fantasy, taboo, and longing. THIS PROGRAM WILL BE FOLLOWED
Before a powerful eclipse occurs, an extraterrestrial being must finalize his mission to comprehend love, by exploring the romantic relationships between black gay men.
FAN LETTER
Dir. Zeb Daemen , 16 min, Belgium
A 50s heartthrob discovers a letter that rekindles a lost love, forcing him to confront the Faustian bargain behind his fame. Alone in his dressing room, Ricky risks everything for one last chance at truth and connection.
PINING
Dir. David Jaffe, 14 min, USA
A salty, millennial gay wars with a spunky, Gen Z female he considers a threat to Fire Island Pines’ already crumbling shore while attempting to seduce the optimistic influencer who brought her.
THE UPPER ROOM
Dir. Joel Perez, 12 min, USA
Two Pentecostal youth pastors have a crisis of faith when they meet up for an afternoon of forbidden love.
LISBON
Dir. Matthew Jacobs Morgan, 13 min, UK
A broke queer man attends a hook up with an older man on the promise of cash, but finds himself pulled into a twisted request that forces him to confront deep questions of life, death, and the price of human connection.
A GARDEN UNDER THE EARTH
Dir. Pedro Lavin, 6 min, USA/Mexico
In a series of dreamlike digital vignettes, two wild fairies engage in an increasingly intense erotic ritual.
WITHIN A QUIET BODY
Dir. José Manuel Vélez, 14 min, USA/Chile
Alex, a jaded cleaner at a gay sex club, tries to satiate his repressed desires through sex and pain.
BRIEF SOMEBODIES
Dir. Andy Reid, 15 min, Canada
While rehearsing a sexual assault scene, a pair of actors form a connection they’ll be forced to reconfigure once filming begins.
SHORTS: IN YOUR FACE!
Runtime: 92 min
SUNDAY, 10/12, 12:00PM, NITEHAWK
PROSPECT PARK
Screw respectability. These shorts are outrageous, loud, and unapologetically over the top. Brimming with style, big ideas, and even bigger characters, they’re impossible to ignore: bright-colored neo-noirs, surreal nightmares, stomach-turning comedies, and queer visions that defy categorization. They’re here, they’re queer — and unforgettable. +
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!
Dir. Zen Pace, 12 min, USA
A broke birthday party clown finds out his mother is dying during the gig from hell.
PORELESS
Dir. Harris Doran, 14 min, USA
A fabulous, queer, Muslim beauty entrepreneur competes in a SHARK TANK-like contest after suffering an untimely allergic reaction.
LA DICHOTOMIE
Dirs. Suzie Toot, Dan Ingram, Oscar Ruso, 14 min, USA
While tap-dancing sensation Suzie Toot (RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE, BIG EASY QUEENS) dazzles her audiences, lethargic artclown Gloomie Toot gets a surprise visit that sends her down a spiral for Suzie's spotlight.
THE FLAMINGOS ON THE WALL
Dir. Ben Evory, 8 min, USA
At a Bushwick costume party, an uninvited “Princess Diana” seeks revenge on “Judy Garland” for past trauma involving ornithological wallpaper.
BLUE VIOLET
Dir. Josie Charles, 10 min, UK
Blue’s gift preparations for her beloved Violet transform into something darker when reality picks up the phone.
FREE THE BUNS
Dir. Blanche Enaka, 14 min, USA
A trio of high school friends get revenge on their racist teacher by stealing her emotional support bunny.
NEST
Dir. Willem Koller, 10 min, New Zealand
A trans body horror about a reluctant mother-to-be who. When faced with her husband’s disgust at what she has birthed, she’s forced to take drastic measures to reconcile with who she has become.
ATTAGIRL!
Dir. Klimovski, 9 min, USA
When a debtor tries to run off with her money, a ruthless bookie hunts him through New York's city streets, and when she gets ahold of him, he’ll be coughing up more than just cash.
SHORTS PROGRAMS
SHORTS: HERE COME THE DOLLS!
Runtime: 88 min
MONDAY, 10/13, 7:30PM, NITEHAWK
PROSPECT PARK
An audacious shorts program celebrating the vision and brilliance of trans women and those who love them. From vengeful resurrections to satanic rituals, shoplifters waging war on capitalism to secret cults, shadow selves to harrowing births, these genre-defying films crown the Dolls as auteurs, protagonists, dreamers, and disruptors.
MISS
Dir. Alexandra Stergiou, 7 min, USA
+ STREAMING
PRESENTED BY
It's been four days since Sophie came out as trans to her partner Jess. Seeking a place away from it all for Sophie to take her first steps out in the air as a woman, they go to a gas station outside of the city. Based on true events.
DOLLS
Dir. Geena Rocero, 19 min, USA
A junior private investigator goes undercover to attend the relationship workshop for trans women called DOLLS. She quickly realizes a sinister force is at play.
PURPLE PATROL!
Dir. Jessica Q. Moore, 8 min, USA
A vigilante trio summons an otherworldly power to help protect the queer community.
RAINBOW GIRLS
Dir. Nana Duffuor, 16 min, USA
As San Francisco’s tech boom gentrifies their city, three black trans youth decide to take matters into their own hands, staging an audacious heist targeting the city’s most exclusive luxury brands.
TRANSVENGEANCE
Dir. Kaye Adelaide, 5 min, Canada
A trans woman dies on the operating table during facial feminization surgery, but death is no match for a determined transsexual.
THE DYSPHORIA
Dir. Kylie Aoibheann, 13 min, Australia
A trans woman performs a Satanic ritual to get a vagina, but unwittingly invites a demonic presence into her home which demands a terrible sacrifice.
ARTIFICE
Dir. Theo Rose, 12 min, USA
A mystic woman oscillates between performance and projection until she meets her shadow at a local coffee shop (or it's about a girl being haunted by a pronoun, depending on who you ask).
BIRTH OF THE HIVE QUEEN
Dir. Tempest Creation, 9 min, USA
Amina, a trans sex worker, gives birth out of her anus.
NEW VOICES FILMMAKER GRANT SHOWCASE
Runtime: 59 min
TUESDAY, 10/14, 7:30PM, NITEHAWK PROSPECT PARK
A partnership between NewFest and Netflix, the New Voices Filmmaker Grant was launched in 2022 to provide resources for emerging filmmakers telling LGBTQ+ stories.
For the fourth year, NewFest is excited to celebrate the grant recipients with a showcase screening of their recent short films, followed by an in-depth conversation with the filmmakers. Join us as we share the auspicious work from 2025 grantees MG Evangelista, Shuli Huang, Farah Jabir, and Kevin Xian Ming Yu and hear what’s to come in their future projects and promising careers. Presented in partnership with Netflix.
KASBI
Dir. Farah Jabir, 12 min, USA
A middle-aged Pakistani housewife, in search of herself, hires a young, self-assured sex worker to keep her company for the night.
WILL YOU LOOK AT ME
Dir. Shuli Huang, 21 min, China
As a young Chinese filmmaker returns to his hometown in search of himself, a long due conversation with his mother dives the two of them into a quest for acceptance and love.
ANINO
Dir. MG Evangelista, 15 min, USA
On the anniversary of her mother’s death, a quiet teen being raised by her two grandmothers awakens to her first period and is relentlessly bullied at school. When her bully later turns his torments on her crush, her pent-up rage erupts and she discovers an ancestral power that is both terrifying and freeing.
YÚ CÌ (FISH BONES)
Dir. Kevin Xian Ming Yu, 11 min, USA Bowen, a nonbinary Asian-American from Queens, tries to connect with their estranged father and help him deal with a poisonous fish bite.
SHORTS: DYKE NYTE
Runtime: 80 min
SATURDAY, 10/11, 6:45PM, SVA THEATRE + STREAMING
Dyke drama and lesbian longing abound in this eclectic program of eight sapphic shorts — from chaotic meetcutes at Riis Beach to a newly out woman’s double date panic, a couple’s painting debate, and a fearless barrel racer’s return to love.
JOIN US AFTER THE SCREENING FOR OUR ANNUAL DYKE NYTE PARTY, SPONSORED BY
“GIRLFRIEND GIRLFRIEND”
Dir. Sara Werner, 5 min, USA
A woman retreats to the recesses of her mind when her new co-worker asks her an intrusive question.
2 GIRLS KISSING
Dir. Noah Schamus , 8 min, USA
Naomi, a struggling director, tries to hold onto her nerves when her lead actress, who happens to be her girlfriend, won’t show up to set or pick up her phone. Hubris ensues.
RIIS
Dir. Kendall Alex Payne, 13 min, USA
A hopeless romantic and their friends contrive a meet-cute at NYC’s queer beach, but chaos, dysphoria, and unexpected connections reshape their quest for love.
HAPPY PLACE
Dir. Sara Monge, 11 min, USA
After realizing she may want to date women, Anna goes to her roommate's cousin's lesbian engagement party in the hopes of figuring out her sexuality, but discovers something much more terrifying instead.
NEW ACQUISITION
Dir. Caledonia Abbey, 2 min, UK
A young couple debates keeping a painting up in their new apartment.
SEEK NO FAVOR
Dirs. Elle Clay & Leilah Weinraub, 14 min, USA
When anxiety-managing millennial Monroe Malone overhears weave-snatching cartel leader Big Baby's plan to kidnap hair tech genius Camille J. Walker, Monroe is forced to jump into action.
DOUBLE DATE
Dir. Hannah Wolf, 10 min, USA
A newly out middle-aged lesbian panics before a third date and impulsively hires a sex worker to help her prepare.
CALAMITY JANE
Dir. Robin Cloud, 17 min, USA
After a near fatal accident, a barrel racer must find the courage to ride again and open her heart to love.
SOUND & SCENE SHOWCASE ENCORE
(VIRTUAL EXCLUSIVE)
Runtime: 79 min
PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
+ STREAMING
NewFest is delighted to share a virtual encore of films that were created as part of Sound & Scene: NewFest + Concord QTBIPOC Short Film Initiative, featuring music by noted artists Billie Holiday, Joan Sebastian, MUNA, Phil Collins, and REO Speedwagon. Join us as we share new work from filmmakers Nico Blanco, Kyle Casey Chu, Moitri Ghosh, Mekhai Lee, Syra McCarthy, and Kevin Xian Ming Yu.
BETTY ST. CLAIR
Dir. Syra McCarthy, 12 min, USA
Betty St. Clair is in over her head. In the backstage green room of an all-AAPI drag show, Betty struggles to keep her messy troupe of queens on task with the help of bestie and drag sister, Candace Dikfit. When Betty takes the stage to begin hosting, we realize the event is being held at an Asian American community center for a small crowd of baffled seniors.
THEM THAT’S NOT
Dir. Mekhai Lee, 19 min, USA
A sudden prison furlough unexpectedly bonds an estranged father with his emotionally avoidant daughter at their matriarch’s repass.
ASHA
Dir. Moitri Ghosh, 12 min, USA
Amidst the chaos of her daughter’s 10th birthday party, Asha must face her estranged mom who shows up unannounced bearing the ultimate gift.
MIÉNTEME (LIE TO ME)
Dir. Nico Blanco, 13 min, USA
During an elegant engagement party, the unexpected arrival of a guest from the past threatens the event’s apparent perfection.
TAKE A LOOK AT ME
Dir. Kevin Xian Ming Yu, 15 min, USA
Zhang, a middle-aged Chinese immigrant, visits the grieving family of his former lover, Ming. Over one afternoon in Queens, he connects with twenty-something Andy, Ming’s genderqueer child.
SHORTS: THE QUEER REBELLION
Runtime: 79 min
SUNDAY, 10/19, 4:00PM, THE LGBT CENTER
+ STREAMING
From ACT UP’s historic protests to today’s Black trans leadership, these shorts spotlight queer defiance across decades and identities. Whether through street activism, Black trans euphoria, or experimental visions of liberation, THE QUEER REBELLION celebrates community power, radical imagination, and the refusal to be erased.
SILENCE = DEATH
Dir. Trace Pope, 16 min, USA
On May 21, 1990, during one of ACT UP’s heated demonstrations at the NIH campus, a young gay filmmaker fights to deliver a message to the protest's target: Dr. Anthony Fauci.
ECHOES: THE B SIDE
Dir. Mars Storm Rucker, 18 min, USA
This film is dissecting the different perspectives of how the unconscious mind finds healing through nostalgia and connection to the inner child. The inspiration of this stemmed from the medicalization of gender dysphoria by the ADA. This bred me to interact with the question of the intimate why's behind this incongruence between sex and gender, whether gender dysphoria was inherent to transness, and analyze history and how America medicalizes trans people and specifically Black people. I wondered about our Black indigenous understandings of gender pre colonization and western ideals. This experimental documentary-film ultimately examines the technology of Black liberation and healing of trauma through vintage fashion, vintage aesthetics, and the romanization of nostalgia to create afro-futuristic utopias.
HUSTLEWEEN
Dir. Samara Pérez Santiago, 20 min, Puerto Rico
A vibrant exploration of community and Black Trans euphoria, Hustleween chronicles an annual celebration created by EspicyNipples that transforms memory into queer resistance and joy.
AMERICAN PROBLEMS, TRANS SOLUTIONS
Dir. Naz Habtezghi, 25 min, USA
Award-winning journalist Imara Jones travels across the country to tell the stories of three Black trans leaders who are on the frontlines of change: housing advocate Kayla Gore; Breonna McCree, a champion for economic empowerment; and Oluchi Omeoga who’s fighting for the rights of migrants.
EPISODIC SHOWCASE
Runtime: 98 min
MONDAY, 10/13, 6:00PM, SVA
THEATRE
+ STREAMING
This group of ecstatic episodic pilots give us a first taste of bigger worlds and larger narratives. From a dip into the art of being a sugar baby to an idiosyncratic radio show, a sobering trip to the not-so-distant past to a group of Millennial Greek gods, these shorts will have you asking for a full binge drop.
DADDIES BOI
Dir. Jason Avezzano , 15 min, USA
As youth and options dry up, two aging sugar babies plunge into the bizarre “desire economy” via a provocative app called Daddies Boi forcing them to question what they’re selling, what it costs, and what they’re willing to risk.
DENIM
Dir. TEDRA, 10 min, USA
A fantastical doc series illuminating the brilliant minds of LGBTQIA+ creatives.
ALL THE THINGS I LEAVE YOU
Dir. Jade Castro, 22 min, Philippines/USA
At a family-run restaurant in Ilocos, a privileged rich kid and a street-smart newcomer are forced to work together — uncovering a decades-old love story that upends everything they thought they knew about love, loyalty, and legacy.
COMMITTED
Dir. Monica Raymund, 14 min, USA
During the Lavender Scare, government files were created to track individuals deemed to have “weak morals.” Lists were made. Suspected gays were on those lists. Black and Native Americans were on those lists. Intellectuals. Feminists. This family was on those lists.
THE MISADVENTURES OF BUCKY & BEENE
Dir. Lisa M. Thomas, 20 min, USA
The lives of two campy pirate radio DJs, — former Miss Gay USA Pepper Buckthorne and her sassy sidekick Jelly Beene — who threaten the locals in upstate New York with their WRU-GAY in the morning radio show and befriend Sharon their free spirited neighbor in the process.
DIVINE INTERVENTION
Dir. Kelly McCready, 17 min, USA
After nearly causing an international incident, Aphrodite (the Kardashianesque love goddess) is stripped of her powers. Will she regain her omnipotence by helping a super-single Brooklynite find true love, or be banished from the Pantheon forever?
NBCUNIVERSAL PRESENTS: FROM KITCHEN TO CULTURE WITH TOP CHEF’S KRISTEN KISH
Dir. Richard Linklater, 100 min, USA/Ireland, Runtime: 60 min
SATURDAY, 10/18, 5:00PM, THE LGBT CENTER
Top Chef isn’t just about food – it’s a cultural staple. In this fireside chat, host Kristen Kish shares her journey from chef to television icon, reflecting on career-defining moments, the show’s unforgettable legacy, and how it continues to shape pop culture plate by plate.
PANEL: ROTTEN TOMATOES CRITICS LAB: SPOTLIGHTING QUEER CRITICAL ARCHIVES
Runtime: 60 min
SATURDAY, 10/18, 3:00PM, THE LGBT CENTER
Critics join Rotten Tomatoes to sift through queer reviews from the 1940s to the ’90s, to explore how our communities historically built and dissected popular culture.
PARTY: DYKE NYTE
SATURDAY, 10/11, 9:30PM, MAGIC HOUR ROOFTOP BAR
Join us after the screening of SHORTS: DYKE NYTE for our annual Dyke Nyte Party, celebrating short films by women and non-binary filmmakers. This year’s event will be held at Magic Hour Rooftop Bar and Lounge (Moxy Times Square) – show your ticket from the screening to get a free drink!
PARTY: T4T MIXER
THURSDAY, 10/16, 8:30PM, NITEHAWK'S TREES LOUNGE
Join us at Nitehawk's Trees Lounge following the screening of SHORTS: ALL ABOUT THE T for our 3rd annual T4T Mixer, celebrating trans filmmaking and community. Show your ticket from the screening to get a free drink!
NewFest is more than a festival. Our programs bring LGBTQ+ film, conversation, and community to NYC and beyond.
NEWFEST PRIDE: Our annual summer celebration of queer film + culture
QUEERING THE CANON: Queer takes on classic + cult cinema
ADVANCE SCREENINGS: The newest queer films + TV before anyone else
ARTIST DEVELOPMENT: New Voices Filmmaker Grant (Netflix), Sound & Scene (Concord Originals), and the Black Filmmakers Initiative
INDUSTRY EVENTS: Queer Media Mixers + networking opportunities
HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS (w/ NYC DOE): Introducing queer films to students
Together, these programs keep queer stories seen, filmmakers supported, and community thriving year-round. Learn more at newfest.org
Located at Moxy Chelsea, the Festival Lounge is the place to relax, connect, and celebrate during the festival. Enjoy complimentary drinks, special events, and conversations with filmmakers, industry, and fellow festival-goers. Open daily from October 10–19.
Access included with Festival Passes + Silver, Gold, and Diamond Memberships
LEARN MORE: NEWFEST.ORG/LOUNGE
A NIGHT LIKE THIS ASSEMBLY EPISODIC SHOWCASE IN TRANSIT
LESBIAN SPACE PRINCESS
NEW VOICES FILMMAKER GRANT SHOWCASE NIGHT IN WEST TEXAS NIÑXS ONLY GOOD THINGS QUEER AS PUNK SAME, AGAIN
SHE’S THE HE SHORTS: ALL ABOUT THE T
SHORTS: AVANT QUEER
SHORTS: DYKE NYTE
SHORTS: FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD
SHORTS: HERE COME THE DOLLS
SHORTS: IF YOU WANNA BE MY LOVERBOY SHORTS: IN YOUR FACE!
SHORTS: LAUGH RIOT
SHORTS: QUEER TEEN POWER
SHORTS: THE QUEER REBELLION
SOUND & SCENE SHOWCASE ENCORE SUMMER’S CAMERA WE ARE FAHEEM & KARUN
IF YOU ARE AFRAID YOU PUT YOUR HEART IN YOUR MOUTH AND SMILE
Each recipient received $25,000 and is provided workshops with Netflix execs and a NewFest-paired creative mentor. The grantees’ work will be screened at the New Voices Filmmaker Grant Showcase at Nitehawk Prospect Park on October 14 at 7:30PM. Submissions open for the new round of the Grant in January 2026!
LEARN MORE: NEWFEST.ORG/NEWVOICES2025
After Phoenix’s Desperado LGBTQ+ Film Festival was forced to cancel its annual event due to the administration’s executive order targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion, Arizona lost vital access to queer stories. In solidarity, NewFest created the Arizona Queer Film Access Initiative to keep those stories accessible.
From October 9–21, 2025, Arizona residents will receive complimentary virtual access to a curated selection of films from NewFest’s 37th Annual New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival. Learn more & donate: newfest.org/arizona
KEVIN XIAN MING YU
FARAH JABIR
MG EVANGELISTA SHULI HUANG
QUEER FILM IS UNDER ATTACK. TOGETHER, WE FIGHT BACK.
As the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ film festival, NewFest brings bold queer stories to audiences year-round. But we can’t do it without you. Your support keeps queer stories on screen, nurtures LGBTQ+ filmmakers, introduces LGBTQ+ films to high school students and sustains a community that refuses to be erased. DONATE TODAY AT NEWFEST.ORG/DONATE
Your annual membership gives you:
• Invitations to members-only events throughout the year
• Access to advanced screenings, exclusive premieres, and parties
• Discounts on year-round screenings and series, including Queering the Canon and NewFest Pride
• Discounts on all New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival tickets and passes
• Silver, Gold, and Diamond memberships include festival passes
• Discounts on NewFest merchandise
Learn more at
