For 30 years, the New York LGBT Film Festival (aka NewFest) has provided an important platform for queer storytelling. In partnership with Outfest and presented by HBO, the New York LGBT Film Festival makes its annual return on October 24-30.
Taking place over 7 days, the festival will include a series of panel discussions and Q&A’s, as well as an opening and closing night Gala, that will bring together filmmakers, film enthusiasts, and the thriving artistic communities that constitute New York City’s vibrant cultural scene.
The festival kicks off on Wednesday, October 24th with an Opening Gala that will showcase director Yen Ten’s powerful period piece, 1985.
Set against the backdrop of the AIDS crisis and shot in black and white super 16 mm, Yen delivers a beautifully textured piece that explores the story and struggles of a closeted man who returns home to his family for the holidays.
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The festival’s U.S. Centerpiece is the film Boy Erased, directed by Australian actor Joel Edgerton, whose cast includes fellow Australian starry names Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman.
Boy Erased follows the harrowing story of a teenage boy (Lucas Hedges), who is sent to a gay conversion therapy camp after being outed to his parents.
The festival’s international centerpiece is the film, Rafiki. Running on the back of its Cannes premiere, Rafiki is a resonant and nuanced depiction of queer love between two young women in Nairobi, Kenya.
Laden with pink hues, the films color palette adheres to the African film aesthetic known as the Afrobubblegum movement. Judging by the visuals below, it is certainly a must-see on the big screen!
Featuring over 140 films in the form of narratives, documentaries, episodics, and shorts, the LGBT film festival spotlights an array of stories to explore, support and empower the LGBTQ experience. The festival exhibits movies from around the world, from both emerging and established filmmakers.
With such a range in content, these films show the important intersection of queerness with other social identities (race, class, gender, ability, religion and ethnicity), providing crucial visibility to marginalized communities and identities.
Some other notable films in the NewFest program are Eva + Candela (Colombia), Solace (USA), Devil’s Path (USA), Daddy (USA), For Izzy (USA), “I Hate New York (Spain), Skin of the Teeth (USA) and Two in the Bush (USA).
The festival offers the exciting opportunity to meet and connect with fellow film enthusiasts, build community and fosters thoughtful and critical discussions on the stories shared.
Be sure to grab yourself some tickets for this awesome event that celebrates the full spectrum of LGBTQ stories on screen!