NewFest
Join us for The 30th Annual New York LGBT Film Festival! NewFest gives voice and visibility to the full spectrum of the LGBTQ experience by championing films, supporting storytellers, and engaging audiences in order to inspire dialogue, shift cultural bias and empower our diverse community.
Find more NewFest events and get your tickets at newfest.org/events.
Presented in Partnership With
October 24-30, 2018
Events at The Center
October 27-29, 2018
East Coast Premiere
Dir. Matt Alber and Jon Garcia, USA, Canada, 2018, 87 mins
For many queer people, some of our toughest years were when we were teenagers living at home. Homophobic parents and school environments often made life unbearable. Now meet the next generation of queer youth, as they forge a path of love, with the support of their families. In the face of one of the harshest political climates, with homophobia and racism on the rise, these fearless teenagers are claiming their identities and taking the world by storm. “Room to Grow” is an intimate look into what it means to be an LGBTQ teen today. Q&A to follow.
Free for NewFest Members
Dir. Gus Van Sant, USA, 2008, 128 mins
This distinctly American tale of grassroots political perseverance won Dustin Lance Black an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for his well-researched and flinty script, and received nominations for Best Picture and Best Director for queer director Gus Van Sant. Anchored by a towering Academy Award-winning performance by Sean Penn and supported by a dynamic ensemble–which includes Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Alison Pill, and James Franco–”Milk” boasts the activistic power of a strong community working together to create change and awareness. “Milk” captures the ebullience and spirit of 70s San Francisco and celebrates the doors opened by the titular icon, California’s first openly gay elected official, as well as the legacy he left behind too soon. With special guest Stuart Milk; Global LGBT Rights campaigner, Co-Founder of the Harvey Milk Foundation and nephew of Harvey Milk.
Histories are reconstructed then deconstructed in magnificent textures and styles to celebrate and reflect on the narratives of lives on the fringes: from Italian exiles on a remote island in the 1930s, to British farmers in the early 21st century, to families and spaces intimately shaped over years by HIV/AIDS. As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of NewFest, we look back on the past three decades and further not only to remember but also to discover. Q&A to follow. Presented in Partnership with Making Gay History and NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project.
East Coast Premiere
Dir. David Weissman, USA, 2017, 67 min
“I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. Director,” says New Yorker and subject Daniel Maloney, 77; and so begins the start of a stimulating interview between Maloney and director David Weissman (We Were Here, The Cockettes). A principal dancer with Martha Graham in the 1970s, Maloney recounts his experiences facing racism, serving in the army, moving to New York, and first sexual encounters–all the while carrying on the art so closely linked to culture, community, and civilization: oral tradition. This film is part of a documentary series in which Weissman collaborates with a young editor–in this case, Jake Stein, 24 and newly out–to capture illuminating stories from elders that represent a cross-section of the LGBTQ community. This screening will be followed by an extended conversation with the filmmakers and subject, moderated by Adam Golub (Film Team Leader, The Generations Project). Presented in Partnership with Generations Project and SAGE.
Audience Award, SXSW 2018
Dir. Gabriel Silverman and Fiona Dawson, USA, 2017, 93 mins
At the risk of being discharged and losing their livelihoods, trans service members come out to top brass at the Pentagon to challenge the transgender military ban. From 2015 to the present day, we follow four trans service members—Senior Airman Logan Ireland, Corporal Laila Ireland, Captain Jennifer Peace, and First Lieutenant El Cook—as they fight to defend their equal right to serve their country. This screening will be followed by a conversation with the filmmakers and subjects, moderated by Zeke Stokes, Vice President of Programs, GLAAD.
East Coast Premiere
Dir. Tung-Yen Chou, Taiwan, 2017, 61 mins
Explore the mysteries of dating apps in this charming, infectious documentary that lays all the sexy details out on the table. Young Taiwanese filmmaker Tung-Yen Chou searches for a love of his own, as he questions gay men around the world about their intimate experiences on hookup apps. Can an app lead you to the love of your life? This refreshingly raw and far too relatable look into digital romance is a snapshot of the moment. Q&A to follow.
From a fast-paced chase to a lazy summer day, this year’s Boys Shorts explore what it means to bring your full self to both the mundane and the extraordinary moments in life. In cities across the globe, these films capture the contemporary lives of a panoply of gay men from many different backgrounds in 2018. Q&A to follow.
U.S. Premiere
Dir. Mika Imai, Japan, 2018, 63 mins
When Hana falls in love with Ayumi, a girl she meets in her sign language group, she comes out to her parents who swiftly reject her. In an effort to cheer her up, Ayumi takes Hana to a deaf LGBTQ group in Tokyo, as they both find self-acceptance. A landmark film with a deaf cast and crew, this tender and sweet story showcases the beauty found within intersectionality and will warm the hearts of deaf and hearing audiences alike. Presented in Partnership with ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York and Japan Society.