NewFest
NewFest: The 31st Annual New York LGBTQ Film Festival
New York’s LGBTQ Film Festival features over 160 films from more than 30 countries. NewFest’s annual celebration of the year’s best LGBTQ film and media—narrative features, documentaries, shorts programs, episodic showcases and special events—has grown to become a vital part of New York City’s cultural landscape. Don’t miss the chance to be part of one of the world’s premier gatherings of LGBTQ filmmakers, artists and audiences.
DETAILS
October 23-29, 2019
Events at The Center
October 26-29
Presented in Partnership With
Upcoming Events at The Center
“Queering the Script”
Saturday, October 26
4 p.m.
New York Premiere
Dir. Gabrielle Zilkha, Canada & USA, 2019, 85 mins
Fangirls have long been overlooked and disregarded, but Gabrielle Zilkha’s documentary beautifully honors the queer women who have consistently supported some of television’s most popularly coded shows, such as “Xena: Warrior Princess” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
“Queering the Script” looks at queer representation over past decades—charting its course from mild subtext to fully realized queer characters—and its impact on the women who were watching. Zilkha reorients our associations with fan culture away from cis hetero men and toward a new, intersectional audience, creating a refreshing, empathetic and honest film about media’s ubiquitous nature and the repercussions of that, especially for queer communities. With extraordinary candor and thoughtfulness, Zilkha and her interviewees argue for necessary changes to the status quo of storytelling. Talkback to follow film.
Preceded by short: “Gamers”
Dir. Searit Huluf, USA, 2018, 0:09:43
An amateur female gamer is given a once in a lifetime opportunity to try out for a pro league gaming team, only to be repressed by self-doubt.
“Our Dance of Revolution”
Saturday, October 26
7 p.m.
New York Premiere
Dir. Phillip Pike, Canada, 2019, 102 mins
An audience favorite at this year’s Hot Docs, “Our Dance of Revolution” is an enriching documentary that celebrates the unsung heroes of Toronto’s black LGBTQ community. Tracing four decades of necessary rebellion while highlighting the crucial role of black women and black queer spaces, director Phillip Pike gives voice to the trailblazers who fought on the front lines against violence and police brutality via fascinating archival footage and first-person interviews.
“Our Dance of Revolution” will educate, uplift and move you—and it makes very clear that the era of activism isn’t over, and the fight for queer and black rights demands a more international understanding of organization and resistance.
Postcards from Brazil (Shorts Program)
Sunday, October 27
11 a.m.
With the election of Jair Bolsonaro in 2018, the world’s eyes suddenly turned to Brazil. But the country’s history with oppression of LGBTQ, Afro-Brazilian and low-income communities has been a complicated one for quite some time. “Postcards from Brazil” provides an essential and intersectional platform for the strong voices of marginalized populations, and celebrates the queer and trans lovers, fighters and everyday Brazilians working toward lives free from discrimination.
Total Running Time: 99 min
All films are subtitled in English.
“The Orphan”
Dir. Carolina Markowicz, Brazil, 2018
15 min, Portuguese
Jonathas has been adopted but is then returned due to his “different” way. Inspired by true events.
“Selma After the Rain”
Dir. Loli Menezes, Brazil, 2019
11:38 min, Portuguese
Selma is a trans woman who built her life far away from family. One day she gets a call to go to her elderly mother, who suffers from Alzheimer’s and needs treatment.
“Infinite While It Lasts”
Dir. Akira Kamiki, Brazil, 2019
18:38 min, Portuguese
After falling in love at a party, Danny and Seiji just want to be together. However, their differences might prove stronger than their feelings.
“Antes Que Seja Tarde” (Before It’s Too Late)
Dir. Leandro Goddinho, Brazil, 2019
15 min, Portuguese
Brazil, the first week of 2019. A new president takes office in a scenario of fanaticism, prejudice and violence. Locked in a hotel room, two teenagers decide to change the course of their lives.
“From the Other Side”
Dir. Bob Yang & Frederico Evaristo, Brazil & Taiwan, 2018
14 min, Chinese
On the eve of an important ruling, a Taiwan Supreme Court Judge receives an unexpected letter from her son who has been living in Brazil.
“Marielle and Monica”
Dir. Fabio Erdos, Brazil & UK, 2018
24:55 min, Portuguese
Marielle Franco, a Brazilian LGBTQ and human rights activist turned politician, was killed in March 2018. Her widow, Monica Benicio, is continuing her fight for better treatment of the poor, the LGBTQ community and black Brazilians.
“Crystal City”
Sunday, October 27
1:30 p.m.
Dir. Terrence Crawford, USA, 2019, 89 mins
New York Premiere
Filmmaker Terrence Crawford delivers a respectful and intimate look into the lives of gay men dealing with the re-emerging crisis of crystal meth addiction in New York City. Crawford expertly traces the history of the drug while making connections to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and mental health in the LGBTQ community. Through first hand experiences we learn about how these men became addicts and about their road to recovery via essential and life changing queer support groups. Simultaneously revealing, compassionate and deeply informative, this essential documentary humanizes a stigmatized subject matter, ensuring awareness across our community rather than shame and isolation. Talkback to follow film.
Presented in partnership with Amida Care.
“All We’ve Got”
Sunday, October 27
4:15 p.m.
Dir. Alexis Clements, USA, 2019, 67 mins
World Premiere
Since 2010, over 100 queer women’s spaces—from dive bars to bookstores and dance halls to health centers—have shuttered across the United States. As concern grows over the death and dearth of these essential social hubs, this documentary takes inventory of those that continue to thrive across the country, inciting a powerful conversation about the importance of community. Whether at Alibi’s Club in Oklahoma City or WOW Café Theatre in our own New York City, queer women are tirelessly making room for one another on barstools, stages and activism’s front lines.
Intrepid first-time director Alexis Clements takes us on a far-flung journey through American herstory and resilience. “All We’ve Got” is a timely reminder that, despite financial hardship and the evolving definition of queer community, the existing places in which we seek shelter are more inclusive and active than ever before.
Writers: Alexis Clements & Ali Cotterill. Q&A to follow film.
Queer Comedian Storytelling Hour
Sunday, October 27
6:45 p.m.
“When was your first time…that you saw yourself represented as a queer person on screen?”
This is the question that we have posed to our diverse and hilarious group of NYC comedians from all across the LGBTQ spectrum. Directly following our riotous comedy shorts program “The Gag’s All Here!” (Sunday, 10.27 at 4:15 p.m. at SVA Theatre), continue to roll out of the aisles (and the theater!) and into The Center for this cherry on top of a hysterical evening! Watch as our performers take this prompt, make it their own and use their unique comedic voices to address queer representation in film and television through stand-up and storytelling.
Featuring Gabe Gonzalez, Alex Song, Phillip Henry, Pat Regan, Lynaé DePriest, Alex English, Glo Shantae Butler, Chloe Koser and Bobby Hankinson. Performers subject to change based on availability.
Presented in Partnership with Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
“Espero Tua (Re)volta” (Your Turn)
Monday, October 28
5:15 p.m.
Dir. Eliza Capai, Brazil, 2019, 93 mins
New York Premiere
Lucas “Koka” Penteado, Marcela Jesus and Nayara Souza were three ordinary high school students whose lives suddenly changed when the state of São Paulo announced plans to close 94 public schools. In response to corruption and inefficiency in their government, the teens started to organize. Beginning with protests in which local students occupied their schools for weeks on end, the student labor movement reached extraordinary heights in 2015 and 2016, bringing awareness to numerous injustices in Brazil and remedying widespread problems for the country’s poorest residents. That was, until 2018, when Jair Bolsonaro was elected with 55% of the popular vote. As the tides shift against activists and social justice movements, Koka, Marcela and Nayara are faced with a jarring reality. Charting the country’s recent history through casual voiceover narration, gorgeous archival footage and intimate interviews, “Your Turn” is a passionate championing of young activists and the future of progressive advocacy, in Brazil and beyond.
Writer: Eliza Capai
Cast: Nayara Souza, Lucas “Koka” Penteado, Marcela Jesus
Busy Thinkin’ Bout Boys (Shorts program)
Monday, October 28
7:30 p.m.
Let’s hear it for the boys! From a jubilant dance number to a California king-sized bed, this year’s signature program revels in and investigates the lives of gay boys surviving and thriving in 2019. Join us on a journey through polyamory, engagements, burgeoning young love and the power of a super-cute sweater.
Total Running Time: 98 mins. Q&A to follow.
“Sweater”
Dir. Nick Borenstein, USA, 2018
4:37 min, English
Corey’s day couldn’t be worse. Then he gets a free coffee.
“Engaged”
Dir. David Scala, USA, 2019
16:58 min, English
Starring Daniel K. Isaac (“Billions”) and Ryan Jamaal Swain (“Pose”), “Engaged” is an LGBTQ romantic comedy that follows Darren, who keeps trying—and failing—to propose to his boyfriend Elliot.
“Tadpole”
Dir. Jovan James, USA, 2018
7:08 min, English
A shy teenager named Chris anxiously prepares his room for his friend, Alex, to spend the night. In the middle of the night, Chris makes a risky move that will change his and Alex’s relationship forever.
“Marco”
Dir. Saleem Haddad, UK, 2018
22 min., Arabic & English
Omar meets Marco, a Spanish student newly arrived in London, who’s doing sex work to earn some extra cash. But when Marco arrives, Omar can’t shake the feeling that something’s not right about the young man.
“Ruok”
Dir. Jay Russell, USA, 2018
12:45 min, English
Best friends, Alex and Bryan, have a bitter fight entirely via text message, when one of them sleeps with the other one’s crush.
“Three Months”
Dir. Sasha Alcoloumbre, Canada, 2019
17 min, French
A romance is shaken when a young man belatedly reveals his HIV status to his lover.
“You Me and Him and Him and Him”
Dir. Patrick Boyd, USA, 2019
19 min, English
Will is in an open relationship with four other men. When Will decides to sleep with someone else without telling the group, tensions arise and the very nature of their relationship is called into question.