32 years ago, a NYC-based queer film movement was born. Founded in 1988 in direct response to the AIDS crisis, NEWFEST the New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival has been a tentpole of NYC’s queer cultural scene. In the subsequent years, it has expanded into a film and media organization with year-long programs to serve all facets of the LGBTQ+ community.
Now NEWFEST is New York’s largest presenter of LGBTQ+ film & media and the largest convener of LGBTQ+ audiences in the city.
As a sign of these times, the Festival will include in-person screenings and events throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn and will be available to stream virtually from anywhere in the United States. SOOOOO if you missed any of these great movies at your local queer film fest … here’s your second chance.
Meanwhile, we have combed the whole schedule to come up
with our list of MUST-SEE FILMS at the FEST.
Being Bebe : Newbie filmmaker EMILY BRANHAM took a shine to BeBe aka MARSHALL NGWA back in 2006 before the world came to know about him. Then the tall good-looking man from Cameron in West Africa was living in Minneapolis Minnesota and doing amateur drag in a local gay bar. Even then he stood out as his costumes and performances were heavily immersed and inspired by his African Culture. After Bebe was the first-ever winner of Ru Paul’s Drag Race she had a roller coaster life of rags to riches and back again which she shares with disarming honesty that makes this doc so compelling and such a sheer joy to watch
(P.S. you may also like to check out Queerguru’s interview with the Star, the Director and the Producer https:// queerguru.com/talking-about-being-bebe/ )
We are so thrilled that the programmers selected BEING THUNDER. It Is the heart-touching tale of SHERENTÉ HARRIS, a two-spirit genderqueer teenager from the NARRAGANSETT TRIBE in Rhode Island. Sherenté an articulate and determined teen has the full support of her family and most of her tribe. However French filmmaker STEPHANIE LAMORRE‘s camera captures bias from some of the judges in the traditional shawl dance competitions Sherenté loves to participate. No spoilers here but there is a scene when Sherenté is surrounded by her family waiting to see which Colleges will offer her a place that will bring tears to your eyes.
Trans filmmaker Lyel Kash’s directorial/writing debut Death and Bowling is an extraordinary achievement. Not just because in a groundbreaking movie Kash cast all the roles in the movie with transgender actors, but his spiritual drama gives a very personal insight which we assume are some reflections on his own journey. The main theme of this somewhat experimental piece of filmmaking is having a real sense of belonging on many different levels. Kash’s script with its unexpected plot twists is a piece of subtle fine writing which made the film an unexpected joy to watch.
FIREBIRD is an enormously satisfying and complete film, and it has been playing at every single queer film fest we have covered this year. It tells a full tale of life, and love, and loss from its beginning right up to an end that could never need or want a sequel. PEETER REBANE‘s story of two Soviet military recruits, a pilot officer and a private, falling in love on a military base during the 70s cold war, is based on a true story. Skeptical as we are about stories ‘based on’ truth, people’s ages and weights on dating profiles might make that same claim, there is an undeniably human element to this story that grips the heart and mind with a sense of both individuality and history
(P.S. you may also like to check out Queerguru’s interview with the Writer/ Director and his Co-Writer/Star https:// queerguru.com/peteer-rebane-tom-prior-talk-about-their-estonian-queer-romance-firebird/ )
FLEE : is the timely and harrowing true story of Amin, an Afghanistan refugee who by various means of human trafficking makes his way from Kabul to Denmark. Winner of multi awards including Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize this queer animated film is a rude awakening of the reality of being queer in that region of the world.
T.J. PARSELL’S fascinating new feature-length documentary INVISIBLE shares the tales of how a group of queer women are still dealing with such a persistent and pernicious form of homophobia that hardly anyone outside the world of country music are ever aware of. He manages to interview a whole roster of female singer/songwriters and although they include a couple of household names such as LINDA RONSTADT and EMMY LOU-HARRIS most of them are unknown talents to us outside of the industry. One after another they share similar tales, that whilst the chances of women breaking into this heavy machismo business were very slim, but if they were lesbian too, they were non-existent.
MAYOR PETE: Even we will not see this highly anticipated doc of Pete Buttigieg as he runs for President of the United States until it is screened at the Fest. It’s been made by Canadian actor/filmmaker Jesse Moss (The Outsiders) known for his love of cinema verite so we have high hopes for it
PASSING For her stunning directing debut actress Rebecca Hall chose to adapt the 1928 novel of Nella Larsen about two light-skinned Black women navigating the “color line” in different ways. The title refers to African-Americans who had skin color light enough to be perceived as “white”, the practice of which is referred to as passing. With exquisite finely nuanced performances from Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga, Hall’s thoughtful touch on this sensitive issue makes for an exceptional film
POTATO DREAMS OF AMERICA ; This excellent autobiographical tale of his journey from Russia as a young gay immigrant is the perfect choice for the opening night gala. Maybe a tad patchy in parts but it’s a joyous wee film with some wonderful surprises like an adorable Jonathan Bennett as Jesus and an almost unrecognizable Lea Delaria giving a scene-stealing performance.
(P.S. You may also like to check out our interview with the filmmaker https:// queerguru.com/wes-hurley-talks-potato-dreams-of-america/ )
The Sixth Reel : We think it is no secret that the multi-talent that is Charles Busch was born in the wrong era. He is the perfect epitome of a glamorous Hollywood star of the 1930s and 1940s: he doesn’t just look the part, but he totally lives it. So convincingly with all the mannerisms and melodrama, watching his new movie. we revel in turning the clock back for the next 90 minutes
Friday, October 15 - Tuesday, October 26. For the full program check out https://newfest.org/
For the full reviews of these films and over 1250 other queer movies check out https:// queerguru.com and whilst you are there be sure to subscribe to get all the latest raves and rants on queer cinema..... even better IT's FREE
