NewFest37 Film Lineup

A 1950’s BEST ACTRESS TRIFECTA

This tantalizing triple feature is your chance to relive one of the most iconic Academy Award Best Actress races on its 75th anniversary, when Judy Holliday won in an upset over the heavily favored Gloria Swanson and Bette Davis.

A DEEPER LOVE: THE STORY OF MISS PEPPERMINT (New York Centerpiece)

This intimate, uplifting documentary celebrates Miss Peppermint, a radiant NYC nightlife icon and rising trans activist. With unwavering determination and the support of her chosen family, she brightens her own path to success.

A NIGHT LIKE THIS (Virtual Exclusive)

A chance encounter on a winter night in London leads to an emotionally candid exploration of finding oneself with the help of a stranger.

ALL ABOUT EVE (1950): 75th Anniversary

In Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s iconic showbiz satire, Bette Davis plays an aging actress who takes a younger fan under her wing, unaware the fan’s ruthless ambition will threaten her own career.

AT THE PLACE OF GHOSTS

Siblings Mise’l and Antle must confront a past that still haunts them. Only by returning to Sk+te'kmujue'kati (the Place of Ghosts), can they face what lingers in the shadows and begin healing.

BEARCAVE

Set in the green mountains of Greece, in a rural town attached to tradition, two longtime girlfriends are confronted with a bond that is suddenly shifting into a deeper attraction.

BLUE FILM

A jaded fetish camboy agrees to spend a night with an anonymous client, only to discover a darker, more complicated connection from their shared past in this daring chamber drama.

BLUE MOON (Opening Night Film + Party)

Richard Linklater directs Ethan Hawke, Andrew Scott, and Margaret Qualley in a witty, bittersweet tale unfolding at Sardi’s on Broadway’s most historic opening night: Oklahoma!.

BORN YESTERDAY (1950): 75th Anniversary

A junkyard tycoon hires a journalist to educate his mistress, only for her to outgrow him. Judy Holliday’s Oscar-winning turn is an effervescent highlight of classic Hollywood comedy.

CHRISTY (Closing Night Film + Party)

Based on remarkable true events and starring Sydney Sweeney and Ben Foster, CHRISTY tells the story of a small-town boxer who becomes a champion—and a rare queer sports icon—while fighting her fiercest battles outside the ring.

COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT (Documentary Centerpiece)

This Sundance Festival Favorite captures poet Andrea Gibson’s cancer journey and love story with wife Megan Falley—a tender, life-affirming portrait that now serves as a moving tribute following Gibson’s passing earlier this year.

DESERT HEARTS

Nearly four decades since its release in April 1986, join us in revisiting Donna Deitch's classic of lesbian cinema – and one of the greatest love stories of all time.

DREAMERS

EPISODIC SHOWCASE

This bold collection of episodic pilots offers a first glimpse into worlds of desire, history, fantasy, and comedy—leaving you eager for the binge-worthy seasons ahead.

FANTASY

In Slovenia, three friends defy conservative norms, but their bond unravels when they meet Fantasy, a transgender woman who ignites new desires and forces them to reconsider who they are—and to each other.

FOUR MOTHERS

When his friends skip town, gay novelist Edward is left caring for four strong-willed older women in this warm, witty Irish drama.

FUCKTOYS (U.S. Centerpiece)

Award-winning at SXSW and Fantasia, FUCKTOYS explodes with sex, satire, and fantasy — a riotous, heartfelt comedy packed with eccentric characters, wild visuals, and the energy of a cult classic in the making.

I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST

Tommy Dorfman, in her directorial debut, brings to life the colorful story of Ben, a nonbinary high school teen on a journey of self discovery while confronting a conservative upbringing.

IF YOU ARE AFRAID YOU PUT YOUR HEART IN YOUR MOUTH AND SMILE

Winner of the 2025 Teddy Jury Prize, this moving drama follows a deaf mother and her 12-year-old child in Vienna as they navigate identity, survival, and solidarity in the face of systemic exclusion.

IN TRANSIT

In a small Maine town, two adrift women discover unexpected passion when one models for the other. Jennifer Ehle and Alex Sarrigeorgiou shine in Jaclyn Bethany’s hushed yet deeply felt drama of art and desire.

JASON AND SHIRLEY REVISITED

In this world premiere, director Stephen Winter revisits the ghosts of Jason Holliday and Shirley Clarke, unveiling new footage and reframing a legendary 12-hour film shoot through a fresh and radical gaze.

LESBIAN SPACE PRINCESS

With silly humor full of in-community jokes, the Teddy Award-winning LESBIAN SPACE PRINCESS is an animated sci-fi adventure for any queer person who has ever feared they weren’t cool enough.

LOVE LETTERS

Paris, 2014. Under French law, Céline must secure testimonies to adopt the child carried by her wife.

MAMMA MIA! (2008)

In our first-ever audience-chosen screening, a young bride invites the three men who may potentially be her father to her Greek wedding, all set to the irresistible music of ABBA.

MOCKTAIL MATINEE: JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS (2001)

Rediscover the purr-fect all-girl rock band in this outrageous satire nearly 15 years after its very millennial release in 2001 at our inaugural mocktail matinee celebration.

MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE (Film Feast): 40th Anniversary

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Stephen Frears’ groundbreaking queer classic, pairing romance, politics, and neon flair in Thatcher-era London—served with a thematically curated multi-course meal at NewFest’s 5th annual Film Feast.

Netflix’s BOOTS: Screening & Conversation with Star Miles Heizer, Showrunners and more

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.

NEW VOICES FILMMAKER GRANT SHOWCASE

Join us in celebrating our fourth annual New Voices Filmmaker Grant with a screening of the recipients’ auspicious short film work and an in-depth conversation around their emerging futures. Presented in partnership with Netflix.

NIGHT IN WEST TEXAS

In 1981, James Reyos, a gay Apache man, was wrongly convicted of murdering a priest. Peabody-winning journalist Deborah S. Esquenazi’s searing documentary follows the decades-long fight to clear his name.

NIGHT STAGE (International Centerpiece)

In this neon-soaked erotic thriller, an ambitious actor and a rising politician enter a dangerous affair of public sex and private secrets—a passion that threatens to consume them both.

NIÑXS

Fifteen-year-old Karla, growing up trans in rural Mexico, shares her story with filmmaker Kani Lapuerta, together creating a tender, intergenerational portrait of adolescence filled with courage, humor, and authenticity.

ONLY GOOD THINGS (Virtual Exclusive)

A farmer and a lonely motorcyclist cross paths in 1980s Brazil, igniting a transformative romance in this beautifully bold journey from writer/director Daniel Nolasco (DRY WIND, NewFest32).

OTHER PEOPLE’S BODIES

On vacation, Olivia and Seb are visited by an old friend and his boyfriend. Over the weekend, long-buried grudges and simmering sexual tensions resurface, threatening to upend their fragile peace.

QUEENS OF THE DEAD

In this all-star zombie flick, an undead outbreak encroaches on Brooklyn’s wildest queer party, and a ragtag group of staff and drag performers must team together to save the world before showtime.

QUEER AS PUNK

Queer Malaysian punk band “Shh...Diam!” (“shut up!”), led by its trans frontman Faris, electrifies audiences with defiant music, confronting anti-LGBTQ oppression while building community, joy, and resistance across borders.

QUEERPANORAMA

A quietly bold drama about a gay man who impersonates past lovers to find himself. Long, intimate scenes explore identity, desire, and the fragile performances of early connection.

ROCK OUT

Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black’s vibrant documentary uncovers the hidden queer influence behind heavy metal, punk, and rock-and-roll — proving that even the loudest, toughest genres have always been deeply, defiantly queer.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Lab: Spotlighting Queer Critical Archives

SAME, AGAIN

A raw, improvised ensemble drama about a theater group reckoning with hidden abuse and homophobia, revealing the pain they’ve buried—and the power of finally speaking out.

SAUNA

Johan, a struggling bathhouse employee, falls for a trans man he meets on a hookup app. Their bond forces Johan to confront his biases and his struggle with self-love in Mathias Broe's bold debut from Sundance.

SECOND NATURE

In its World Premiere, SECOND NATURE challenges the notion that queerness is unnatural, by turning to nature itself—and the science that dismantles the myth of the gender binary.

SHE’S THE HE

When high-schooler Alex convinces his best friend Ethan to pretend to be trans to get girls, Ethan discovers she isn’t pretending. Chaos, comedy, and self-discovery collide in this sweetly subversive queer teen romp.

SHORTS: ALL ABOUT THE T

A trans-led program of bold, unfiltered shorts—original, smart, and brilliantly made. Rooted in resistance and care, these films embody the strength and spirit of trans lives. No T, no future.

SHORTS: AVANT QUEER

These bold, inventive films illuminate the queer experience through experimental narratives, striking aesthetics, and complex characters.

SHORTS: DYKE NYTE

From meet-cutes at Riis Beach to dyke drama, double dates, and daring rides, these eight sapphic shorts celebrate the thrills, chaos, and joy of lesbian longing.

SHORTS: FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD

Join us at our annual Brooklyn Brunch for shorts that prove food is more than fuel—it’s messy, magical, unifying, and at the heart of how we gather.

SHORTS: HERE COME THE DOLLS

Genre-defying shorts where trans women reign—from ritual and revenge to sisterhood and catharsis. Bold, visionary, and unmissable: the Dolls are here to stay.

SHORTS: IF YOU WANNA BE MY LOVERBOY

These shorts dive into men’s desires—the thrill, fantasy, and ache of wanting. From Fire Island to bathhouses to galaxies far away, boys chase passion without restraint.

SHORTS: IN YOUR FACE!

An outrageous, loud, and unapologetically over-the-top collection of shorts, brimming with style, guts, and larger-than-life queer characters. Respectability be damned.

SHORTS: LAUGH RIOT

A riotous mix of queer comedies—from botched robberies to family feuds to gay Jesus—proving laughter can be found in the most unexpected places.

SHORTS: QUEER TEEN POWER

An affirming shorts program for LGBTQ+ teens and allies, featuring diverse stories of resilience, magic, and joy—presented with the NYC Department of Education for the eighth year.

SHORTS: THE QUEER REBELLION

From ACT UP to Black trans joy, these shorts showcase queer resistance in all its forms—activism, euphoria, and radical imagination.

SOUND & SCENE SHOWCASE ENCORE (Virtual Exclusive)

Celebrate the films created as part of Sound & Scene: NewFest + Concord QTBIPOC Short Film Initiative, a program NewFest launched last year in partnership with Concord Originals.

SUMMER’S CAMERA

Summer captures her first crush through her late father’s camera—only to uncover photographs that reveal his hidden past, sending Summer on a journey that transforms her understanding of love and family.

SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950): 75th Anniversary

In Billy Wilder’s enduring masterpiece, Gloria Swanson plays Norma Desmond, a silent-movie star who hires a hapless screenwriter to mount her ultimately doomed comeback.

THE CELLULOID CLOSET (1995): 30th Anniversary

Narrated by Lily Tomlin and based on Vito Russo’s landmark book, this classic 1995 documentary traces a century of LGBTQ+ representation on screen. Presented in partnership with the American LGBTQ+ Museum.

THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER

Kristen Stewart’s stunning directorial debut from Cannes charts the journey of Lidia Yuknavitch, a scholarship swimmer who reconciles her turbulent upbringing and resurfacing trauma through the art of literature.

THE SERPENT’S SKIN

Anna, a young trans woman with supernatural powers, meets a seductive tattoo artist who shares her cursed gift. Together they plot, fuck, and unleash their inner demons to the world.

WE ARE FAHEEM & KARUN

Across borders and against tradition, two men fall into a romance as forbidden as it is irresistible. This sensual, swoon-worthy drama dares to imagine love thriving where prejudice prevails.