NF32 Full Lineup

Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan star in Francis Lee’s stunning landmark of world cinema

Opening Night: AMMONITE (Drive-In)

Kate Winslet will virtually present Francis Lee with the inaugural NewFest World Queer Visionary Award prior to the Opening Night drive-in screening. This film exclusively played at The Queens Drive-In, Corona Park. Part of The 32nd Annual New York LGBTQ+…

Winner of this year's Teddy Award at the Berlinale, this exhilarating and romantic drama looks at the challenges of young immigrants and celebrates the importance of community

Closing Night: NO HARD FEELINGS

An exhilarating and balanced look at the challenges of young immigrants and the importance of community, this gorgeous drama captured the top prize at the 2020 Teddy Awards. This Closing Night film premiered Tuesday October 27 at 8PM and remained…

A stirring hybrid of contemporary dance performance and intimate character study that examines the on-and-off-stage lives of 15 young dancers

IF IT WERE LOVE

A singular and stirring hybrid of contemporary dance performance and intimate character study, this Teddy Award-winning docu-essay from Patric Chiha reveals the human layers beneath Gisèle Vienne’s stunning, kinetic choreography. Chiha examines both the on- and-off-stage lives of 15 young…

A heart-racing lesbian character-study-turned-thriller that ratchets up the tension and refuses to let go

WHITE LIE

A campus celebrity known for her bravery battling cancer and overwhelming medical bills, Katie Arneson isn’t exactly your average college student. The thing is — her claim of illness is all a lie. Katie’s scheme has worked so far, but,…

SHORTS: BEYOND THE BINARY

BEYOND THE BINARY is back for another year of brief stories made by, about, with, and for trans people. This short program has everything: hitchhiking robots, sad strip clubs, animated dogs in space, and more, resulting in a varied and…

SHORTS: GIRLS LAUGHING, LOVING, FIGHTING, F**KING

Who hasn’t loved a messy dyke? This varied collection of Girls shorts runs the gamut from breaking in to breaking up, taking delight in all the complications in between. Ill-advised, achingly romantic, and perfectly chaotic adventures await many ages, genders,…

SHORTS: HEIRLOOMS + HISTORIES

Queer people connect across generations, both in front of and behind the camera, in this intergenerational celebration of identity and wisdom. Whether it's a bisexual mother documenting her trans son's birthday wishes, a history of indigenous trans healers that crosses…

SHORTS: BEAUTIFUL BOYS, BEAUTIFUL JOURNEYS

This year’s Boys shorts program focuses on vast journeys of the heart, mind, soul, and body. Not only are these boys and their journeys beautiful, but the filmmaking is as well, in this eclectic and inclusive mix of fun, sexy,…

SHORTS: FREE TO BE ME

Through an inclusive, celebratory, and inspirational collection of short films, this program is curated specifically for LGBTQ-identified high school audiences, providing access for LGBTQ+ youth to see themselves reflected on screen while promoting media literacy and encouraging self-worth and expression.…

SHORTS: TIL WE (CAN) MEET AGAIN

We miss being in the same place as you! The survival of LGBTQ-inclusive physical spaces are essential for our community to connect and thrive, so gather round for this diverse collection of shorts that celebrate a time when we could…

SHORTS: EVERY BODY + BOOTY!

Everybody, rock your booty! Rejoice in the loving, intentional, explorative, and kinky relationships queer and trans people have to their own bodies. Shorts include a sexually explicit heartfelt farewell to titties, a moving tribute to breathplay, an animated dive into…

SHORTS: BLACK FAMILY MATTERS

Family, both the one we’re born into and the one we make for ourselves, is always complex. From an energetic time-traveling short about family secrets, to shorts that navigate identity with the sometimes-strained support of loved ones, this shorts program…

SHORTS: DREAM A LITTLE DREAM WITH ME

Nightmares, daydreams, and fantasies collide in this otherworldly genre shorts program best enjoyed with the lights firmly flipped off. From vibrant visions of the future to contemporary anxieties coming to life, this collection promises to surprise, delight, befuddle, and bewilder…

SHORTS: THE GAG’S ALL HERE (2.0)

The gag’s all here AGAIN with a second helping of queer laughs and good cheer to keep you giggling through tears of joy! From deadpan commentaries on oppressive office culture to a French musical finale (and some uproarious Rachel Dratch…

A timely and powerful depiction of a Black high school student forever changed by an encounter with the police

THE OBITUARY OF TUNDE JOHNSON

A bold, moving, and palpably political story, THE OBITUARY OF TUNDE JOHNSON speaks directly to the #BlackLivesMatter movement and calls for police reform in our country in a profoundly human way.This Spotlight film will premiere Monday October 19 at 8PM…

An immersive and inspiring portrait of Kelet, a Finnish ballroom star and trans model who aspires to one day grace the cover of Vogue magazine

KELET

An immersive and inspirational documentary portrait of one woman's passion, persistence, and perseverance, KELET proves both the undeniable charm and star power of its eponymous subject and the talent of its filmmaker.This Spotlight film will premiere Saturday October 24 at…

Ellie just wants to ask her high school crush to the prom, but things get complicated (and hysterical) when she's granted a Fairy Gaymother in the form of her dead aunt to help her do so

ELLIE & ABBIE (& ELLIE’S DEAD AUNT)

Top-of-her-class Australian high schooler Ellie (Sophie Hawkshaw) has no problem coming out, really. Like, according to her, five people in her year are gay. Her only issue is finding an acceptably cool way to ask her crush (the über-charming Zoe…

A dazzling and witty look at the iconic NYC artist and the city he loved, featuring never-before-heard archival audio and new interviews

KEITH HARING: STREET ART BOY

Keith Haring is undeniably a New York queer icon whose work continues to move and inspire. This Spotlight film will premiere Sunday October 25 at 8PM and remain available through the end of the Festival Through a dazzling dash of…

A triumphant documentary that captures the journey of historic lesbian publication Curve Magazine and its trailblazing founder

AHEAD OF THE CURVE

Tracing the legacy of the groundbreaking publication Curve Magazine, Jen Rainin and Rivkah Beth Medow's triumphant documentary reminds contemporary audiences of the importance of LGBTQ representation in media. This Spotlight film will premiere Sunday October 18 at 8PM and remain…

She may be at a shiva, but a self-absorbed recent college grad can only focus on her own bisexual drama in this delightful cringe comedy

SHIVA BABY

Through delicately crafted humor, NYU alum Emma Seligman’s feature directorial debut is an exciting new entry into the bisexual canon, as well as a touching and hilarious look into queer Jewish adolescence and finding oneself in the 21st century. This…

A trans activist returns to his long-abandoned New Zealand hometown to reconnect with his roots, loves, and estranged father in this vivacious portrait of coming into one's own

RŪRANGI

The last thing trans activist and educator Caz (Elz Carrad) wants to do is return to his long-abandoned hometown in rural New Zealand.This Spotlight film will premiere Wednesday October 21 at 8PM and remain available through the end of the…

A tender and unconventional tale of a widow who uncovers clandestine loves and finds new purpose in a UFO-obsessed Chilean town

FORGOTTEN ROADS

After her husband dies unexpectedly, meek 70-year-old Claudina (Rosa Ramírez) makes the journey to her daughter and grandson’s house in Lautaro, Chile. While she certainly doesn’t expect much from rooming in a house somewhat hostile to her presence, a budding…

A heartwarming tale of overcoming prejudice and fostering unexpected connections in the 1980's Midwest

GOSSAMER FOLDS

Alexandra Grey (EMPIRE) turns in a star-making performance as the lead in this heartwarming tale of overcoming prejudice and fostering unexpected connections. When 10-year-old Tate (Jackson Robert Scott) is relocated with his harried mother (Sprague Grayden) and adulterous father (Shane…

An eerie snapshot of rising right-wing bigotry in Poland, this galvanizing documentary examines the symbolic meaning of rainbows and public art

THE FLASHPOINT

An eerie snapshot of rising right-wing bigotry in Poland, this galvanizing documentary centers the symbolic meaning of the rainbow while providing a thought-provoking analysis of the power we bestow upon certain emblems. Julita Wójcik was surprised to see how quickly…

A unique and fascinating look at genderqueer Amber, thrillingly told through the lens of their own Snapchat, Instagram Stories and DM's

ALWAYS AMBER

An invitation into the social-media-driven world of its titular character, ALWAYS AMBER will stand as a unique artifact of this era of living one’s life online. Hannah Reinikainen Bergeman and Lia Hietala’s feature directorial debut explores teenage trans/non-binary identity with…

An adorable gay rom-com that spotlights the cultural significance of being gay, horny and Muslim in the U.S. and beyond

BREAKING FAST

The gay romcom is alive, well, and approached with the perfect balance of sexiness and cultural significance in Mike Mosallam's feature directorial debut BREAKING FAST. Devout Muslim Mo (Haaz Sleiman) is heartbroken after being dumped by his long-time partner when…

A sexy, intergenerational tango between a middle-aged New Yorker and a handsome young Israeli

SUBLET

Tony Award-winner John Benjamin Hickey (“The Normal Heart,” “The Inheritance”) stars in this crowd-pleasing comedy-drama of exploration and self-discovery. When Michael (Hickey), a New York Times travel writer on assignment in Tel Aviv and at a crossroads in life, arrives…

An intimate look at the legacy of an underappreciated Black legend of New York City's Broadway

MAURICE HINES: BRING THEM BACK

Legendary Broadway and dance superstar Maurice Hines takes the much-deserved spotlight in this delightful documentary that wonderfully weaves together his past as a performer and his present as a teacher and mentor. This intimate look at Maurice’s life gives us…

Two queer Irish high schoolers hatch the perfect plan to get their families and bullies off of their backs – become each other's beards!

DATING AMBER

This outrageous 1990s-set Irish satire centers on closeted queer high-schoolers Eddie (Fionn O’Shea, NORMAL PEOPLE) and Amber (Lola Petticrew), who hatch a perfect plan to get their bullies and families off of their backs — pretend to date each other…

An intimate and engaging doc capturing the lives of six gay men living in the South

MAKING SWEET TEA

Every Southerner takes a different approach to making sweet tea, just like every Southern gay Black man takes their own approach to “spilling tea” about their lives, loves, and friendships. Author, scholar, and playwright E. Patrick Johnson takes us on…

The work, lives and personal journeys of two iconic American artists coalesce with creative combustion in this innovative dual-portrait documentary

TRUMAN & TENNESSEE : AN INTIMATE CONVERSATION

Breakfast at Tiffany’s. A Streetcar Named Desire. In Cold Blood. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The work, lives, and personal journeys of iconic American artists Truman Capote and Tennesee Williams coalesce with creative combustion in this innovative dual-portrait documentary.…

A woman wins the Green Card lottery, and must navigate leaving behind the only home she knows in this intimate autobiographical drama

WELCOME TO THE USA

How do you choose yourself when everyone around you seems content to stagnate in their own complacency? In her gorgeous, topical narrative feature debut, Kazakh filmmaker Assel Aushakimova paints a heartbreaking and hopeful portrait of a journey she knows intimately,…

Henry Golding stars as man returning to his birthplace in this romantic and lusciously lensed Vietnam-set travelogue

MONSOON

Henry Golding (CRAZY RICH ASIANS) stars as Kit, an exploratory soul returning to modern Vietnam for the first time since his family emigrated during his childhood. As Kit navigates reacclimatizing to a country in which he cannot speak the language…

The queer outlaws of the San Francisco leather scene take center stage in the hottest history lesson you'll have all year

BLOODSISTERS: LEATHER, DYKES, and SADOMASOCHISM

The leatherdykes are coming! The leatherdykes are coming! Resurfacing 25 years after its initial premiere (and its New York Premiere at NewFest!), this “first documentary on the subject” (The New York Times) remains as relevant, and enticing as ever. With…

A tender and heartbreaking portrait of two older, closeted Hong Kong men falling in love

TWILIGHT’S KISS

Lovingly demonstrating that sexual discovery has no expiration date, and frankly exploring a variety of very real issues older gay men face, TWILIGHT’S KISS is a tender and heartbreaking reminder that we only have one life, so we might as…

A tender portrait of an underground electronic music legend enjoying a late-in-life career renaissance

KEYBOARD FANTASIES: THE BEVERLY GLENN-COPELAND STORY

Lovingly stitched together from contemporary interviews, family photos, and archival footage, KEYBOARD FANTASIES: THE BEVERLY GLENN-COPELAND STORY is a stunning ode to its titular star, his legacy in electronic music, advocacy for transgender rights, and current work as a 76-year-old…

A young Jewish man is caught between thrilling private trysts and his repressive family in this thoughtful drama set in 1980s Brooklyn

MINYAN

Living in Brooklyn in the 1980s is full of contradictions for Jewish rabbinical student David (Samuel H. Levine, Broadway’s THE INHERITANCE). The young gay man is caught between two worlds: the thrilling private trysts he throws himself into with abandon,…

A lonely factory worker's sexual fantasies come to life in this hardcore journey of desire and neon-soaked dreams

DRY WIND

Fantastical sexual exploits that infuse hardcore reveries with surprising tenderness help lonely factory worker Sandro (Leandro Faria Lelo) pass the long days and scorching heat of inland Brazil’s dry summer season in writer-director Daniel Nolasco pulsating, neon-infused Tom of Finland-come-to-life…

A moving and darkly comic look at two women who find keeping their love secret has its consequences

TWO OF US

Nina and Madeleine have enjoyed a domestically blissful life in the South of France for decades, but when one of the women faces a medical emergency, the pair’s clandestine relationship arrives at a crossroads. An all-too-rare depiction of sexually vital…

A heartwarming portrait of hilarious 65-year-old transgender New York comedian Julia Scotti

JULIA SCOTTI: FUNNY THAT WAY

Julia Scotti, a hilarious 65-year-old transgender New York comedian, discovers the beauty of her own life after she transitions in her late 40s in this humorous and heartwarming portrait by documentarian Susan Sandler. Following Julia’s journey as she makes her…

A starry and sensitive tale that explores the dynamic between conservative families and transgender kids

COWBOYS

Featuring gorgeously layered dramatic work by an all-star ensemble including Steve Zahn, Ann Dowd, and Jillian Bell, the lovingly crafted COWBOYS is a sensitive and compelling look at parental responsibility and the lengths we go to for those we love…

A riveting documentary that unravels the myth of the man scapegoated for singlehandedly spreading the AIDS epidemic to North America

KILLING PATIENT ZERO

Scapegoated as “Patient Zero” at the center of the AIDS epidemic, Gaëtan Dugas was the handsome, openly gay French-Canadian flight attendant characterized as singlehandedly spreading AIDS to North America. In this riveting documentary, director Laurie Lynd sets out to dismantle…

A teenage trans social media star is taken far out of her element in this charming and spirited MEAN GIRLS-esque high school comedy

ALICE JÚNIOR

Winner of the top prize at Mix Brasil, this one-of-a-kind charmer infuses the spirit of classic high school films such as MEAN GIRLS and THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER with an electricity that will leave you buzzing with warmth…

The intimate and romantic saga of two beautiful Chilean men on very different life paths

THE STRONG ONES

In the mood for love? THE STRONG ONES tells the romantic saga of a fisherman and an architect in the beautiful landscape of Southern Chile as they find love at the edge of the world. This confidently directed festival favorite,…

Two teenage boys meet on the coast of Normandy and begin a life-changing summer in a sexy and electric ode to youth from celebrated French auteur François Ozon

SUMMER OF 85

The new masterpiece from celebrated French auteur François Ozon, SUMMER OF 85 is a nostalgic look at first loves and reckless adolescence sans the rose-colored glasses we've come to expect from traditional coming-of-age stories.This Spotlight film will premiere Saturday October…

Two young men try to make a complicated relationship work in this sexy and moving New York City-set tragicomedy

CICADA

Emerging New York talent Matthew Fifer co-directs, co-writes, produces, and stars in this powerfully intimate, sexy, and tragicomic debut feature, based on his own real experiences and those of his co-star/co-writer Sheldon D. Brown. When the philandering Ben (Fifer) meets…

A Jewish teenager navigates toxic friendships and crushes in the wake of her classmate's suicide in this acerbically sincere (or is it sincerely acerbic?) dark comedy

TAHARA

Sometimes first loves are beautiful culminations of innocent flirtation and yearning sighs; other times, they’re set at Hebrew school after a classmate’s suicide and the result of years of gaslighting. Brooklyn-based director Olivia Peace’s feature debut is a bitingly dark…

A madcap, style-shifting comedy webseries that explores queer sexuality and the Asian-American experience in New York City

SIDEWAYS SMILE

The premiere season of this outrageously fun, style-shifting local series follows young Brooklynite Alex, who, open-minded as she may be, has never had an orgasm! Prompted by her sex-positive roommate Dara to enroll in a class that helps explore her…

A heartwarming webseries that celebrates life, Queer friendship, and the beauty of Queer spaces in fabulous New York City

DINETTE

Welcome back to the Diner! (Don’t worry if it’s your first time here, you’ll catch on quickly!) Following a hit first season that premiered at Tribeca in 2018, the regulars have returned to the Brooklyn-based eatery for a second helping…

Fall in love with your new favorite, binge-worthy series via our Global Episodic Showcase

GLOBAL EPISODIC SHOWCASE

Fall in love with your new favorite, binge-worthy series via our Global Episodic Showcase! These global pilots--from NYC all the way to Nigeria--showcase the best of upcoming queer talent in the form of web series, Television series, and docu-series. This…

This star-studded HBO Max docuseries honors LGBTQ icons with never-before-seen archival footage and stylistic depictions that bring to life the gripping and true backstories of rebellious leaders and unsung heroes

EQUAL

This star-studded HBO Max docuseries honors LGBTQ icons with never-before-seen archival footage and stylistic depictions that bring to life the gripping and true backstories of rebellious leaders and unsung heroes. Cast: Jamie Clayton, Cole Doman, Theo Germaine, Sara Gilbert, Alexandra…

Based on the play of the same name, this filmed-in-quarantine adaptation explores the casting process surrounding an iconic gay character in a new Broadway revival

NORA HIGHLAND

This film will premiere Monday October 26 at 8PM ETBased on the play of the same name, this adaptation into a screenplay was shot entirely on computers during the COVID-19 Pandemic. NORA HIGHLAND explores the casting process surrounding an iconic…

This fascinating documentary takes viewers inside the David-versus-Goliath struggle that led the American Psychiatric Association (APA) to remove homosexuality from its manual of mental illnesses in 1973

CURED

This fascinating documentary takes viewers inside the David-versus-Goliath struggle that led the American Psychiatric Association (APA) to remove homosexuality from its manual of mental illnesses in 1973. Viewers meet the key players who achieved this victory, along with allies and…

A Brazilian trans advocate fights to keep her community safe from Bolsonaro’s hate-filled regime in this powerful personal documentary

YOUR MOTHER’S COMFORT

Ele não - not him. That’s one thing of which Indianara Siqueira, trans sex worker and founder/mother of the lifesaving communal LGBT Casa Nem in Rio de Janeiro, is certain. No to the potential election of an authoritarian, sexist, homophobic,…

Brooklyn Boys Shorts + CICADA (Drive-In)

Emerging New York talent Matthew Fifer co-directs, co-writes, produces, and stars in CICADA, a powerfully intimate, sexy, and tragicomic debut feature, based on his own real experiences and those of his co-star/co-writer Sheldon D. Brown. When the philandering Ben (Fifer)…

A teenage girl and her gay uncle take a road trip back to their hometown in this hilarious and heartfelt tale from Academy Award-winner Alan Ball

UNCLE FRANK (Sneak Preview Drive-In)

Academy Award-winner Alan Ball’s heartfelt and hilarious road movie travels from the bohemian scene of post-Stonewall New York City to rural South Carolina, following Frank’s journey from hitting rock bottom to acceptance and forgiveness and, finally, reintegration into his family…

A benefit for The NewFest Future Fund and the New York City Anti-Violence Project

All Trans BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN Screenplay Table Read

Part of The 32nd Annual New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival Watch on Facebook Watch on YouTube Donate to The NewFest Future Fund and NYC Anti-Violence Project The film, which originally featured Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead roles,…