NEW YORK, NY (April 30, 2024) – NewFest, New York’s leading LGBTQ+ film and media organization, has announced the full lineup for their fifth annual NewFest Pride summer film series. Taking place May 29 - June 2, NewFest Pride will once again serve as a dynamic kick-off to LGBTQ+ Pride Month, featuring in-person screenings at SVA Theatre, q&a’s, social events, and virtual programming available nationwide. The announcement came today from NewFest’s Executive Director David Hatkoff and Director of Programming Nick McCarthy.
“In a moment when LGBTQ+ rights are under renewed attack, telling our stories boldly and unapologetically is an act of both defiance and hope,” said NewFest Executive Director David Hatkoff. “The films in this year’s NewFest Pride lineup reflect the depth, diversity, and power of queer experiences — from urgent political documentaries to joyful celebrations of identity. Bringing queer audiences together, both in person and virtually, to kick off LGBTQ+ Pride Month is a powerful reminder of the strength of our community and the vital role that storytelling plays in shaping culture and advancing change.”
“Sharing authentic LGBTQ+ stories is an inherent act of resistance and catharsis, and we’re excited to celebrate rousing films from Sundance, Berlinale, and SXSW making their triumphant New York Premieres at NewFest Pride,” said NewFest Director of Programming Nick McCarthy. “We’re delighted to honor our community’s legacy and evolution as we amplify bold and brilliant new work from NewFest alums including Sam Feder, Sophie Hyde, Rashaad Newsome, Johnny Symons, Shatara Michelle Ford, and Zackary Drucker. We look forward to filling our venues with electric queer energy and affirming care while providing access nationwide to queer films on our virtual streaming platform — as it is absolutely vital to remain visible and spread queer joy throughout every part of America.”
Sophie Hyde’s uplifting family drama, JIMPA, starring Olivia Colman and John Lithgow, was previously announced as the Opening Night Film for NewFest’s summer film series. Joining JIMPA, NewFest Pride will feature highly anticipated feature films and series, including: the New York premiere of Carmen Emmi’s PLAINCLOTHES, starring Tom Blyth and Russell Tovey, which won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast at Sundance, as well as the New York premieres of films from acclaimed filmmakers such as Shatara Michelle Ford, Zackary Drucker, Rashaad Newsome and Johnny Symons.
The lineup also includes a Centerpiece screening and extended Q&A of the urgent documentary HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY making its New York Premiere, and an advance screening of an episode of the hit Max Original AND JUST LIKE THAT…. The screening of AND JUST LIKE THAT… will be preceded by a fan-favorite episode of SEX AND THE CITY.
NewFest Pride will include the Black Queer Pride Mixtape, a shorts program presented in partnership with Vimeo.
The festival will also include the Sound & Scene Showcase with Concord Originals, the film and TV division of music and theater company, Concord. The showcase will feature world premiere films from Sound & Scene: NewFest + Concord QTBIPOC Short Film Initiative. The initiative launched with a pitch competition run by NewFest which culminated in the selection of five winning filmmakers who devised short film narratives centering a song from Concord’s library. Each filmmaker received $20K and producing support to make their short film. The music featured in the shorts include songs from Phil Collins, MUNA, and Billie Holiday.
Additionally, NewFest, in partnership with the Meatpacking District Business Improvement District and Rooftop Films, will present a free outdoor screening and the New York Premiere of Emmy® Award-winning filmmaker Cristina Costantini’s SALLY on Gansevoort Plaza in the Meatpacking District.
SVA Theatre is NewFest's partner on this event. The 5th annual NewFest Pride is supported by Signature Sponsors Converse and Gilead. Additional support is provided by Pinterest, Grey Goose Vodka, Kickstarter, Vimeo, The Gotham, Brooklyn Brewery, and T. Edward Wines.
Individual tickets and all-access passes to NewFest Pride are now on sale at newfest.org.
See the full lineup here:
JIMPA, directed by Sophie Hyde
Thursday, May 29th at 7:00pm, Opening Night Film & Party; SVA Theatre
East Coast Premiere
As she works on a film about her family, a filmmaker is forced to reckon with the past when her nonbinary teenager declares they want to move abroad to live with their gay grandfather, “Jimpa.”
HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY, directed by Sam Feder
Friday, May 30th at 7:00pm, Centerpiece; SVA Theatre
Also available virtually May 29 - June 2
New York Premiere + Extended Q&A
This riveting documentary from the intrepid filmmakers behind DISCLOSURE follows ACLU lawyer Chase Strangio in an actively unfolding story of strength and resistance in the face of anti-trans legislation.
DREAMS IN NIGHTMARES, directed by Shatara Michelle Ford
Saturday, May 31st at 4:00pm; SVA Theatre
New York Premiere + Q&A
Three black queer femmes in their mid 30s take a road trip across the Midwestern United States in search of their friend who has seemingly disappeared off the grid.
ENIGMA, directed by Zackary Drucker
Saturday, May 31st at 7:15pm; SVA Theatre
Also available virtually May 29 - June 2
New York Premiere + Q&A
Two legends contested their identities as women in the court of public opinion: April Ashley, who was immortalized as a trailblazer by embracing her transgender history; and Amanda Lear, who has consciously denied and obfuscated her history for decades. Their divergent paths reveal disparate but intertwined legacies. An HBO Documentary Film.
PLAINCLOTHES, written and directed by Carmen Emmi
Saturday, May 31st at 8:00pm; SVA Theatre
New York Premiere + Q&A
A promising undercover officer assigned to lure and arrest gay men defies orders when he falls in love with a target.
AND JUST LIKE THAT…
Sunday, June 1st at 1:30pm; SVA Theatre
Advance Screening of Season 3, Episode 2
From executive producer Michael Patrick King, AND JUST LIKE THAT… follows Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, Seema, and LTW navigating the complicated reality of life, love, sex, and friendship in their 50s in New York City. This Advance Screening of AND JUST LIKE THAT… Season 3: Episode 2 will be preceded by a fan-favorite episode of SEX AND THE CITY. In partnership with Max.
ASSEMBLY, directed by Rashaad Newsome and Johnny Symons
Sunday, June 1st at 4:00pm; SVA Theatre
Also available virtually May 29 - June 2
New York Premiere + Q&A
ASSEMBLY follows visionary artist Rashaad Newsome as he transforms a historic military facility into a Black queer utopia, blending art, AI, and performance. Through stunning visuals and deeply personal performances, ASSEMBLY captures the transformative power of creativity as a fractured community comes together to find strength, solidarity, and liberation.
OUTERLANDS, directed by Elena Oxman
Monday, June 2nd at 7:30pm; SVA Theatre
New York Premiere + Q&A
Cass (they/them) juggles jobs as a nanny, restaurant server, and party drug dealer to make ends meet and pay for their tiny San Francisco apartment. After a one night stand with Kalli, a co-worker they have a crush on, Cass agrees to watch her 11-year-old daughter, Ari, while she goes out of town. But as days pass without word from Kalli, Cass and Ari form a bond that spirals Cass back to their own difficult childhood and the pain they’ve been running from.
SALLY, directed by Cristina Costantini
Monday, June 2nd at 8:00pm; Gansevoort Plaza [Free Public Screening]
Also available virtually May 29 - June 2
New York Premiere
A compassionate, crowd-pleasing portrait of Sally Ride, her groundbreaking trip to space, and the loving 27-year romance with her life partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy. In partnership with the Meatpacking District Business Improvement District and Rooftop Films.
Shorts Programs:
Black Queer Pride Mixtape with Vimeo
Friday, May 30th at 8:00pm; SVA Theatre
Also available virtually May 29 - June 2
Join NewFest & Vimeo for a celebratory short film collection that exudes Black LGBTQ+ joy, friendship, love, and excellence -- from SXSW award winners to Vimeo Staff Picks to NewFest festival favorites. Presented in partnership with Vimeo.
CITY OF DREAMZ, directed by Imani Celeste
Four Black art students tell stories of community, divine intervention, and the artistry that led them to this very moment...smoking weed in a cramped apartment trying not to get caught.
DENIM, directed by TEDRA
DENIM is a fantastical doc series illuminating the brilliant minds of LGBTQIA+ creatives.
NEWBIES, directed by Kimiko Matsuda-Lawrence & Megan Trufant Tillman
Two broken strangers wrestling with their queer identities meet on the subway just after midnight. A poignant, poetic journey through the past few hours of their night reveals how they got here, and what broke them.
MISS HONEY: THE CATSUIT, directed by Brandon R. Nicholas
Douglas Says experienced a fashion mishap which "spirit" then led him to create his
signature cut-out catsuit that was worn by NYC nightlife staple Moi Renee for the
performance of his catchy bitch-track “Miss Honey.”
MUNCHIES, directed by Brittany Alexia Young
After lighting up and getting the munchies, a group of stoned college girls with a complicated history stumble into a botched robbery at their local convenience store, forcing them to squash their giggles to make it out alive.
A SYNONYM FOR ART: ANDRINIKI, directed by Kasey L. Martin
A visual poetry on Blackness and trans identity, where tattoos serve as markers of self-expression, transformation, and the quiet revolution of being.
GRADUATION DAY, directed by Jordan Aaron Hall
GRADUATION DAY is a heartfelt and comedic coming-of-age short where Cheech, decked out in a red sparkly suit, navigates his identity, a love triangle with his best friend Sparkes and longtime crush Jayla, and a party bus ride gone off the rails.
Sound & Scene Showcase with Concord Originals
Sunday, June 1st at 5:00pm; SVA Theatre
Also available virtually May 29 - June 2
Celebrate the 2024/2025 recipients of Sound & Scene: NewFest + Concord QTBIPOC Short Film Initiative, a program NewFest launched last year in partnership with Concord Originals. NewFest will present the world premieres of these films that feature music by noted artists Billie Holiday, Joan Sebastian, MUNA, Phil Collins, and REO Speedwagon. Join us as we share the auspicious work and hear from filmmakers Nico Blanco, Kyle Casey Chu, Moitri Ghosh, Mekhai Lee, Syra McCarthy, and Kevin Yu. Presented in partnership with Concord Originals.
Feature Film Virtual Exclusives:
DRIVE BACK HOME, directed and written by Michael Clowater
Available exclusively virtually May 29 - June 2
In the winter of 1970, a cantankerous, small town plumber from rural New Brunswick, must drive his beat-up work truck 1000 miles to Toronto to get his estranged, gay brother out of jail after being arrested for having sex in a public park.
SISTERS, directed by Susie Yankou
Available exclusively virtually May 29 - June 2
20something best friends Lou and Esther are each other's "chosen sisters". But when Lou discovers she has a long-lost actual sister, her and Esther's co-dependent bliss is rudely interrupted. As Lou becomes closer with her impossibly chic half-sister, she must redefine what that loaded F word-- family-- means to her.
SOME NIGHTS I FEEL LIKE WALKING, directed by Petersen Vargas
Available exclusively virtually May 29 - June 2
Manila at night is teeming with possibility – of danger but also of tenderness. Uno meets distressed teenager Zion in a bus terminal and they bond in their brief encounter. Two years later, they meet again as hustlers booked by the same client. The night turns sour when Uno’s friend, Miguelito is found overdosed by his client. Zion reveals to Uno and his buddies, Bayani and Rush, Miguelito’s dying wish: to take him home. With each step, the conclusion becomes clearer: that there is no place in the world for these kids, except with each other. Despite their differences, they have become forged into a singular pack of brothers.
Individual tickets and all-access passes to NewFest Pride are now on sale at newfest.org.
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