The 36th Annual New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival is in full swing, having just launched its “I’m Coming. You’re Coming.” trailer for the much-anticipated #NewFest36. Featuring 143 films from 31 countries, screenings continue until October 22, 2024, at theaters in Manhattan and Brooklyn, with virtual streaming options available. This lineup spans the rainbow, giving voice and visibility to the spectrum of LGBTQ+ experiences.
Whether you’re in the mood for Black queer love, a beguiling nonbinary drag performer, or lesbians taking over the Greek island of Lesvos, there’s something for every queer palate. And let’s not forget the 1980s horror comedy—you’ve always wanted to see ELVIRA: MISTRESS OF THE DARK, right?
Sapphic delights include Anaiis Cisco’s DRIP LIKE COFFEE, which made its world premiere at the American Black Film Festival. This feature explores self-discovery between two women baristas brewing more than espresso in historic Brooklyn. Fans of sports and all-girls Catholic high schools will appreciate the romantic tensions in the Philippine indie pic ROOKIE (Samantha Lee). The nonfiction musical REAS delves into dynamics among long-term and newly admitted inmates at a women’s prison in Buenos Aires, complete with romantic intrigue and voguing workshops. German director Veit Helmer‘s GONDOLA takes you to the remote mountains of Georgia, where two cable car attendants fall in love—without a single spoken word, because who needs dialogue when suggestive glances say it all?
Documentary fans won’t be disappointed! The world turns upside down for two queer indie rockers in the New York Premiere documentary FANATICAL: THE CATFISHING OF TEGAN AND SARA, directed by Erin Lee Carr. LIZA: A TRULY TERRIFIC, ABSOLUTELY TRUE STORY dives into the life of the larger-than-life icon Liza (with a Z!) Minnelli.
GO is thrilled about the wide-ranging Shorts Programs, including the Besties Brunch at Nitehawk Cinema in Park Slope, which took place on October 13th. Stay tuned for GO’s review of the 12 Shorts programs!
We’re also excited about the JOHN WATERS trio at BAM and other showcase and legacy pictures, such as the documentary DRESSED IN BLUE (1983), which follows the glamorous lives of six trans women in post-Franco Spain.
Founded in 1988 in response to the AIDS crisis, The New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival is the largest presenter of queer films in the U.S. and the biggest convener of LGBTQ+ audiences in New York City. This year, the Fest received over 1200 submissions—a testament to the thriving status of queer cinema today.
The celluloid celebration of our expansive and resilient community kicked off with the NYC Premiere of the awkward love-at-first-sight rom-com A NICE INDIAN BOY by Roshan Sethi and will close with Jacques Audiard’s Cannes prize-winning musical crime drama EMILIA PÉREZ, which has been generating Oscar buzz. Starring Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, and Adriana Paz, this film follows a high-powered lawyer helping a Mexican cartel leader fake their death and undergo gender-affirming surgery. Opening and Closing night ticket-holders are invited to after-parties at hotspot Slate, with many films featuring Q&As with filmmakers.
Don’t miss the queer cultural event of the season! For tickets, check out the complete lineup and link to the films you want to see. Want unlimited access? Virtual and in-person passes are available with perks.
