NewFest\u2019s New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival has revealed the lineup for its 38th edition, as IndieWire exclusively shares. The lineup of 144 projects representing 23 countries is led by many of the year\u2019s most celebrated queer films out of Cannes and other festivals. This year\u2019s edition runs October 15-25 in theaters across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, with premieres taking place at SVA Theatre, BAM, MoMI, Nitehawk Prospect Park, and the LGBT Community Center. Some films will stream virtually on NewFest\u2018s on-demand platform from October 15-30.<\/p>\n
Lesli Klainberg, NewFest\u2019s interim executive director, said, \u201cNewFest\u2019s 38th edition underscores the festival\u2019s unique role as a vital platform for the best in queer cinema \u2014 bringing together acclaimed work from leading studios and distributors with bold discoveries and emerging voices that define the medium\u2019s future. This year\u2019s lineup shows that LGBTQ+ stories are not on the margins of culture; they are among the most ambitious, artistically vital, and anticipated films of the moment. We are proud to offer New York audiences the opportunity to experience these prestige titles alongside a rich program of daring independent work.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u201cThis year\u2019s sterling slate bursts with bold creativity, prestige, and civic-mindedness \u2014 reflecting the vibrancy and vastness of our community on a local and global scale,\u201d added director of programming Nick McCarthy. \u201cFrom the USA to Mexico to Nigeria to Nepal to Australia, NewFest38 honors the best in LGBTQIA+ film from around the world. We\u2019re excited to amplify a selection of standouts from Cannes, highly anticipated titles fresh out of Telluride and TIFF, and brilliant work from emerging artists premiering their films for the first time. We look forward to gathering audiences in conversation with filmmakers to generate connections, spark dialogue, and celebrate deeply resonant stories that will endure far beyond. Queer cinema is fully alive \u2014 and it\u2019s thriving.\u201d<\/p>\n
As previously announced, NewFest38 will open on October 15 with the NYC premiere of Cannes Best Director winner \u201cLa Bola Negra,\u201d from filmmakers Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, who just earned a massive reception in Toronto for the queer epic.<\/p>\n
The festival will close on October 25 with a screening and party celebrating Ira Sachs\u2019 acclaimed 1980s-set romantic triangle drama \u201cThe Man I Love,\u201d starring Rami Malek, Tom Sturridge, and Luther Ford.<\/p>\n
NewFest\u2019s centerpiece premieres include IndieWire favorite \u201cMouse,\u201d directed by Kelly O\u2019Sullivan and Alex Thompson; \u201cElsinore\u201d starring Oscar contender Andrew Scott; Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri\u2019s Nigeria-set Virginia Woolf adaptation \u201cClarissa\u201d; and Jordan Firstman\u2019s A24 festival sensation \u201cClub Kid.\u201d Lexie Bean and Logan Rozos\u2019 trans documentary \u201cWhat Will I Become?\u201d is this year\u2019s documentary centerpiece.<\/p>\n
NewFest will honor Emmy-, Grammy-, and Tony-winner and political activist Cynthia Nixon with the 2026 Voice and Visibility tribute; she will be in attendance to accept the award followed by a discussion of \u201cThe Gilded Age.\u201d<\/p>\n
Throwback screenings include \u201c9 to 5\u201d and \u201cSteel Magnolias\u201d in honor of the late Dolly Parton, as well as Ingmar Bergman\u2019s \u201cPersona.\u201d<\/p>\n
NewFest will also host a screening for the third and final season of Starz\u2019s Southern Gothic melodrama series \u201cP-Valley,\u201d followed by a conversation with creator\/showrunner Katori Hall and series star Nicco Annan.<\/p>\n
Ticketing info is available via www.newfest.org.<\/p>\n
The full NewFest38 lineup, including its wide range of narrative features, is below, with language courtesy of the festival.<\/p>\n
OPENING NIGHT FILM<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n LA BOLA NEGRA<\/strong>, directed by Javier Calvo & Javier Ambrossi (Spain).<\/p>\n Guitarricadelafuente, Miguel Bernardeau, and Carlos Gonz\u00e1lez star in a bold tapestry spanning nearly a century of Spanish history and three generations of men whose lives are intimately connected through desire, pain, and love directed, co-written and produced by Cannes-award winning Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi. New York City Premiere & Party<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n CLOSING NIGHT FILM<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n THE MAN I LOVE, <\/strong>directed by Ira Sachs (USA). U.S. CENTERPIECE<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n MOUSE, <\/strong>directed by Kelly O\u2019Sullivan and Alex Thompson (USA).<\/p>\n The 2026 Berlinale-premiering coming-of-age drama is tender, sensitive, and deeply human\u2014Sophie Okonedo delivers a standout performance in this affecting story. New York City Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n SPOTLIGHT CENTERPIECE<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n ELSINORE, <\/strong>directed by Simon Stone (UK).<\/p>\n The deeply emotional and inspirational true story of Ian Charleson, a gifted actor whose greatest challenge becomes his greatest triumph. Choosing to live life on his own terms, Ian finds purpose through art, transforming his own struggle into a source of healing and inspiration for those around him. New York City Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n INTERNATIONAL CENTERPIECE<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n CLARISSA, <\/strong>directed by Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri (Nigeria, USA).<\/p>\n A stunning reimagining of Virginia Woolf\u2019s Mrs. Dalloway and portrait of contemporary Nigeria, CLARISSA follows a day in a wealthy woman\u2019s life as she prepares for a high-society gathering and a young soldier haunted by trauma, both confronted by the lingering weight of their pasts.<\/p>\n NEW YORK CENTERPIECE<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n CLUB KID, <\/strong>directed by Jordan Firstman (USA).<\/p>\n This Cannes-premiering triumph follows a hard-partying New York City club promoter as his whirlwind lifestyle is upended by the arrival of the 10-year-old son he never knew he had.<\/p>\n DOCUMENTARY CENTERPIECE<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n WHAT WILL I BECOME?, <\/strong>directed by Lexie Bean and Logan Rozos (USA).<\/p>\n This 2026 Berlinale documentary captures directors Lexie and Logan as they try to understand their own trans boyhood through the legacies of two young men and the exploration of community healing. New York City Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n SPECIAL EVENTS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n AN EVENING WITH CYNTHIA NIXON<\/strong><\/p>\n Join NewFest for an evening with NewFest\u2019s 2026 Voice & Visibility Award recipient Cynthia Nixon, in conversation about THE GILDED AGE.<\/p>\n AUBIN PICTURES 30TH ANNIVERSARY: SCREENING + CONVERSATION<\/strong><\/p>\n NewFest celebrates the 30th anniversary of Aubin Pictures, a production company committed to creating cultural awareness through social justice-driven storytelling. Featuring two retrospective shorts from the Aubin catalogue alongside the New York premiere of AND AGAIN I DREAM. Featuring the short films:<\/p>\n WHEN DEMOCRACY WORKS (1996), directed by Catherine (Saalfied) Gund with Scot Nakagawa<\/p>\n CUZ IT\u2019S BOY (1994), directed by Catherine (Saalfied) Gund<\/p>\n AND AGAIN I DREAM (2026), co-directed by Catherine Gund & Mariah Norman<\/p>\n LEGACY SCREENINGS + EVENTS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n DOLLY DOUBLE: 9 TO 5<\/strong> (1980), directed by Colin Higgins<\/p>\n In Colin Higgins\u2019s iconic and hilarious office satire, three female office employees band together to seek revenge on their sexist and obnoxious boss.<\/p>\n DOLLY DOUBLE: STEEL MAGNOLIAS<\/strong> (1989), directed by Herbert Ross<\/p>\n The small town-set comedy drama from Herbert Ross follows the bond and celebrates the friendship between six women who gather in a beauty salon as they share gossip, laughter, and heartbreak. Screening in 35mm<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n PERSONA <\/strong>(1966), directed by Ingmar Bergman<\/p>\n Ingmar Bergman\u2019s psychological masterpiece follows a young nurse put in charge of a mute actress, when they realize their personas are blending together and blurring the lines between their identities. 60th Anniversary Screening<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n NARRATIVE FEATURES<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n BEFORE I DO, <\/strong>directed by Gary Jaffe (USA).<\/p>\n A lakeside bachelor party weekend devolves into riotous chaos when the groom realises he has latent romantic feelings for an old friend. New York Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n BLACK BURNS FAST, <\/strong>directed by Sandulela Asanda (South Africa).<\/p>\n Adorkable and studious, Luthando is on track for a normal academic year at the prestigious boarding school she attends on scholarship. The arrival of a new girl in her class ignites Luthando\u2019s suppressed desires which threaten her relationships and everything she thought she knew about herself.<\/p>\n CORPUS, <\/strong>directed by Corrin Evans (USA).<\/p>\n 1997 \u2014 New York City. Sayo, a nightlife photographer and small-time drug dealer working the city\u2019s sweaty underground club scene, is invited upstate by his long-time crush, Vince. The two set out with Ross, a raucous party boy, and the three drive to a secluded, bucolic manor. When they arrive, the promised party twists into a night of dark, strange, erotic terror. New York City Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n COWARD, <\/strong>directed by Lukas Dhont (Belgium, France, The Netherlands).<\/p>\n As the First World War drags on, Pierre, a soldier newly arrived at the front, is eager to prove himself. Behind the lines, he meets Francis, who decides to lift the spirits of his comrades by putting together a theatre show. While the violence continues, both men try to find ways to escape the brutality of war, even if only for a moment. New York City Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n ELEPHANTS IN THE FOG, <\/strong>directed by Abinash Bikram Shah (Nepal, Germany, Brazil, France, Norway).<\/p>\n In a small Nepalese village nestled in the heart of a forest populated by wild elephants, Pirati is the matriarch of a Kinnar community. She dreams of escaping to a \u201cnormal\u201d life with the man she is in love with. But when one of her daughters disappears, she must investigate and choose between love and responsibility to her community. New York Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n GUGU\u2019S WORLD, <\/strong>directed by Allan Deberton (Brazil).<\/p>\n With a football at his feet and a heart that doesn\u2019t fit the lines drawn for him, a boy watches the place, where he feels whole, beginning to slip away. New York Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n I AM GOING TO MISS YOU,<\/strong> directed by Daniel Ribeiro (Brazil).<\/p>\n After seven years together, Amanda and Caio move in, but love alone isn\u2019t enough. He dreams of a future with her; she dreams of something more. When Amanda meets Jo\u00e3o, their bond is tested. Some loves fade. Others transform. East Coast Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n INDIGO ELSEWHERE, <\/strong>directed by Willow Skye-Biggs (USA)<\/p>\n Two directionless transsexual lesbians connect in a reality shifting way. World Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n IV\u00c1N AND HADOUM, <\/strong>directed by Ian de la Rosa (Spain, Germany, Belgium).<\/p>\n In a greenhouse in southern Spain, Iv\u00e1n falls in love with newly hired co-worker Hadoum. But his long-awaited promotion interferes with their relationship, forcing him to decide what kind of person he wants to be. New York Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n LA GRADIVA, <\/strong>directed by Marine Atlan (France).<\/p>\n A group of French high-school students travel to Naples on a school trip to discover the ruins of Pompeii and the bodies petrified by Vesuvius. There, they are drawn into a dizzying descent. One by one, they are swept up in desire and anger, until they surrender to them completely.<\/p>\n MADFABULOUS, <\/strong>directed by Celyn Jones (UK).<\/p>\n A riotous, uncompromising celebration of otherness inspired by the unlikely British aristocrat who theatrically bankrupted his estate, lived fast and died young. New York Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n MASC, <\/strong>directed by Bertil Nilsson (UK).<\/p>\n Desperate to fit in, a young autistic man tries on different roles to understand what kind of man he\u2019s supposed to be. U.S. Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n MONTREAL, MY BEAUTIFUL, <\/strong>directed by Xiaodan He (Canada).<\/p>\n At 53 years old, Feng Xia, a Chinese immigrant in Montreal, finally confronts her repressed desire for women and begins a secret affair with a young Qu\u00e9b\u00e9coise. This adventure brings her passionate love and a betrayal of her moral life.<\/p>\n ON THE ROAD, <\/strong>directed by David Pablos (Mexico).<\/p>\n A drifter who sleeps with truckers meets a reserved driver and joins him hauling freight across northern Mexico. As they grow closer on the road, the drifter\u2019s past threatens them both. East Coast Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n OUT OF THE WOODS, <\/strong>directed by Sal Bardo (USA).<\/p>\n Max is slowly losing her memory. When she reunites with an old friend, Diana, a long-hidden part of her past is reawakened and she\u2019s forced to choose between spending the precious time she has left with the woman she\u2019s always loved or remaining faithful to her husband. New York Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n PERFECT, <\/strong>directed by Millicent Hailes (USA).<\/p>\n Drawn to a lakeside haven by a mysterious pregnant woman, a heartbroken drifter finds refuge with a group of eccentric misfits. New York Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n THE RIVERBANK, <\/strong>directed by Enock Carvalho and Matheus Farias (Brazil, Germany).<\/p>\n In the darkness of Recife\u2019s mangroves, a young man\u2019s search for desire leads him into a world where seduction and violence become impossible to escape. East Coast Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n SINNER SUPPER CLUB, <\/strong>directed by Nora Kaye and Daisy Rosato (USA).<\/p>\n Sinner Supper Club is a gay mumblegore ghost story that centers on friends reuniting to throw a \u201cwake\u201d for Genevieve, who has been priced out of NYC; as the night progresses and a heatwave traps them together, their long-ignored problems boil over. East Coast Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n SOMETHING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ME, <\/strong>directed by Andy Fidoten (USA).<\/p>\n At an artists\u2019 retreat, insecure trans cartoonist Al is caught in a love triangle between his best friend and his creative nemesis\u2014and must win his best friend\u2019s heart by learning to draw his feelings honestly.<\/p>\n SWEET MILK LAKE,<\/strong> directed by Harvey Zielinski (Australia).<\/p>\n Jake and Sam are twin brothers, one cisgender and one trans. Sam, long estranged from their father, learns he is dying and decides to visit and finally open up to him. But when his dad<\/p>\n mistakes him for his brother, Sam relishes the chance to finally be one of the boys, until the lie<\/p>\n becomes heavier than his need for the truth. U.S. Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n TANGLES, <\/strong>directed by Leah Nelson (USA, Canada).<\/p>\n Fresh from Cannes, this star-studded, adult animated drama follows Sarah as she juggles a long-distance relationship, a burgeoning career, and her mother\u2019s Alzheimer\u2019s diagnosis. New York City Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n TEST<\/strong>, directed by Sam McConnell (USA).<\/p>\n An amateur bodybuilder in rural Ohio must confront a dysfunctional family, substance abuse, and his own emerging sexuality on his quest to become a champion. New York Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n TIGER, <\/strong>directed by Anshul Chauhan (Japan).<\/p>\n A 35-year-old gay masseuse finds himself pushed to the edge as his escalating clash with his sister over property ownership blurs the line between right and wrong.<\/p>\n DOCUMENTARY\/NONFICTION FEATURES<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n GAYS AGAINST GUNS, <\/strong>directed by Paul Rowley (USA, Ireland).<\/p>\n From the Pulse night club shooting to today \u2013 a queer Irish immigrant brings us to the front lines of the American gun violence epidemic following an outrageous activist group as they tackle the gun industry head on. U.S. Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n THE HIDDEN FACE OF THE EARTH, <\/strong>directed by Arnaud Alain (France).<\/p>\n Dimitri loves photographing friends, strangers, lovers. Over the years, images have slipped away from his sight. Behind his camera, he gathers light and bodies, inviting me to gaze toward the hidden face of the Earth. U.S. Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n HUNKY JESUS, <\/strong>directed by Jennifer M. Kroot (USA).<\/p>\n For 45 years, the San Francisco\u2013based Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have wielded humor, irreverent wit, shock value, and radical joy as tools of resistance, exposing the forces of bigotry, complacency, and guilt that chain the human spirit. A secular order of queer and trans nuns devoted to community service and ministry, the Sisters\u2019 annual Easter celebration, Hunky Jesus, is as subversive, controversial, and fun as it sounds. New York City Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n KAREN WILLIAMS: I HAD TO LAUGH, <\/strong>directed by Andrea Meyerson (USA).<\/p>\n The year is 1983 and Karen Williams bursts into the world of standup comedy\u2014the first out Black lesbian to perform lesbian-specific material on stage. Four decades later, Karen is still going strong and we\u2019re still laughing! New York Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n MICKEY, <\/strong>directed by Dano Garcia (Mexico).<\/p>\n Filmed over ten years, Mickey is a documentary about the memory of a trans woman from Sinaloa who, alongside the filmmaker who grew up with her, Dano, uses play and performance to re-signify the past and inhabit the present. New York Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n NO MONEY NO HONEY, <\/strong>directed by Nicole Costa (Chile, USA).<\/p>\n Revisiting old VHS tapes, M\u00e1xima Mauricio, an Argentine sex worker, longs for her golden days in Miami while confronting a childhood marked by neglect and abuse. As she reconciles with her past, she finds strength in friends and the trans community. New York Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n TWO MOUNTAINS WEIGHING DOWN MY CHEST, <\/strong>directed by Viv Li (Germany, Netherlands, China).<\/p>\n A Chinese misfit ricochets between Berlin\u2019s alternative frenzy and Beijing\u2019s family order, transforming cultural whiplash into an offbeat search for identity and a playful quest for belonging.<\/p>\n UNCLE ROY, <\/strong>directed by Keri Pickett (USA).<\/p>\n As 93-year-old Roy Blakey faces life-threatening dementia, his niece races to preserve his legacy\u2014as a figure skater, ice show archivist, and gay photographer whose male nudes etched their way into history\u2014all before his final curtain call. New York City Premiere<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n SHORTS PROGRAMS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n SHORTS: BLACK QUEER PRIDE NY<\/strong><\/p>\n Join us for an encore screening of our NewFest Pride shorts, celebrating stories from the Black LGBTQ+ community! All films in this program are original creations by NYC residents. Featuring the short films:<\/p>\n BLACK TRANS LIBERATION, directed by Brent Thomas Whiteside<\/p>\n FOR LOVE, directed by Micah Cyrus<\/p>\n GLASS BRICKS, directed by Simone Holland<\/p>\n HAIL MAYA, directed by Fredgy No\u00ebl<\/p>\n IF ONLY YOU KNEW, directed by Safiyah Chiniere<\/p>\n JAYLAH, directed by Christina Batte<\/p>\n SHORTS: DREAM IT, BE IT<\/strong><\/p>\n Tap into your inner child and future self with animated shorts that build fantastical new worlds. All we have to do is dream it. Featuring the short films:<\/p>\n BOYGIRL, directed by Michal Heuston<\/p>\n CEPHALOPODS, directed by Vic Cas\u00e9<\/p>\n DOUG + ME, directed by Cecile Fountain-Jardim<\/p>\n FOR SMALL CREATURES, directed by Dylan Jeanette Albertson<\/p>\n THE LOVERS, directed by Alice Mao and Sophia Paez<\/p>\n MY NAME IS LILITH, directed by Leo Luna Robert-Tourneur<\/p>\n A NEW CREATION STORY, directed by Dane Figueroa Edidi, J Mase III, and Audria LB<\/p>\n OUR BODY OURS, directed by Sanam Sheriff and Sonali Gulati<\/p>\n TUNA TARTARE, directed by Lena Greene<\/p>\n SHORTS: DYKE NYTE RETURNS!<\/strong><\/p>\n Celebrate the diversity, nuance, and joy of the sapphic experience! These shorts highlight the sexiest and sweetest stories in queer cinema, from romantic entanglements to dating misadventures and more. Featuring the short films:<\/p>\n CATHEXIS, directed by Libe Barer<\/p>\n HIGH VOLTAGE, directed by Hannah Whisenant<\/p>\n HUMMINGBIRD, directed by Lorena Gordon<\/p>\n I LIKE THE WAY YOU TASTE, directed by Maya Williams<\/p>\n LESBIAN MUD WRESTLING, directed by Kirsty Wilson<\/p>\n MAYFLIES, directed by Lydia McNulty<\/p>\n PANGEA, directed by Mimi Davila<\/p>\n PURPLE LINGERIE, directed by Jiayi Li<\/p>\n WHOLESOME, directed by Kimmy Campbell<\/p>\n SHORTS: GET SOME LAUGHS!<\/strong><\/p>\n Get ready for a chaotic, genre-bending ride through the glorious absurdities of modern life! This hilarious shorts block delivers zero chill and maximum unhinged energy. Featuring the short films:<\/p>\n CIRCLE THE BLOCK, directed by Matthew Pifko<\/p>\n FLIGHT RISK, directed by Mohammad Awad<\/p>\n GUSH, directed by Gracie Fojtik<\/p>\n THE LATE IN LIFE GUIDE TO MODERN DAY LESBIANISM, directed by Emelie Claxton and Molly Rangel<\/p>\n MONES, directed by Zachary Drucker<\/p>\n SCISSORS, directed by Hannah Alline<\/p>\n THE WADDLES, directed by Max Jenkins<\/p>\n WIFE, WIFE directed by Sara Werner<\/p>\n SHORTS: GETTING TO KNOW HIM<\/strong><\/p>\n From cruising at secluded gloryholes to seeing a partner with fresh eyes, these shorts capture all the excitement of meeting someone for the first time\u2014whether it\u2019s for one night or for a lifetime. Featuring the short films:<\/p>\n AFFIRMATION, directed by Christopher Vallario<\/p>\n AS IF I\u2019M HERE, AS IF I\u2019M NOT, directed by Nile Tan<\/p>\n CALLBACK, directed by Matthew Puccini<\/p>\n CHULO, directed by Joshua Hernandez<\/p>\n FLY, directed by Carlton Daniel Jr.<\/p>\n GLORY\/US, directed by Jet Harris<\/p>\n MAGIC 8, directed by Robyn Faye<\/p>\n METHOD COWBOY, directed by Carlos Valdivia<\/p>\n SHORTS: HAVING A GREAT TIME BEING TRANS LATELY<\/strong><\/p>\n This T4T short-film program brings together some of the most lucid trans voices of our time, fearless and unapologetic artists and activists whose work insists: History cannot be written without the \u201cT.\u201d Featuring the short films:<\/p>\n BORN 2 FEEL, directed by My Panelli & Serena Hommes<\/p>\n DADDY HAS ME DETRANSITIONING, directed by Yoyo Rita<\/p>\n THE DOLL WALK, directed by Qween Amor & Ashley Ryan<\/p>\n HOW TO FIND A CAREER THAT LOVES YOU BACK, directed by Ethernet Wang<\/p>\n THE LAST VAGINOPLASTY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, directed by Drew Burnett Gregory<\/p>\n ROAD RUNNER, directed by Yaz Josiah<\/p>\n THIS SUFFOCATING NOW, directed by Vika Kirchenbauer<\/p>\n TRIVAKRA, directed by Sofia Angst<\/p>\n SHORTS: HEARTLANDS, USA<\/strong><\/p>\n Home is where the heartland is in this compelling shorts program that captures queer life across rural USA. Home is where the heartland is in this compelling shorts program that captures queer life across rural USA. Presented in partnership with The American LGBTQ+ Museum. Featuring the short films:<\/p>\n JULIE TAKES A WALK, directed by Frankie Pedersen and Shea Vassar<\/p>\n MARSHLAND, directed by Ray Chambers<\/p>\n RAINBOW RIDER, directed by Georgia Krause<\/p>\n SEARCHING 4 SATURN, DW McCrary<\/p>\n SOMETHING IN THE AIR, directed by Niamh Barry<\/p>\n SHORTS: KILL YOUR DARLINGS<\/strong><\/p>\n These shorts indulge in the bloodthirsty fantasies of getting rid of something (or someone) that no longer serves you. Because if you can\u2019t have them, nobody else should. Featuring the short films:<\/p>\n THE ACT OF CUTTING AWAY, directed by Hayden Celentano<\/p>\n CAMP OLEANDER, directed by Alyssa Aldaz<\/p>\n HVAC, directed by Jackson McKeehan<\/p>\n I\u2019M GONNA KILL YOU, directed by Andrew Chappelle<\/p>\n IN HER YOU\u2019LL FIND SANCTUARY, directed by Isabella Garcia<\/p>\n KILL THE DJ, directed by Clementine Narcisse<\/p>\n MATCHES, directed by Jake Delaney<\/p>\n SHORTS: NEW VOICES FILMMAKER GRANT SHOWCASE<\/strong><\/p>\n Celebrate short films from 2026 New Voices grant recipients\u2014Star Amerasu, Deborah Devyn Chuang, Georgia Krause, and co-directing duo AJ Dubler and Carmela Murphy\u2014at our fifth annual showcase. In partnership with Netflix. Featuring the short films:<\/p>\n AFTER HOURS, directed by Star Amerasu<\/p>\n A BIRD HIT MY WINDOW AND NOW I\u2019M A LESBIAN, directed by AJ Dubler & Carmela Murphy<\/p>\n RAINBOW RIDER, directed by Georgia Krause<\/p>\n STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKEDeborah Devyn Chuang<\/p>\n SHORTS: QUEER TEEN SPIRIT<\/strong><\/p>\n For the ninth year, NewFest is thrilled to collaborate with NYC Public Schools and GLAAD on a spirited shorts program curated for LGBTQ+ teens. Featuring the short films:<\/p>\n CRUSH.EXE, directed by Victor Torres<\/p>\n EYELINER, directed by Aisha Boudjillouli<\/p>\n GABE\u2019S SISTER, directed by Monica Mai<\/p>\n GLOSS, directed by Leah Shore<\/p>\n LESBIAN DITCH DAY, directed by Olivia Cade<\/p>\n MY DEAR WATSON, directed by Jacob McKee<\/p>\n OTHER GIRLS, directed by Ryder Scully<\/p>\n TODAY & TMRW, directed by Mariales Diaz<\/p>\n SHORTS: SOUND AND SCENE SHOWCASE<\/strong><\/p>\n Celebrates short films from NewFest\u2019s 2026 recipients of the Sound & Scene: NewFest + BMG (formerly Concord) QTBIPOC Short Film Initiative, a program launched in 2024 in partnership with Concord Originals. Featuring the short films:<\/p>\n JOY\/ORGASM, directed by Kalani Axelrode<\/p>\n A STORY SHE TOLD, directed by Vivian Ip<\/p>\n THE WAIT, directed by Sekiya Dorsett<\/p>\n YOU SEE ME, directed by Manuel Villarreal<\/p>\n SHORTS: TRANSMISSIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n In this trans-centered shorts program, characters turn to EMDR sessions, reincarnation specialists, and dream oracles, journeying through memory and the unconscious to create something new that will transcend all your expectations. Featuring the short films:<\/p>\n ARE YOU BEING THANKED ENDLESSLY?, directed by Ayo Tsalithaba<\/p>\n THE DEER OF NINE COLORS, directed by Andrew Thomas Huang<\/p>\n THE FEELS \u2013 OR THE DEBILITATED CONDITION OF THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM, directed by Carolina Costa<\/p>\n GO WITH THATDENNY, Nico Reano<\/p>\n MAY THE ROAD RISE UP TO MEET YOU, directed by Khaleb Brooks<\/p>\n NEVER SLEEP, directed by Ayo Tsalithaba<\/p>\n ONE DAY, directed by Y\u00ean Sen<\/p>\n TWO DREAMS ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD, directed by Frances Arpaia<\/p>\n EPISODIC SHOWCASE: BINGE THE RAINBOW<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n This shorts program proves queer episodics are thriving, with a lineup that includes a coven of drag queen witches, an animated supernatural romp, and a girl-punk rebellion. Something for everyone! Featuring episodes from the following series:<\/p>\n CODEPENDENT, directed by Caitlyn Phu<\/p>\n MANDELBROT HALL, directed by Ren Abueg, Milo Ferguson, and Reid Sandlund<\/p>\n MR. LAVENDER, directed by Mason Leaver<\/p>\n PDA, directed by Morgan Rielly<\/p>\n WE KISSED ONCE, directed by Sharik Geneve<\/p>\n THE WITCHY GIRLS, directed by Haley Alea Erickson, Robbie Sinclair Ten-Eyck (a.k.a. Lazy Susan)<\/p>\n VIRTUAL EXCLUSIVES<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n In partnership with Aubin Pictures, NewFest will feature a curated collection of legacy features and shorts from the Aubin catalog.<\/strong><\/p>\n CHAVELA, <\/strong>directed by Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi(Mexico, Spain, United States)<\/p>\n Exclusive interview and performance footage from 1991 capture Chavela Vargas in her own words: a woman who dared to dress, speak, sing, and dream her extraordinary life into being. Virtual Exclusive<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
The 1980s-set music-driven drama starring Rami Malek follows an artist experiencing a precious window between sickness and mortality\u2013a time when beauty and love remain within reach.<\/p>\n