Everything to know about this year’s NewFest, New York’s premier LGBTQ+ film festival
There's a certain kind of magic in the air when NewFest rolls around each year.
Mark
New York is a city constantly defined by its proximity to arts, culture, and the queer community, so there’s a certain kind of magic in the air when NewFest rolls around each year.
The LGBTQ+ film festival — which runs from Thursday, October 9 to Tuesday, October 21 — with both in-person and virtual passes available, was founded in 1988 in response to the AIDS crisis. In the years since, it’s become a fixture in the city’s queer culture scene — and the largest presentation of LGBTQ+ film and media in the city.
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For both travelers and New Yorkers alike, the festival symbolizes visibility; these movies and shows deserve to be seen, and NewFest not only helps these essential narratives find an audience — they help them find a mostly queer audience. (Yes, the cinephile cuties are out and about, honey!)
Catch a flight and grab some popcorn, because GayCities got some expert tips from NewFest executive director David Hatkoff.
What to see
From queer and trans-centered shorts to films like Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon, the Christy Martin biopic, and Miss Peppermint’s powerful new documentary, this year’s lineup is stacked.
Overall, this year’s themes prove “queer film is an act of rebellion,” which is why Hatkoff especially recommends Blue Film (which plays on October 11) and international centerpiece, Night Stage, which screens on October 16.
“They refuse to play nice,” he said. “They’re sexy, provocative, and guaranteed to leave audiences with plenty to talk about.”
Where to go
This year’s fest is centered between the SVA Theatre in Chelsea and local faves BAM Rose Cinemas and Nitehawk Cinema, making it easy to “catch an afternoon NewFest screening … in Chelsea, then walk the city, even over the Brooklyn Bridge, to an evening show.” Or, you can “hop the subway like a true New Yorker,” as Hatkoff advised.
Thanks to the festival’s proximity to Chelsea, you’ve got tons of options for your post-screening debrief drinks, including g Lounge, Boxers NYC, and Gym Sportsbar. (We also recommend gay faves Elmo and Cafeteria if you’re looking for a bite to eat.)
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What to expect
Whether flying solo or with your movie buddy, you can rest assured that you’ll never find a film festival as welcoming, warm, and community-focused as NewFest.
In fact, after attending last year’s closing film let out, I vividly recall flocking into the streets of Chelsea to a cacophony of hot takes, hilarious jokes, and most importantly, queer joy.
As Hatkoff told us, “It’s the rare film festival where you can arrive solo, strike up a conversation in line, and by the end of the night you’ve got a whole new queer crew — maybe even a date.”
Learn more about NewFest and get tickets for this year’s festival here.
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