The 13 Most Anticipated Movies of NewFest 2019
NewFest, New York's premier LGBT film festival, always brings the best and brightest queer cinema to the Big Apple, and its 31st iteration will be no exception. But where to begin when the weeklong showcase boasts more than 160 intriguing titles?
To get you started, here are our picks for the features you won’t want to miss at this year's event, which kicks off October 23 and runs through October 29.
This New York love story focuses on Adam (Grace and Frankie's Scott Evans) and his rising social-media star BF, Marklin (Special's Augustus Prew), who have been together five years but are now reexamining their commitment to each other. The film also stars Kate Walsh (Grey's Anatomy) and the inimitable Patricia Clarkson. Wednesday, October 23, 7:00pm
Megan Wennberg's new documentary follows four drag performers under the age of 12 who face scrutiny and ridicule on their journey to release their inner divas. A moving film about gender, art, and affirming parenting, Drag Kids will have you sashaying through tears by its triumphant conclusion. Thursday, October 24, 7:00pm
Alexis Clements' debut feature shines a light on how more than 100 queer women’s spaces in the U.S.—from dive bars and bookstores to dance halls and health centers—have shuttered since 2010, reminding us why these havens are needed in the LGBTQ community. World Premiere Friday, October 25, 6pm.
Anyone who has spent time on Fire Island during the off-season knows that all those empty boardwalks and summer homes would make the perfect setting for a murder mystery. Enter Last Ferry, a comedy thriller about a lonely lawyer (Ramon Torres) who sees someone get killed at the gay destination, and begins to question who he can trust. Friday, October 25, 9:15pm
A French gay road trip movie packed with Bonnie Tyler songs? If your interest still isn't piqued, just know that The Shiny Shrimps is being sold as Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in Speedos. Saturday, October 26, 1:15pm
In this horror comedy, Supergirl’s Nicole Maines plays a young woman who gets swept up in L.A.'s dark underground scene, which happens to include a faction of lady vampires whose motives are unclear. Saturday, October 26, 6:45pm
Following one of the wildest and most popular drag collectives in Brooklyn, this documentary features performances by Divina GranSparkle, Pearl Harbor, K.James, Miss Malice, Vigor Mortis, Nyx Nocturne, and Zoe Ziegfeld. The screening will be followed by an extended performance by Switch N’ Play. Saturday, October 26, 9:15pm
Graham Kolbeins’ doc paints a vivid portrait of the country’s complicated relationship with queerness through interviews with its first transgender elected official, Aya Kamikawa; erotic manga illustrator Gengoroh Tagame; lesbian bar owner Chiga Ogawa; and many more. Sunday, October 27, 6:45pm
Set in 1960s Oklahoma and shot in beautiful black and white, Martha Stephens' latest (the fest's U.S. Centerpiece) explores the sudden and unlikely friendship between two high schoolers: popular girl Maggie (Liana Liberato) and social outcast Iris (Moonrise Kingdom's Kara Hayward). Think of it as a teenage Carol. Sunday, October 27, 7:00pm
Shot in Tel Aviv, the debut feature from Yuval Hadadi tells the story of Yoav (Oded Leopold), a man whose life begins to unravel when his boyfriend starts talking adoption after his best friend becomes pregnant. Sunday, October 27, 9:15pm
Director Daniel Nolasco trails judges, past winners, and current contenders vying for the title of Mr. Leather Brazil as they prepare for the annual competition, where one participant will be chosen to represent their country at Chicago’s International Mr. Leather contest. Sunday, October 27, 9:30pm
It is widely believed that A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge is the gayest slasher film of all time. This doc follows its star Mark Patton as he goes on tour for the sequel's 30th anniversary, confronts the screenwriter who helped kill his acting career, and feels the warm, clawed embrace of the queer fans who've made the movie a cult classic. Monday, October 28, 8:45pm
After huffing a new brand of magic aerosol, queer dominatrix Trinity (Molly Hewitt, who also wrote and directed) can see dead people. NewFest describes this bizarro flick as a combination of John Waters, Jamie Babbit, and Bruce LaBruce, and it also stars The Politician breakout Theo Germaine. Tickets bought! Monday, October 28, 9:30pm
Main image: Last Ferry.
