NewFest unveils outstanding lineup of LGBTQ+ films

Jonathan Groff and Karan Soni helped kick off NewFest, New York’s LGBTQ+ film festival, on Thursday with the East Coast premiere of their new romantic comedy “A Nice Indian Boy.”

Directed by Roshan Sethi, the film is a tender cross-cultural love story between an Indian-American doctor, Naveen (Soni), and Jay (Groff), a white photographer raised by Indian parents. “A Nice Indian Boy” marks Groff’s highly anticipated return to the big screen following his Tony-winning performance in the hit Broadway revival of “Merrily We Roll Along.”

NewFest’s closing film, “Emilia Pérez,” is generating similar buzz ahead of its screening on October 22nd. The dark comedy-musical hybrid starring Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña is considered a top contender for awards season.

However, such starry performances are only part of the NewFest program. The 2024 festival includes a total of 143 feature films, documentaries and short films representing 30 countries from around the world.

HuffPost spoke with NewFest organizers about this year’s highlights and their personal recommendations.

“Fanatical: Tegan and Sara’s Catfishing”

“Our documentary centerpiece is an absolute must for lovers of Tegan and Sara and the telling of true crime stories. Compassionately directed by queer filmmaker and investigator Erin Lee Carr (“Britney vs. Spears”), this compelling documentary tells the intimate but sprawling story of identity theft and deception that impacted the musical duo and countless loyal fans. And let’s just say we’re expecting special guests who will be there for an exciting question and answer session!”

— Nick McCarthy, program director

“Shorts: Girls’ Night Out”

“Get ready for seven sapphic short films from women and non-binary directors that explore a stuck snowdrift, a frayed friendship, a hellish driving lesson, a confident sex worker, a sari store clerk, hot summer heat and the reality of a fading memory at the end of a long-lived life.”

— Anita Raswant, program manager

“In his work as an author and filmmaker, Abdellah Taïa has been dealing with queerness through the prism of Arab and Muslim culture for decades. With the beguiling “Cabo Negro,” he turns expectations on their head, delivering both a sly examination of homophobia and sex tourism and an ambiguously sexy vacation thriller. Exquisite.”

— Murtada Elfadl, lead programmer

“The World According to Allee Willis”

“Even if you haven’t heard the name Allee Willis, you’ve definitely heard the iconic songs she wrote, including “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire, “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” Pet Shop Boys and “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” and the most famous sitcom theme of all time for “Friends.” With over 60 million records sold, Willis is a Grammy-winning songwriter and artist who has had a huge influence on pop culture without receiving much recognition.

This delightful documentary is an overdue celebration and an enchanting message of love from life partner Prudence Fenton and her many colorful friends. Enjoy a joyful dive into Allee’s crazy Los Angeles parties attended by Elvira, Paul Reubens, Debbie Harry and Cyndi Lauper, reminding us to “never let the lyric get in the way of a groove.”

— Kim Garcia, technical director and programmer

“Veneno: Dressed in Blue”

“In the new season of the internationally acclaimed series, lead actress Valeria – brilliantly portrayed by Lola Rodriguez – embarks on a new search for the lost history of trans women in Spain, delving deep into the 1983 Spanish documentary Dressed in Blue .

“Veneno: Dressed in Blue” is a life-affirming love letter to queer and transsexual history. It reminds us of the importance of preserving our narratives and honoring those who paved the way for future generations.”

— Anto(n) Astudillo, programmer

Told with bleeding-edge romance reminiscent of Merchant Ivory and intricate gothic poetry, Lilies Not For Me shines an unflinching light on a dark and largely unknown period of gay history. Making its U.S. premiere at NewFest, this beautiful film is a reminder that despite the many historical attempts to change our inner selves, we live on through our love stories. It will make you faint.”

— Jorge Molina, programmer and industry coordinator

NewFest 2024 runs until Sunday, October 22nd. Check out the festival trailer below.