NYC's LBGT NewFest Kicks Off Its 22nd Season

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Parent Category: Film Festivals

Category: Previews

Published on Saturday, 05 June 2010 18:29

Written by T. Terry Maloney

New York's annual LBGT film festival, NewFest, running June 3 to 13, 2010, kicked off its 22nd season at the SVA Theater, 333 W. 23rd Street in Chelsea, with a screening of Undertow, the first full-length feature film from Peruvian director-screenwriter Javier Fuentes-León.

Winner of the 2010 World Cinema Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, Undertow is the story of Miguel played by Cristian Mercado (Che), a married fisherman and expectant father in Cabo Blanco, Peru, and his scandalous secret: a clandestine love affair with the openly gay Santiago, played by Manolo Cardona (Beverly Hills Chihuahua).

When Santiago drowns accidentally in the ocean's strong undercurrent, he cannot pass peacefully to the other side. He returns after his death to ask Miguel to look for his body and bury it according to the rituals of the town. Miguel must choose between sentencing Santiago to eternal torment or doing right by him and, in turn, revealing their relationship to the entire village.

With sweeping images of the beautiful Peruvian coastline, Undertow is described as an "emotional intersection of contemporary sexuality, confronted by tradition and belief."

The screening was followed by a lavish opening night party at the Chelsea Art Museum, attended by filmmakers from several countries, industry representatives and local and regional press.

This years festival will feature over 100 films from 20 countries.

Another notable film to be screened at NewFest is Howl, the story of "beat poet" and San Francisco bookstore owner Lawrence Ferlinghetti and his relationship with fellow poet Allen Ginsberg. The film details the trial following the publication of Ginsberg's poem Howl and also is a revealing look at homosexuality in 1940s New York. The film stars James Franco (Milk), Mary-Louise Parker, Jon Hamm (Mad Men) and Jeff Daniels with a score by Carter Burwell.

Women's Night on June 6 will feature a screening of The Owls, a tale of the reunion of two "older wiser" lesbians. Described as "far from your average psychological thriller," the film combines themes of aging in the lesbian community, gender anxiety and--last but not least--accidental murder.

A film that could not have been more timely in light of recent Congressional action is Out of Annapolis, the story of  LBGT navy and marine corps alumni of the US Naval Academy. The documentary was directed by Abe Forman-Greenwald and is co-sponsored by the Serviceman's Legal Defense Network

Another documentary on a lighter, although no less compelling, topic is Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, directed by Ricki Stern and Anne Sudberg. This film follows the legendary comedian (and longtime supporter of LBGT issues) as she performs across the US, promotes her jewelry line, appears on The Celebrity Apprentice and rehearses her play. The sold-out June 9 screening will be followed by a Q&A with Rivers moderated by Village Voice columnist Michael Musto.

Those hard-to-define members of the LBGT communiy known as "bears" (not all are chubby and/or hairy) are well represented at NewFest by the romantic comedy Bear City and the documentary Bear Nation.

Bear City, directed by Doug Langway and starring Stephen Guarino and Gerald McCullouch (C.S.I.) follows five beary friends as they pursue love and face life changing decisions as Bear Party Weekend rapidly approaches.

Bear Nation, directed by Malcolm Ingram (Small Town Gay Bar) is an insightful and comical exploration of bear identity, body image and community featuring bears of all ages and types.

The true story of  "the most popular twin lesbian yodelers in New Zealand" is told in the documentary The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls, starring Jools and Lynda Topp and directed by Leanne Pooley.

National superstars (and LBGT activists) in Kiwi Land with their own comedy television show, the Topp Twins will make their US debut following the June 10 screening. This unique entertainment experience is a must-see for all twins, lesbians, yodelers, Kiwis and those who admire them.

Another legend of the show business community to be profiled at NewFest is Rock Hudson in the Andrew Davies documentary Rock Hudson: Dark and Handsome Stranger. This intimate overview of the closeted superstar features interviews with close friends and also focuses on Hudson's "deathbed" revelation that he had contracted HIV, a now historical moment that raised awareness of HIV and AIDS and impacted the level and honesty of public discourse.

The Closing Night film is Violet Tendencies starring Mindy Cohn from TV's The Facts of Life in the title role. This hilarious and politically incorrect comedy features Cohn as "the oldest living fag hag" who can't seem to meet her own Mr. Right. The film also stars Jesse Archer, Marcus Patrick, Samuel Whitten, Kim Allen and Casper Andreas, who also directs this New York based film which features "surprising cameos." The screening will be followed by the always fabulous NewFest Closing Night Party at the Chelsea Art Museum.

NewFest wil leave the SVA Theater for screenings of three films from the Bahamas, Canada and Israel. On June 7, the groundbreaking Bahamian film Children of God will be shown at Harlem Stage (150 Convent Avenue). On June 9, two documentaries will be screened at the JCC (334 Amsterdam Avenue): Gay Days from Israel and the Canadian film The So-Called Movie.

NewFest also features six shorts programs and a series of filmmakers workshops and film seminars.

NewFest is presented by Marc Jacobs and sponsors include The Real L Word, Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams, Tekserve, LBGT Center, Gem Hotel, Grand Marnier, ifp and Orchard Films.

For a complete list of films, workshops, seminars and ticket information please go to: www.NewFest.org

NewFest
June 3 to 13, 2010

The New Festival, Inc.
Orchard Films
68 Jay St, Suite 319
Brooklyn, NY 11201
646-290-8136
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SVA Theater
333 W. 23rd St.
New York, NY 10011
212-592-2980

Chelsea Art Museum
160 11th Avenue
New York, NY 10011
212-255-0719

Harlem Stage
150 Convent Avenue
New York, NY 10031-9200
212-281-9240

JCC
334 Amsterdam Avenue
Samuel Priest Rose Building
334 Amsterdam Ave, at 76th St.
New York, NY 10023
646-505-4444 

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