Stonewall Remembered in Fest & Films

• 
• 

Details

Parent Category: Film Festivals

Category: Previews

Published on Monday, 28 June 2010 12:45

Written by Perry Santanachote

Pink triangle. Rainbow flag. Metallic blue 1969 Cadillac Coupe deVille. All enduring symbols of gay pride. All sights to behold at the annual New York City Pride festivities this week, June 23 to June 27, 2010.



The caddy's claim to fame was during the Stonewall Rebellion in the year of its making. Over 40 years later, it still represents the culmination of the gay rights movement. 



The uprising began on a hot Friday night on June 27, 1969. New York City police were conducting a routine raid of the Stonewall Inn, a Christopher Street hangout for gays. For whatever reason, that night, the gays pushed back. 

As the police attempted to arrest Stonewall patrons, a spontaneous burst of outrage came over the crowd and they began throwing beer bottles, bricks and random objects at the cops. The police responded by beating whoever they could get their hands on. 

During the scuffle, for unknown reasons, two officers dressed in civilian clothes got in the Cadillac convertible that was parked in front of the Stonewall Inn and drove it to the old Sixth Precinct station.

Days later the owner recovered the car at the impound without a single scratch. The car subsequently became recognized in the village as the Stonewall Car.



Protests lasted for days after the Stonewall raid and the infamous rebellion sparked the gay-rights movement, with the first pride march in 1970 on its anniversary. The Stonewall Car, now owned by the Stonewall Veterans Association, has been along for the ride ever since and still leads the pride march in New York City every year. 



This year the route was shortened and began at noon. at 36th Street, where it marched down Fifth Avenue to 9th Street before crossing over to Christopher Street and ending at the Stonewall Inn.

Pridefest, the annual street fair, took place on Hudson Street between Abingdon Square and W. 14th Street from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Performances headlining the StageFest this year were

• the female rock group Antigone Rising
• transgender singer Nikki Exotika
• singer-songwriter Barry Brandon
• spoken word artist London Bridgez
• country trio Ménage à Twang
• drag act Switch n' Play, and
• a cappella group The Red States. 



On Saturday, June 26, the Stonewall Veterans Association held its annual reunion and conference. Honored guests included the first principal of New York's Harvey Milk Gay High School, Bill Salzman; legendary Greenwich Village club entertainer Jackie Barrett; and world champion middleweight boxer Emile Griffith. Guest speakers include Representatives Anthony Weiner, Yvette Clarke and Charles Rangel; Commissioner Henry Stern; Surrogate Judge Nora Anderson; and PRIDE Democrats Chairman Marlon Hunter. Vets who were there at the Stonewall Inn on that fateful night were also present -- including the car.



On Monday, June 28, the Stonewall Anniversary Screening and NewFilmmakers remember the Stonewall Riots with a reception and a special screening program.

6:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS DOCUMENTARY SERIES

Reception to follow the screening

David Gerson's ULTRA VIOLET FOR SIXTEEN MINUTES (2009, 18 Minutes, Video)
A sixteen-minute portrait of Ultra Violet -- Salvador Dali's mistress in the 60s, Andy Warhol's Factory superstar in the 70s, and a born-again Mormon.

7:30PM NEWFILMMAKERS FIRST SHORT FILM PROGRAM

Mattias Thernström Florin's THE SHOES (2009, 5 Minutes, Video)
A boy has been bullied and is left alone in the school gymnasium without shoes on his feet. This film is about conscience and reconciliation, following such an event.

Barbara Distinti's A COMING OUT HOMECOMING (2010, 5 Minutes, Video)
A woman brings her girlfriend home to meet the parents.

Erik Gernand's NON-LOVE-SONG (2009, 8 Minutes, 16MM)
On the last day of summer before heading off to college, two 18-year old best friends attempt to connect as adults and for the first time in their lives share a real moment.

8:15PM NEWFILMMAKERS SECOND SHORT FILM PROGRAM

Suzanne Hillinger's THE FAUX REAL (2010, 20 Minutes, Video)
Three brazen women put on wigs, false eyelashes and sequins to challenge definitions of drag, gender, and what it means to come of age as a woman without feeling like one.

Paul Haber's LOVE IS DEAF (2010, 19 Minutes, Video) Boy meets girl. Girl sings horribly. Boy doesn't care. "Love Is Deaf" is the romantic tale of a man so in love he just can't hear what the rest of the world hears. Featuring a New York cast (including Joe Forbrich, a series regular on Law & Order), the film was shot guerrilla-style around the city -- on the subways, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Katz's Deli (essentially everywhere they weren't allowed to shoot).

9:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS FEATURE PRESENTATION

Lola RocknRolla's I WAS A TRANNIE WEREWOLF (2009, 10 Minutes, Video)
A woman struggles with body hair untill she is finally possessed by it and becomes a werewolf.

Joseph Sullivan's DEAD SERIOUS (2005, 80 Minutes, Video)
A master vampire with his bloodsucking slaves and a right-wing militia leader with his armed fanatics take the patrons of a gay bar hostage, setting the stage for a night of gore and gunplay and the weirdest live broadcast in television history.

Anthology Film Archives
32 2nd Avenue at 2nd Street
New York City, NY

• < Prev
• Next >