"At NewFest, an LGBTQ film festival becomes a form of resistance" --Entertainment Weekly
Submissions for NewFest's 33rd edition of The New York LGBTQ Film Festival (October 15 - 26, 2021*) will open on February 12th, 2021.
To see event listings for our year-round virtual programming and receive updates on the festival, please visit our website, sign up for our mailing list, and follow us on social media. Take care, be well, and we look forward to hearing your story.
As part of NewFest’s Black Filmmakers Initiative, we are currently waiving festival submission fees for Black filmmakers with LGBTQ stories centering Black characters & voices. To request a waiver code, please email submissions@newfest.org with information on your completed and eligible project.
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Founded in 1988, The New York LGBTQ Film Festival is one of the world's largest and most respected annual celebrations of the year’s best queer films from the U.S. and abroad--featuring over 160 films from more than 30 countries, as well as special events that bring together filmmakers, celebrities, movie lovers, industry professionals, and the LGBTQ community.
Following its breakthrough hybrid festival, which took place virtually and at Drive-Ins from October 16 - 27th, 2020, NewFest will celebrate its 33rd annual edition of The New York LGBTQ Film Festival in October 2021 with multiple days of premieres, panels, and parties that attract audiences, filmmakers, tastemakers, and leaders in both media and the LGBTQ community. NewFest's collection of narratives, documentaries and shorts portrays the diverse and compelling stories from across the LGBTQ spectrum.
As one of the world’s most venerable and respected LGBTQ festivals, NewFest's impact in terms of propelling and fostering filmmakers while celebrating their stories is historic and global. NewFest is distinctive among LGBTQ film festivals for the high quality programming, outstanding press coverage, community engagement, savvy audiences, and sensational parties, as well as how the festival channels the creative energy of New York City to celebrate queer stories. NewFest is a festival that is not to be missed!
The New York LGBTQ Film Festival is produced annually by NewFest, New York’s LGBTQ Film and Media Arts Organization. NewFest gives voice and visibility to the full spectrum of the LGBTQ experience by championing films, supporting storytellers, and engaging audiences in order to inspire dialogue, shift cultural bias and empower our diverse community.
*(due to ongoing regulations around COVID-19, exact dates within October 2021 are subject to change)
GRAND JURY AWARDS
Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature
Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature
Grand Jury Award for Best New York Short Film
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature
Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature
Audience Award for Best Documentary Short
Audience Award for Best Narrative Short
BLACK FILMMAKER INITIATIVE AWARDS
Feature Directorial Debut from a Black LGBTQ+ Filmmaker Award
Emerging Black LGBTQ+ Filmmaker Award