Gustavo Sánchez makes his documentary feature directorial debut with I Hate New York, an engrossing film that follows four of the most iconic artists and activists of the city’s legendary and bygone underground scene: Amanda Lepore, Chloe Dzubilo, Sophia Lamar, and T De Long. A favorite at numerous international film festivals, including San Sebastian, Raindance, Thessaloniki, and NewFest: New York’s LGBTQ Film Festival, I Hate New York premieres Tuesday, September 1st on digital platforms.
Stage Mother, the new comedy-drama film starring Oscar-nominated Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook, Animal Kingdom), Adrian Grenier (Entourage, The Devil Wears Prada) and Emmy-Nominated Lucy Liu (Charlie’s Angels, Elementary, Ally McBeal), will kick-off the virtual 22nd edition of the OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival on Thursday, August 20.
Valentina, the debut feature by Brazilian writer-director Cássio Pereira dos Santos, will have its world premiere at the Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival, taking place August 20-30, followed by a screening at OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, on August 29. A hopeful and inspiring reflection of the real life hardships faced by a young woman seeking to embrace who she is, Valentina also marks the film debut of influential Brazilian trans YouTuber Thiessa Woinbackk, in the title role.
Following a successful film festival run at Outfest, Frameline, Woodstock and SXSW, where it won the Visions Audience Award, The Garden Left Behind, the debut feature by Flavio Alves opens on virtual cinemas across the country on Friday, August 28, followed by a VOD release on Tuesday, September 8. The independent film is being released by Uncork’d Entertainment and Dark Star Pictures.
Indie films Booksmart, and Rafiki are among the winners of the 31st GLAAD Media Awards held for the first time as a virtual ceremony. Booksmart won the award for Outstanding Film – Wide Release and Rafiki won for Outstanding Film – Limited Release. The award for Outstanding Documentary went to State of Pride.
Queer Cantopop icon and Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Denise Ho is the subject of the new documentary Denise Ho – Becoming the Song directed by Sue Williams. The documentary will world premiere on June 26 at Frameline Film Festival and open July 1 in multiple virtual cinemas.
The premiere North American LGBTQ film festivals: Frameline (San Francisco), Inside Out (Toronto), NewFest (NYC), and Outfest (Los Angeles), today announced their commitment to supporting LGBTQ film and filmmakers across their markets through the formation of NAQFA: the North American Queer Festival Alliance. This alliance will work collaboratively to produce, present and expand initiatives and programming while offering support to the LGBTQ film festival sector in the US and Canada. The announcement was made today by the Executive Directors of each festival, James Woolley of Frameline, Andria Wilson of Inside Out, David Hatkoff of NewFest and Damien S. Navarro of Outfest.
Philippe Faucon, Cesar Award-winning director of Fatima, directs Proud, the three-part episodic on a French family spanning generations…each episode focusing on a crucial moment for LGBTQ rights. Starring Stanislas Nordey, Samuel Theis, Frédéric Pierrot, Chiara Mastroianni, Proud opens in virtual cinema starting Friday June 19, in select cities though Kino Marquee.
The life and legacy of the late Tony® Award-Winning playwright and LGBTQ activist Terrence McNally who passed away from COVID-19 complications on March 24, 2020, will be celebrated through the award-winning American Masters documentary Terrence McNally: Every Act of Life, streaming on pbs.org/americanmasters from June 15 – August 31, 2020. In addition, special virtual online discussions and talkbacks with some of Broadway’s brightest stars will take place beginning June 17 as they remember and honor the legendary McNally.
Jack & Yaya, the acclaimed documentary from filmmakers Jennifer Bagley and Mary Hewey, will be available On Demand June 19th from Freedom Cinema LLC.
To help celebrate Pride Month, the 13th Annual QFest St. Louis — presented by Cinema St. Louis (CSL) — will take place from June 19-28. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, CSL will offer all programs virtually, protecting the health of patrons.
Just in time for Pride Month, Netflix will premiere the documentary Disclosure that looks at how the fabled stories of Hollywood deeply influence how Americans feel about transgender people, and how transgender people are taught to feel about themselves. Directed by Sam Feder and executive produced by Laverne Cox, the film world-premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and was also a selection of the Tribeca, CPH:DOX and Hot Docs festivals; and will launch globally on Netflix on Friday, June 19.