“Nyad,” a highly anticipated film about marathon swimmer Diane Nyad starring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster, as well as the Cannes-winning Japanese drama “Monster,” have been announced as the centerpieces of this year’s New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival.
The 2023 edition of the prestigious event will celebrate the power of queer, trans and nonbinary storytelling over nearly two weeks in October, according to festival organizer NewFest, New York’s leading LGBTQ+ film and media organization.
Last week, NewFest said the festival would kick off on Oct. 12 with “Rustin,” a biopic about undersung civil rights hero Bayard Rustin. Rustin, a trusted adviser to Martin Luther King Jr. and the main architect of the 1963 March on Washington, was arrested in California nearly seven decades ago on anti-gay charges.
On Wednesday, NewFest announced the full lineup for this year’s celebration of LGBTQ cinema — its 35th milestone anniversary — showcasing stories from both the U.S. and across the globe.
The lineup includes the world premiere of “Beyond the Agressives: 25 Years Later,” the long-awaited follow-up to the groundbreaking 2005 documentary “The Agressives.” It also features the romantic comedy “All of Us Strangers,” starring Andrew Scott (“Fleabag”) and Claire Foy (“The Crown”), as well as “Housekeeping for Beginners,” which won the Queer Lion award at the Venice International Film Festival earlier this month.
“Sharing LGBTQ+ stories in a space designed specifically for queer audiences is, in a word, magical,” David Hatkoff, NewFest’s executive director, told the Daily News in a statement.
“For 35 years — starting at the height of the AIDS crisis and continuing through today’s essential fight for trans rights — NewFest has provided a safe and joyful environment for the queer community to see themselves onscreen,” he said.
“This year’s momentous lineup propels NewFest’s ongoing mission to celebrate cinema and our community on a local and global scale,” added Nick McCarthy, the festival’s programming director. “We’re excited to amplify a range of audacious debut work alongside award-winners from venerable international festivals, from social justice docs to prestige films.”
More than 130 films from 26 countries will be featured in screenings at select theaters in Manhattan and Brooklyn from Oct. 12-22, or virtually on NewFest’s on-demand platform through Oct. 24.
Muri Assunção
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