Newark LGBTQ Film Festival

2025 films...

Ponyboi + Panel Discussion

Ponyboi is a feature-length thriller, directed by Esteban Arango and starring River Gallo as a young intersex sex worker employed at a laundromat in New Jersey on Valentine’s Day with his pregnant best friend, Angel.  When a drug deal goes wrong Ponyboi (Gallo) goes on the run from the mob and his abusive pimp (Dylan O’Brien).  With the help of a mysterious cowboy (played by Murray Bartlett), Ponyboi goes on a quest for freedom in a gripping 24 hours.

​Directed by Esteban Arango; written by River Gallo; produced by Mark Ankner, River Gallo, Adel Future Nur and Trevor Wall; featuring River Gallo, Dylan O’Brien, Victoria Pedretti, Murray Bartlett and Indya Moore. (1hr 43min)

Preceded by

And Then There Was Her

At a heartwarming Friendsgiving dinner, two women from different worlds, one masculine and one transgender, find love and acceptance amidst the holiday chaos. Sometimes, the most beautiful connections happen when we least expect them. Directed and written by Alexander King and Nyala Moon; produced by Alexander King; featuring Alexander King and Quei Tann. (9min)

 

The Ball + Panel Discussion

The Ball, a documentary feature directed by Malgorzata Saniewska, takes viewers on an intimate journey into the underground ballroom culture created by marginalized LGBTQ people of color in early 1970s New York City.  Thirty years after “Paris is Burning” the ballroom is thriving worldwide, and The Ball gives you an in-depth perspective of courage in the face of adversity.  Narrated by the voice of ballroom icon Jack Mizrahi Gucci the film features some of ballroom’s most influential and larger -than-life personalities opening up about rejection, acceptance and the importance of chosen family.

​Directed by Malgorzata Saniewska; written by Malgorzata Saniewska and Jack Mizrahi; produced by Daniel Marracino and Jack Mizrahi; featuring Jack Mizrahi, Chi Chi Mizrahi, Kelly Mizrahi, and Omari Mizrahi. (1hr 34min)

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Date Night Shorts Program

A captivating collection of LGBTQ-themed short films that explore love, connection, and identity through diverse and heartfelt stories. (1hr 22min)

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• Eating Papaw on the Seashore

A coming-of-age film about two queer Guyanese boys, who are navigating their feelings in a homophobic society.Directed by Rae Wiltshire and Nickose Layne; written by Rae Wiltshire; produced by Romola Lucas, Melissa Roberts and Rae Wiltshire; featuring Isaiah Lewis, Rae Wiltshire, Sonia Yarde, and Mark Luke-Edwards. (19min)

 

• Me Porto Bonita

Following a heartbreak two best friends embark on a day of refuge. What first started as a day of joyriding through the city quickly escalates into an adventure of revenge and exposed secrets.Directed by Cecilia Romo; written by Cecilia Romo; produced by Sydney Roll, Sara Lynn and Cecilia Romo; featuring Joelle Velez and Brenda Yanez. (19min)

 

• Calamity Jane

A former barrel racing champion, haunted by a tragic fall, must find the courage to ride again after forming an unexpected bond with a young woman who harbors a secret of her own. Directed by Robin Cloud; written by Robin Cloud; produced by Kate Chamuris and David Starks; featuring Andia Winslow, Itziar Martinez, Robert Keith, and Efrain Gomez. (16min)

 

• The Rectangle Love Triangle

The Rectangle Love Triangle' follows Nathan's, and his quest for love as it takes a wild turn when he ignites a passionate yet short-lived affair with an older man named Coop. Determined to move on, he meets Tray and falls into a new relationship. However, a dinner with Tray's parents takes a shocking twist. Directed by Mina Asfour; written by Mina Asfour; produced by Mina Asfour, Brodie Pyke, Kyle Goldfinch; featuring Mina Asfour, Chanika De Silva, Duncan Fellows, Samuel Litvensky, and Michelle Rouady. (15min)

 

• The Knowing

A 1993 story of Peter who is dying of AIDS, his ex-lover Peter who is confronted with a choice he doesn’t know how to handle and Cherie a Naval Officer and nurse who is Peter’s best friend. Directed by Jonathan Rowan; written by Robert Philipson; produced by Robert Philipson and Eric Kochmer; featuring Jack Perry, Me’lisa Sellers and Deon L. Jones Jr. (20min)

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Local Shorts

A collection of varied works by New Jersey and NYC filmmakers. (1hr 39min)

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• Talks with Myself

This episode from the popular web series follows Morris, who decides to do live stream video confessionals to atone for the bad decisions he’s made in his life - his raw and uncensored admissions leave him vulnerable to prying eyes. Directed by Roger Omeus; written by Roger Omeus; produced by Erby Beauvil and Roger Omeus; featuring Kenyon L. O’Brien, Rasheed Thompson, Derek Butler, Tony ForresTT, Damion West and Darryl Dwayne. (51min)

 

• Caribbean Queen

An inspiring short film that follows the journey of Q, a young Caribbean boy, who wants to become the Queen of the West Indian Day Carnival Parade. Directed by Sekiya Dorsett. (22min)

 

• City of Dreamz

City of Dreamz follows four Black art students telling stories of community, divine intervention, and the artistry that led them to this very moment...smoking weed in a cramped NYC apartment trying not to get caught. Directed by Imani Celeste; written by Imani Celeste; produced by Imani Celeste; featuring Dante Charles Crichlow, Katrina Newman, Jaylen Axel, and Imani Celeste. (12min)

 

• Clementine

A late-blooming trans woman grapples with a life-altering, assigned-male-at-birth Trans specific dilemma and, with the help of her besties, navigates the complexities of this debacle as she determines her path on her own terms. Directed by Sally Tran; written by Yen Sen; produced by Anne Leigh Cooper, Ditte Ravnild, Maria Palacio, Sally Tran, and Yên Sen; featuring Yên Sen, Joey Rose, and Niala. (15min)​

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Beyond Boundaries - Shorts Program

A collection of short films that push boundaries, celebrate Queer legacy, overcome challenges and live outside of labels. (1hr 34min)

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• The Aunties

The story of Black land stewards & culture bearers Donna Dear and Paulette Greene. Told alongside the lands of The Underground Railroad, this historic tale also interweaves the indelible legacies of Harriet Tubman and Mt. Pleasant Acres Farms. Directed by Charlyn Griffith-Oro and Jeannine Kayembe-Oro; writen by Charlyn Griffith-Oro; produced by The Center for Cultural Power; featuring Paulette Greene and Donna Dear. (6min)

 

• The Misadventures of Bucky & Beene

Two campy pirate radio DJ’s, Pepper Buckthorne who was once Miss Gay USA, and her sassy younger sidekick Jelly Beene, threaten the locals in upstate New York with their WRU-GAY in the morning radio show and befriend Sharon their free spirited albeit ditzy neighbor in the process. Directed by Lisa M Thomas; written by Lisa M Thomas; produced by Rob York and Lisa M Thomas; featuring Peppermint, Jonny Beauchamp, Anni Krueger, Tim Gunn, James McMenamin, Jon Orsini and Davram Stiefler. (20min)

 

• Arthur Ave

In a Bronx bar, a clash between traditional Italian-American "wiseguys" and the LGBTQ+ community leads to a confrontation that challenges the characters' preconceptions and the dynamics of power. Directed by Joey Medina; written by Joey Medina; produced by Joey Medina; featuring Mike Marino, Giovanni Cabrera and Kyle Christiansen. (9min)

 

• Bumped

It’s been six years since Michelle and Deja fell in love and things appear to be going from strength to strength. They’re ready to dive into the next chapter of their lives when an unexpected infidelity forces Deja to reconsider everything she has, up until now, been certain about. She’s angry and upset, but she’s also conflicted. Is one indiscretion enough to end their relationship? Directed by Mahaneela; written by Liv Little; produced by Claudia Yusef, Tom Falck and Mehreen Sheldon Ahmed; featuring Shilo Coke, Suhaiyla Hippolyte, and Eric Underwood. (15min)

 

• Unexplored

Unexplored is a film that delves into the romance of old loves caught in-between the current of time and distance. Directed and written by Angelia Jackson; produced by Angelia Jackson and Lenyx Rose; featuring Lametria Jackson, Amya Stewart, Abigail Blount, and Andre Brown Jr. (13min)

 

• Home

On a cold night in NYC, after missing curfew at a shelter, T–a homeless queer teen–searches for a way to get off the streets. Knowing the city offers programs that help people living with HIV secure housing, he devises a plan to contract the virus so he can receive the same support. Directed and written by Donja R. Love; produced by Brandon R Nicholas and Donja R Love; featuring Justen Ross, Dane Figueroa Edidi, and Donja R. Love. (14min)

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Gunn Legacy Fellowship Presentation

The Newark LGBTQ Film Festival continues its collaboration with Express Newark’s Community Media Center and Paramount’s Content for Change to support emerging LGBTQIA+ filmmakers of the Greater Newark Area with the Sakia Gunn Legacy Filmmaking Fellowship. We will premiere the short films of the 2025 Fellowship Awardees - Odessa Whitlock and Erby Beauvil.

Each film is approximately 15 minutes and will include a panel discussion afterward with the filmmakers moderated by journalist Jenna Flanagan.

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A Mother Apart + Panel Discussion

In an extraordinary tale of grace and forgiveness, filmmaker Laurie Townshend profiles one woman’s inspired and deeply intentional parenting.  A Mother Apart catches up with Staceyann Chin as she picks up the trail of her elusive mother – a trail that leads to Brooklyn, Montreal, Cologne and, finally, back to her native Jamaica.  Along the way she just may find the sense of home she’s been longing for.

Directed by Laurie Townshend; written by Laurie Townshend and Alison Duke; produced by Alison Duke, Ngardy Conteh George and Justine Pimlott; featuring Staceyann Chin (1hr 29min)

Preceded by

You Don’t Have to Love Me

Embark on a journey where self-discovery isn't merely a reflection in a window, but a profound realization of self-worth. It’s a testament to the resilience, beauty, and strength of those who defy societal expectations, shedding light on the many facets of being a woman in a world that so often attempts to define and confine us.  Directed by Safiyah Chiniere Smith; produced by Trevania Layne. (10min)​

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To Be Young, Gifted & Queer - Shorts Block

This collection of short films from young filmmakers is free for all students (1hr 35min)

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• Caribbean Queen

An inspiring short film that follows the journey of Q, a young Caribbean boy, who wants to become the Queen of the West Indian Day Carnival Parade. Directed by Sekiya Dorsett. (22min)

 

• Blue Boy

After having an otherworldly vision, a mischievous 12-year-old convinces himself he's the reincarnation of Krishna. His life is upended when he comes out to his parents as a god. Directed and written by Nik Dodani; produced by Nik Dodani, and Mayte Avina; featuring Aariq Manji, Pia Shah, Nardeep Khurmi, Sachin Bhatt, Anisha Adusumilli, and Shiv Nadkarni. (15min)

 

• Squeegee Boy

In a quest to find belonging and acceptance, a young trans Asian American teenager yearns to become part of a tight-knit group of squeegee boys in the Baltimore city. But as he navigates the challenges of this gritty urban landscape and grapples with the complexities of his own identity, he discovers that the job demands more than just physical labor - it requires a strength of character and a resilience that he must cultivate from within. Directed and written by Chung-Wei Huang; produced by Taelor Clay; featuring Cody Vu. (14min)

 

• City of Dreamz

City of Dreamz follows four Black art students telling stories of community, divine intervention, and the artistry that led them to this very moment...smoking weed in a cramped NYC apartment trying not to get caught. Directed by Imani Celeste; written by Imani Celeste; produced by Imani Celeste; featuring Dante Charles Crichlow, Katrina Newman, Jaylen Axel, and Imani Celeste. (12min)

 

• Grace

Sixteen-year-old Grace prepares for her baptism in the rural 1950's South. When she learns she must repent before the ritual, Grace contemplates her romantic feelings toward her best friend Louise. Directed and written by Natalie Jasmine Harris; produced by Natalie Jasmine Harris, Julia Kennelly, Morgan Powell, Samiyah Wardlaw, and Latavia Young; featuring Jordan Rayanna Wells, Alexis Cofield, Mikayla LaShae Bartholomew, CL Simpson, and JeVon Blackwell. (13min)

 

• Elijah

A Bengali Muslim taxi driver faces grueling hours, rude customers, a collapse in medallion values and suicides among fellow drivers while his daughter, Shoshi, is consumed by her own struggle, a desire to live life fully as man in a trans-phobic immigrant culture. While he had never been supportive of LGBTQ rights and issues, he’s faced with changing or losing his only child, whom he loves more than life itself.Directed, writen and produced by Razid Season; featuring Ajaz Alam, Mithila Gazi Perez, and Debjani Banerjee. (19min)​

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Identities in Motion - Shorts Block

This captivating collection of short films explores the fluidity of identity, love, and resilience through diverse queer narratives. A celebration of love, transformation, and the ever-shifting tides of belonging. (1hr 25min)

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• I Know Him So Well

The jewel-toned animation of queer teenage love is chronicled by guitar-playing mermen and the vocals of AJ Rafael and Chance Calloway.Directed and produced by Chance Calloway.(4min)

 

• Miss Honey: The Catsuit

The story of how Fashion Designer and Ballroom Icon Douglas Says created his legendary cut-out catsuit and the origins of Caribbean Artist Moi Renee wearing the catsuit for a televised performance of his hit song, "Miss Honey."Directed by Brandon R. Nicholas; produced by Brit Fryer; featuring Douglas Says. (6min)

 

• Hag.

This story follows Reesa Crawford, a queer black woman from South Carolina who is having her first child with her wife, Khari. During this pregnancy, remnants of her past begin to torment her via the old urban legend of the boo hag. As this creature takes a toll on her mental and physical health and night terrors keep her from sleeping, we begin to wonder whether this monster is truly real or all in her head. Directed and written by Jay Najeeah; produced by Cameron Logan; featuring Jazelle Foster, Kandice Wilson, Joy Vandervort-Cobb, Alloire Thomas, Katrina Dia, and Tierra Mai. (22min)

 

• What’s Left Fades Away

Andrea is going through an awakening of her Afro identity, which strains her relationship with her white girlfriend Valentina. She finds refuge in her new circle of black friends. Andrea and Valentina feel trapped in their differences and wonder if a new connection is possible. Directed and written by Julia Cohen Ribeiro and Sofia Lanaro; produced by Julia Cohen Ribeiro, Sofia Lanaro, and Ramiro Velasco; featuring Lyn Chidume and Juani Oviedo. (15min)

 

• In This Moment

“In This Moment” follows Love, a trans woman navigating the complexities of polyamory and self-discovery in a world that often challenges her right to exist. As she unravels what it means to be truly seen and cherished, she confronts the ways love manifests—fluid, unpredictable, and boundless, much like the ocean itself. This story is a testament to resilience, intimacy, and the ever-shifting tides of identity and belonging.Directed by Neka Cecilia Knowles and Chicahua Zipactonal Martínez; written by Chicahua Zipactonal Martínez and Zandra Paxton; produced by Synara Dsouza and Ni-Chun Shih; featuring Chicahua Zipactonal Martínez, Boubakar Djombana, Zandra Paxton, Zaq Latino, Preston Tyreese Johnson, Elijah Kaidence Alter, Jónel Jones, and Colin Wilson. (38min)

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