Top 5 LGBTQ Films To Check Out At Dances With Films New York Dec 1-4
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The defiantly independent film festival and Los Angeles favorite, Dances With Films (DWF), is celebrating 26 years by expanding to New York City!
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DWF champions innovation, talent and creativity by spotlighting important, diverse, quality films and developing lasting relationships with filmmakers. Festival Founders Leslee Scallon and Michael Trent recognize that New York City is the artistic, cultural and creative epicenter of the country and the perfect city for Dances With Films. The indie film event will showcase over 70 never before seen short, documentary and feature films. Dances With Films New York (DWF: NY) will take place at the Regal Union Square from December 1-4.
We are thrilled that Adam highlighted *some* of the LGBTQ representative films we are screening at #dwfnyc from Dec 1-4 at Regal Union Square! Tickets are available @ https://t.co/CBDYBHThG8 #indiefilm #filmfestival #nyc #newyork #filmmakertwitter https://t.co/502ejJwrzz
— Dances With Films (@danceswithfilms) November 17, 2022
Dances With Films advocates for diversity and inclusion in film and has selected a film slate with topics including women’s rights, the war in Ukraine, religion, concentration camp survivors, mental health, LGBTQIA+ issues, conversion therapy and more.
Here are some highlights:
WRITER/DIR/PROD: Miki Katoni
The story of two former Orthodox Jews, Chaim Levin and Lieb Swartz-Brownstein, in their unique journeys to becoming openly queer. Shot in Orthodox neighborhoods of New York City, the film takes a deep look into Hasidic life and the experience of living with intersecting identities in a religious world.
DIR: Frankie Kraft PRODS: Richard Linklater, Stefanie “Suss” Cowan
Executive produced by award-winning filmmaker Richard Linklater (Boyhood, Before Sunrise, Dazed and Confused), “Help Her Live” documents Frankie Kraft, filmmaker and brother of the star of Linklater’s 2004 remake of “Bad News Bears,” Sammi Kane Kraft, years after Sammi is killed in a tragic car accident. Frankie chronicles his search for meaning after devastating loss in a cross-country trip with the ultimate destination of meeting the recipient of Sammi’s heart. Featuring “Hallelujah” by HAIM, written about Sammi from their album, Women In Music Part III.
Frankie Kraft is an LA-based artist originally from New York City. Frankie’s dynamic range of work includes short films, live theatre productions, musicals, LGBTQ+ advocacy, streetwear, merchandise and podcasts.
WRITER/ PROD/ DIR: Will Crouse
CAST: Iesha Rochelle, Brenna DiStasio, Philena Gilmer, Brandon Miller, Sierra White, Amy Heller, Scott West, Cornelius Byrd, Leo St. Leo, Watson Swift, Cliff Richmond, Mark Huddle, Guy Wicke, Alex Nolen, Ashley Crowe, Jessica King, Matt Rosin, Lauren Partch, Morgan Alyse, Kaitlyn Majoy, Reid Harrison, Steve Han, Scott Shimizu, Bethany Hart, Ben Page, and Kristina Cottone
Shay and Becca’s beautiful wedding reception goes off the rails when an unexpected guest shows up and takes the party by storm.
WRITERS: Sonia Mena & Sarah Rattay-Maloney DIR: Sarah Rattay-Maloney PRODS: Sarah Rattay-Maloney & Sonia Mena CAST: Sonia Mena & Annapurna Sriram
Two estranged childhood friends go on a road trip to golf, and do their best not to kill anyone or anything. Starring and co/written/produced by Sonia Mena, who stars at Pippa on the hit Hulu show Tell Me Lies. Mena identifies as Gender Queer. They are passionate about telling stories that challenge the status quo and are currently the co-founder of SALTY a Los Angeles-based film collective dedicated to radical visibility in front of and behind the lens.
WRITER: Z. Joseph Guice DIR: Kyle B. Thompson PRODS: Z. Joseph Guice, Kyle B. Thompson, Bryant Hendricks, Leah Maher, Krystle Weaver, Keith Giosa CAST: Ian Morrison, Wesley Holloway, Steve Cavanaugh
A drag queen protects a child during a crisis as prejudices reach a breaking point.
To browse more films and buy tickets go here.
Moving into its 26th year(!), DANCES WITH FILMS (DWF:LA) is an original on the festival circuit (and the largest indie film festival in Los Angeles), hailed by Indiewire as “widely recognized as the premiere showcase of innovative independent cinema, presenting amazing undiscovered talent to an industry audience in Hollywood,” “the future of Independent Film,” by Huffington Post and as “An innovator and leader in positioning raw and new talented directors,” by CNN and voted one of Moviemaker Magazine’s Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals on the planet (and the only one in Los Angeles to make the list in the only year it was actually voted on by filmmakers across the globe), Dances With Films presents more than 250 films each year to the LA Filmmaking and Film-going community.
The mission is to give opportunities to creative talents who may not be considered ‘Names’, DWF stands out from the crowd with not only the community we’ve built, but by the success of our alumni and the shared loyalty of DWF relationships.
They’ve had some success: This year’s EMMY AWARDS, had a sparkling amount of DWF alums, from presenting to sitting in the audience, including 2011 & 2012 alum, Gina Rodriguez presenting on stage to 2006 alum Alexander Skarsgard winning Best Supporting Actor to 2007 & 2012 alum Joel Watson, nominated for editing SHARK TANK. DWF has had many filmmakers go on to create series, such as the highly rated THE LAST SHIP, created by 2000 alum, Steven Kane. HBO’s critically acclaimed and hit series Getting On and Big Love were created by DWF Alums Will Scheffer and Mark Olsen after screening their feature film Easter at DWF 2004. Our TV/Web division, premiered TREADING YESTERDAY in 2016, which in now in development for a series. Jeremy Cloe, 2015 alum & ICA winner, recently won a student ACADEMY AWARD.
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2008 actor alum Jesse Eisenberg was nominated for Best Actor in The Social Network for the 2011 Academy Awards. 2010 Audience Award winner Go For It! received a nationwide theatrical release through Lionsgate in 2011. Betsy Brandt Breaking Bad and Parenthood was seen early on in her career in the Grand Jury Winner of 2005, Shelf Life. And her co-star in Breaking Bad Bryan Cranston premiered his directorial debut with us in 2000! 2010 feature Cost of a Soul was seen nationwide at AMC Theatres in conjuction with Relativity Media’s Rogue… Just a few examples of their alumni accomplishments.
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To learn more, check out their site.
