New (York Gay and Lesbian Film) Fest(ival)

It's that time of year: from June 2-12, 2005, for the 17th time, the New Fest-New York Gay and Lesbian Film Festival will be showing new LGBT-themed films.

Among the offerings are Daniel Peddle's documentary on gender-dissonant women of color, The Aggressives; Quentin Lee's Ethan Mao, a coming-of-age story featuring a young Asian-American protagonist; David Buckley's rarely screened pre-AIDS-era drama A Saturday Night at the Baths; Kyle Schickner's exploration of two sgl African-American friends in Louisiana, Strange Fruit; Mr Leather, Jason Garrett's study of the Mr. LA Leather contest and contestants; Kiki and Herb on the Rocks, starring the renowned downtown musicmakers (or manglers, from what I recall; pictured above); and Tom Murray's documentary on the travails of religious lesbians and gays, Fish Can't Fly.

All of the screenings will take place at:

• Loews Cineplex Entertainment 34th Street Theater, 312 W 34th St at 8th Ave or;
  
• Loews Cineplex Entertainment State Theater, 1540 Broadway at 45th St

All Filmmakers Forum panels will take place at:

• The New Yorker Hotel - Gramercy Park Conference Room, 481 8th Ave at 34th St (across from Loews 34th St)

On the final night of screenings, the New Fest usually presents a range of awards; among last year's winners were Rodney Evans's Brother to Brother, which has since appeared at a number of festivals and had a short cinematic run, and Tadeo Garcia's On the Down Low. I used to go to the New Festival screenings faithfully when Wellington Love (my fellow Gemini) was running things, but I haven't done so in recent years. Some of these films may get me over to Midtown this week and next.