NewFest 2025: The “Here Come the Dolls” shorts showcased trans joy, vengeance, and more — Moviejawn by Krithika, Staff Writer From shoplifting to cults, “Here Come the Dolls” committed to being a space for stories about trans women being bold, visionary, and multi-dimensional.

"From shoplifting to cults, “Here Come the Dolls” committed to being a space for stories about trans women being bold, visionary, and multi-dimensional."

Krithika reports on six shorts from #NewFest37, New York's LGBTQ+ Film Festival.

NewFest 2025: Sydney Sweeney packs a punch in ‘Christy,’ an otherwise dull biopic Sweeney is forced to shoulder the weight of the movie’s drama all on her own, but she’s more than up to the task.

Sydney Sweeny is remarkable in queer boxer biopic "Christy," even if the film around her rarely is. #NewFest37 decider.com/2025/10/21/s...

Rebellion, Revelation, and Rapture: NewFest 2025 Proves Queer Cinema Is Thriving - Book and Film Globe For New Yorkers, the fall film festival season is synonymous with the New York Film Festival, which takes over Lincoln Center for two weeks in late

“Every screening a statement, every story a spark.” That’s the heartbeat of NewFest 2025—and our latest piece tracks how the festival reaffirmed queer cinema as essential and alive.
@newfest.bsky.social
#NewFest37 #QueerFilm #CinemaMatters
bookandfilmglobe.com/film/rebelli...

A Friend of Dorothy (2025) A poignant short film that delves into the unexpected bond between Dorothy, an elderly woman living alone, and JJ, her young neighbor. When JJ’s football accidentally lands in Dorothy’s garden, a gentle friendship begins to bloom. As their connection deepens, the film tenderly explores themes of loneliness, intergenerational connection, and queer identity.

my best short and feature choices for #NewFest37 #NewFest

Short - A Friend of Dorothy - https://letterboxd.com/film/a-friend-of-dorothy-2025/

Feature - We Are Faheem & Karun - https://letterboxd.com/film/we-are-faheem-karun/
https://mastodon.social/@filmfreak75/115397524069889388

2025 NewFest A list of 34 films compiled on Letterboxd, including American Problems, Trans Solutions (2025), Baba I'm Fine (2025), Brief Somebodies (2025), Clean Slate (2025) and Dandelion (2025).

and that’s a wrap on my #NewFest37 Journey…

…full list of everything i was able to see witb ratings…

letterboxd.com/filmfreak75/list/2025-ne... #NewFest

Letterboxd diary entry for the film title "We Are Faheem & Karun" in large bold white text, followed by the release year 2024 in light gray. Below the title is a row of five bright green stars indicating a five-star rating. Underneath, smaller gray text reads "Watched Oct 18, 2025." To the right is the film's poster: two men stand side by side from behind on a rugged mountain path, both wearing long coats, facing a misty valley surrounded by tall pine trees and distant snow-capped peaks. The muted poster colors convey a reflective, dramatic tone.

#WeAreFaheemKarun, one of
the best selections from #NewFest37 i’ve seen, shows the often told tale of love obstructed by borders, but this time for a region not normally discussed #NewFest
https://mastodon.social/@filmfreak75/115397493074466805

We Are Faheem & Karun (2024) Karun, a young security officer from South India, is stationed in Gurez, a remote village in Kashmir. One day, a charming man named Faheem comes to the check post and meets Karun. This marks the beginning of a romance, which, from the outset, is doomed – Faheem, bound by the societal taboos surrounding homosexuality in the context of his religion, cannot live openly, while Karun, due to the constraints of his profession, must also hide his true self. The film explores the intersection of love, identity, and repression in a region steeped in conflict.

representing @filmfreakmafia at this #NewFest37 streaming screening of #WeAreFaheemKarun #NewFest

https://letterboxd.com/film/we-are-faheem-karun/

Letterboxd diary entry for the film title "Same, Again" followed by the year 2025 in light gray text against a nearly black background. Beneath the title are three bright green stars indicating a positive rating. Below that, in smaller text, it notes the film was watched on October 18, 2025. On the right side of the screen is a vertical movie poster composed of a 3-by-4 grid of black-and-white headshots of various individuals, each shown with different facial expressions or in different orientations--some upright, others rotated sideways or upside down--suggesting themes of repetition or psychological complexity. The film's title "Same Again" appears within one of the grid squares in white text on a black background. The overall tone is somber and introspective.

the end credits to #NewFest37 selection #SameAgain say “this film
is an improvisation” and i think it’s one in need of an editot #NewFest
https://mastodon.social/@filmfreak75/115396541780849422

Same, Again (2025) A theater group made up of various actresses and a male director are rehearsing a play when several cases of invisible abuse and homophobia begin to occur. The women begin to talk to each other and discover that they all have a painful story to tell.

representing @filmfreakmafia at this #NewFest37 streaming screening of #SameAgain #NewFest

https://letterboxd.com/film/same-again/

Letterboxd log entry for the film "Only Good Things" from 2025. On the left, the film title appears in large white text with the release year in smaller gray text beside it. Below the title is a bright green star rating showing two and a half stars out of five. Beneath the rating, faint gray text notes "Watched Oct 18, 2025." On the right side of the screen is the movie's poster: a man with curly hair and sunglasses rides a motorcycle straight toward the viewer on an open road under a bright sky with soft clouds. The title "Only Good Things" appears in bold red block letters across the bottom of the poster.

#NewFest37 selection #OnlyGoodThings hits all the classic and new elements for the genre and that’s ok #NewFest
https://mastodon.social/@filmfreak75/115396064654664086

Only Good Things (2025) Catalão, Brazil, 1984. The rural region of Batalha dos Neves is made up of large crop pastures, a few farms and divided in half by the São Marcos River. Antonio lives alone and isolated taking care of his small farm until the day he encounters Marcelo, a lonely motorcycler who suffers an accident crossing the region. Antonio takes care of Marcelo’s wounds. The two fall in love and live a story that transforms, destabilizes, and causes ruptures in each of them.

representing @filmfreakmafia at this #NewFest37 streaming screening of #OnlyGoodThings #NewFest

https://letterboxd.com/film/only-good-things-2025/

Letterboxd log entry of the film "Night in West Texas" released in 2025. The title appears in large bold white text on the left against a nearly black background, followed by five bright green stars indicating a perfect five-star rating. Below the rating, light gray text notes "Watched Oct 17, 2025." On the right side is the movie poster featuring a close-up portrait of a serious-faced man with glasses in a muted, desaturated color palette. Behind him is a faded police mugshot backdrop with height chart numbers visible. The film's title "NIGHT IN WEST TEXAS" appears in bold white all-caps text overlaid on the lower part of the poster image.

#NightInWestTexas from #NewFest37 is yet another prime example of how broken the justice system is when it comes to false confessions #NewFest
https://mastodon.social/@filmfreak75/115392378449614812

Night in West Texas (2025) Forty years after a gay Apache man is framed for the brutal murder of a closeted Catholic priest, a police chief uncovers long-buried evidence that shakes up the small, oil-rich West Texas town that imprisoned him.

representing @filmfreakmafia at this #NewFest37 streaming screening of #NightInWestTexas #NewFest

https://letterboxd.com/film/night-in-west-texas/

Letterboxd list displaying three films, each with its title, release year, and star rating using green star icons. From top to bottom, the entries are: 1. "American Problems, Trans Solutions," with a thumbnail showing a collage of people in various colors and the title prominently across the center; it has a four-star rating in bright green. 2. "Hustleween," featuring an illustrated poster of diverse characters surrounded by flowers and fall colors, rated three and a half green stars. 3. "Silence = Death," with a monochromatic, grainy black-and-white poster showing a blurred figure and pink text accents, rated four and a half stars in green. The titles are in large white text, the year "2025" appears next to each, and the green star ratings stand out vividly against the black background.

very informative and engaging #NewFest37 #ShortsProgram for #QueerRebellion #NewFest
https://mastodon.social/@filmfreak75/115391196119264919

Original post on mastodon.social

representing @filmfreakmafia at this #NewFest37 streaming screening of #QueerRebellion #ShortsProgram #NewFest

Silence = Death - https://letterboxd.com/film/silence-death-2025/

Echoes: The B Side - https://newfest.org/events/shortsthequeerrebellion/

Hustleween - […]

Letterboxd list displaying seven films, each with its title, release year, and star rating using green star icons. From top to bottom, the entries are: 1. "One Day This Kid" (2024) -- rated three and a half stars, shown as three full green stars and one half-filled star. The small cover image features cool blue and purple tones with a person's silhouette. 2. "The Immaculate Honey" (2025) -- rated three stars. Its thumbnail shows two faces lit warmly in close proximity, suggesting romance or intimacy. 3. "Houston, We Have a Crush" (2025) -- rated three stars. The poster image appears grainy or sepia-toned, with two figures wearing reflective glasses or helmets, implying a playful sci-fi or retro aesthetic. 4. "Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites" (2025) -- rated three and a half stars. The thumbnail has warm, painterly tones, possibly depicting a domestic or family scene. 5. "Spa Night" (2025) -- rated three stars. Its cover art shows a dark neon palette, with the title glowing in stylized pink script. 6. "Strawberry Shortcake" (2024) -- rated three stars. The small poster has red and blue hues, showing a character with short hair and an intense expression. 7. "Two Black Boys in Paradise" (2025) -- rated four full green stars, the highest rating on the list. Its thumbnail depicts a tranquil outdoor setting with two figures and soft, warm lighting, possibly near water or a tropical backdrop.

better than normal #ShortsProgram in the #AvantQueer genre courtesy of #NewFest37 #NewFest
https://mastodon.social/@filmfreak75/115385206891425710

🏳️‍🌈🎉⭐️ #NEWFEST #FILM #NITE!

#EXCITED #ART #TRUMP #F1 #BRASIL #LGBTfestival #NF37 #NEWFEST37 #LGBTculture #LGBTfilm #CULTURE #FILMS #RAINBOWculture #RAINBOWfilm #RAINBOW #LGBTQIA2S+ #LGBTQIA2S #LGBTQIA #LGBTQI #LGBTQ

Original post on mastodon.social

representing @filmfreakmafia at this #NewFest37 streaming screening of #AvantQueer #ShortsProgram #NewFest

Two Black Boys in Paradise - https://letterboxd.com/film/two-black-boys-in-paradise/

Strawberry Shortcake - https://letterboxd.com/film/strawberry-shortcake/

Spa Night - […]

A log entry screenshot from Letterboxd.com for the 2025 film A Night Like This. The title appears in bold white text against a dark background, followed by the year "2025" in a lighter gray font. Below it, a bright green rating shows three and a half stars--three full stars and one half-filled star--indicating a middling review. The line beneath reads "Watched Oct 15, 2025" in soft gray text. To the right, there is a small rectangular movie poster for A Night Like This, tinted in shades of violet, pink, and deep purple. The poster shows two men standing face-to-face, each wearing wireless headphones that glow faintly in blue and pink light, with a bright white light flare between them. Large white text overlays the poster reading "A NIGHT LIKE THIS." The overall design has a modern, moody look with a neon-lit nightlife aesthetic.

first feature watched for #NewFest37

#ANightLikeThis was a bit slow at times, but a very good choice for #NewFest overall
https://mastodon.social/@filmfreak75/115381119116274911

A Night Like This (2025) A stone-broke gay actor and a privileged screw-up with a failing business cross paths on a winter night and join forces in a quest around London to find a meaning to their miserable lives, but when their unlikely connection turns into something deeper, fears and demons from their past come to jeopardise the whole mission.

representing @filmfreakmafia at this #NewFest37 streaming screening of #ANightLikeThis #NewFest

https://letterboxd.com/film/a-night-like-this-2025/

The image shows a dark-themed Letterboxd screenshot. The list contains six films with their titles, release years, and green star ratings. At the top is "Mango Chile Pie" (2024), rated three stars, displayed with a colorful rectangular poster that features a bold yellow and red design resembling a vintage food-product label. Below it, "They're Packing" (2025) has a three-star rating, and its poster shows a group of people standing together with luggage against a bright yellow title block. Next, "Gay Jesus" (2025) is rated three and a half stars; its poster is dark and minimalist, featuring a close-up of a man's face next to a small glowing cross, evoking a dramatic or contemplative tone. Following that is "Munchies" (2025), rated three stars, with a bright yellow poster featuring bold red lettering that gives it a playful, retro snack-food aesthetic. Below that, "Clean Slate" (2025) also carries a three-star rating, its poster displaying a grid of headshots of a woman in various expressions on a mint-green background, suggesting a comedic or identity-focused story. Finally, "She Raised Me" (2025) is rated three stars, with a poster showing a portrait of a smiling woman wearing a gray sweatshirt featuring a small printed image, evoking a nostalgic, possibly autobiographical tone.

not sure why this #NewFest37 #ShortsProgram was titled #LaughRiot since it wasn’t that funny
https://mastodon.social/@filmfreak75/115380329433074974

Original post on mastodon.social

representing @filmfreakmafia at this #NewFest37 streaming screening of #LaughRiot #ShortsProgram #NewFest

She Rasied Me - https://letterboxd.com/film/she-raised-me/

Clean Slate - https://letterboxd.com/film/clean-slate-2025-1/

Munchies - https://letterboxd.com/film/munchies-2025/

BUGGED - […]

🎉 Congratulations to TWN Workshop Grad Naz Habtezghi! Her latest work "American Problems, Trans Solutions" will be screening at #NewFest37 (New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival).

🗓️ When: Oct 19 2025, 4:00 PM
📍 Where: The Center
🎟️ Tickets: buff.ly/CCFxoWs
Use promo code NF37TWNR4TIX for $4 off

NewFest Opening Night | EDGE United States NewFest 37 kicked off with a bang serving cinema, queerness, and cocktails! The premiere of Blue Moon lit up the SVA Theatre, and the after party at Slate kept the stars shining all night long.

NewFest Opening Night Photo Album: ‘Blue Moon’ at SVA, SlateNY after red carpet heat, cocktails met kiki, crush-worthy looks; relive the night in our full album
tinyurl.com/42b3fk3e...
#NewFest37

A screenshot from the Letterboxd app showing a list of five recently rated films with their release years and star ratings. The background is dark gray, and each film entry includes a small poster image on the left, the title and release year in white text, and bright green star ratings beneath. The list includes: "Dandelion" (2025) rated three stars; "Dragfox" (2024) rated three and a half stars; "One for the Team" (2025) rated three and a half stars; "A Friend of Dorothy" (2025) rated four and a half stars; and "Baba I'm Fine" (2025) rated three and a half stars. The poster for "Dandelion" shows two figures standing beside a tan van in a desert scene. "One for the Team" poster shows a group of athletes in blue uniforms. "A Friend of Dorothy" has a pink background with two people standing together. "Baba I'm Fine" poster features two close-up faces with dark, warm tones. The entry for "Dragfox" has a blank gray placeholder where a poster image would be.

all very strong selections for the #QueerTeenPower #ShortsProgram at #NewFest37 #NewFest
https://mastodon.social/@filmfreak75/115374353424323861

Original post on mastodon.social

representing @filmfreakmafia at this #NewFest37 streaming screening of #QueerTeenPower #ShortsProgram #NewFest

Baba I’m Fine - https://letterboxd.com/film/baba-im-fine/

A Friend of Dorothy - https://letterboxd.com/film/a-friend-of-dorothy-2025/

One For The Team - […]

A dark-themed movie log interface, from the Letterboxd app, showing a list of films with ratings beside each title. The list features eight entries, each displaying the film's title, release year, poster thumbnail, and a green star rating. From top to bottom the films are: "Brief Somebodies" (2025) with three green stars. "Within a Quiet Body" (2025) rated three stars, showing a dim red-toned poster of a person with their back turned. "A Garden Under the Earth" (2024), whose vivid red and green poster depicts a glowing central figure, rated two and a half stars. "Lisbon" (2025) with a purple-toned cover and a rating of three and a half stars. "The Upper Room" (2025) has a soft beige and blue poster with sky and clouds imagery, rated three and a half stars. "Pining" (2025) features a sunlit portrait-style cover with a rating of three stars. "Fan Letter" (2025) displays a monochrome silhouette of a person writing at a desk and stands out with the highest rating of four stars. "Orion's Quest" (2025), shows a colorful cosmic-style poster with a man and planet imagery, rated three and a half stars. The background is charcoal black, making the neon green star ratings and light gray text stand out clearly.

mostly solid selections for the #IfYouWannaBeMyLoverboy #ShortsProgram from #NewFest37 #NewFest
https://mastodon.social/@filmfreak75/115367958983543660

Original post on mastodon.social

representing @filmfreakmafia at this #NewFest37 streaming screening of #IfYouWannaBeMyLoverboy #ShortsProgram #NewFest

Orion’s Quest - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32904170/

Fan Letter - https://letterboxd.com/film/fan-letter/

Pining - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38266614/

The Upper Room - […]

2025 NewFest A list of 28 films compiled on Letterboxd, including American Problems, Trans Solutions (2025), Baba I'm Fine (2025), Brief Somebodies (2025), Clean Slate (2025) and Dandelion (2025).

our #NewFest37 virtual selections are locked in and include a total of 37 individual films

6 features and 31 shorts (across 5 shorts programs)

NOTE: only 28 are currently listed on #Letterboxd
https://boxd.it/OLPU0/detail