Spotlight lively: NewFest kicks off Pride month in New York with a five-day, in-person and virtual festival featuring Adam Shankman’s RuPaul-led comedy, Gregg Araki’s provocative new film and an outdoor summer vibe that makes celebrating feel like a party and a protest. Here’s what to expect and why these premieres matter.

  • Opening night draw: Stop! That! Train! is a starry, camp parody with RuPaul in a presidential turn and a glossy, high-energy feel.
  • Araki’s return: I Want Your Sex marks Gregg Araki’s first major film in over a decade, a daring comedy-thriller set in the art world with a strong, provocative tone.
  • Documentary weight: The festival mixes levity and urgency , from The Dads and Adam’s Apple to The Britney Griner Story , offering both intimate portraits and political storytelling.
  • Outdoor buzz: Free screenings at Pier 17 and Gansevoort Plaza add a communal, summery atmosphere; expect loud laughs and reflective Q&As.
  • Accessible format: Most titles are available both at SVA Theatre and virtually, so you can join the festivities from home with an easy, festival-at-your-fingertips vibe.

Stop! That! Train! opens Pride with full-on camp

NewFest is staging a big, glittering welcome to Pride with Adam Shankman’s Stop! That! Train! as Opening Night, and the choice says a lot about the mood organisers want to set , loud, joyous and a little bit reckless. The film rides the gag-heavy tradition of parody cinema, this time with a glitzy, queer twist and RuPaul as the unapologetically over-the-top President Gagwell. Expect bright costumes, quick one-liners and a carnival energy that’s built to play to a live crowd.

Behind the jokes there’s a gentle political nudge; the festival’s programming leans into the idea that Pride is party and protest at once. If you love films that feel like an event, this is one to catch in person for the party afterwards , and if you can’t make SVA Theatre, the virtual option means you won’t miss the spectacle.

Gregg Araki returns with a wickedly playful I Want Your Sex

Gregg Araki’s I Want Your Sex is being touted as the centrepiece , his first major project in over ten years , and reviews suggest it’s both filthy-funny and disturbingly clever. The film toys with kink, workplace power plays and the absurdity of the contemporary art scene, leaning into a comic-thriller tone that’s as much about aesthetics as it is about discomfort.

If Araki’s earlier work is anything to go by, expect sharp edges, visual bravado and performances that don’t play safe. For festivalgoers who look for conversation-starting cinema, this is the kind of film that gets people talking in the lobby and lingering for the Q&A.

Documentaries balance the programme with heart and urgency

NewFest isn’t all glitz. The Dads and Adam’s Apple bring documentary intimacy to the line-up, tackling trans lives and family in ways that are quiet, fierce and human. The Dads charts parents organising to protect and support their trans and gender-expansive children, arriving at a particularly relevant moment as anti-trans legislation escalates across parts of the United States.

Adam’s Apple, meanwhile, offers two decades of footage following a transgender teen and his mother, and the result is likely to feel both rare and unmistakably personal. These films are the festival’s conscience: they’re not just informative, they make you feel invested in the people on screen.

Outdoor screenings turn city spaces into community cinema

NewFest has leaned into New York’s public spaces, with free outdoor screenings at Pier 17 and Gansevoort Plaza that turn summer evenings into communal viewing parties. Heated Rivalry, the Crave Original now on HBO Max, gets a public showing at Pier 17, while The Britney Griner Story screens at Gansevoort Plaza, pairing accessibility with big-ticket subjects.

There’s something disarming about watching a charged documentary or a comedy under the sky; the open-air setting makes it feel both celebratory and civic. If you’re heading to an outdoor night, bring a blanket, expect crowds, and plan to stay for the post-screening chatter.

What to pick and how to plan your NewFest experience

If you want to maximise the week: book Stop! That! Train! for the Opening Night energy, catch I Want Your Sex for the centrepiece buzz, and slot at least one documentary in , The Dads or Adam’s Apple , to ground the glamour. Check the festival schedule for virtual windows if you can’t attend in person.

Practical tip: film lengths and Q&A sessions vary, so allow extra time if you plan to stay for discussions. If you’re attending an outdoor screening, arrive early for decent spots and bring ear protection if you’re sensitive to crowds. And if you love the fashion and design side of queer cinema, keep an eye on the programme , there’s a clear leaning toward visually bold films this year.

It all adds up to a festival that’s as much about gathering together as it is about seeing new work , lively, political and very much of the moment.

It's a small change in the calendar that promises big nights, sharp films and plenty to talk about.

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