While Philadelphia’s gay film festival is on indefinite hiatus, dozens of shorts, features and documentaries can be streamed from NewFest, New York’s LGBTQ+ Film Festival. Here is a rundown of a handful of titles available online through Oct. 22.
“Hidden Flora” is a poignant confessional written and directed by Ryan Rox. This low-key (and low-budget) film has Roxii (Luca Silver) recounting a series of sexual experiences — starting in high school — with various guys including Jerrod (Jaxon Inge), Brayden (AJ Tumminaro) and Sander (Madison Junchaya). When they fall for River (Charleigh Tallman), Roxii’s virginity is taken by force, making them wary and starved for affection. Roxxii also experiences gender dysphoria, consumes copious drugs and alcohol, and falls victim to sexual assault during a bad internet hookup. It is only after getting involved with Freddie (Nick Check), that Roxii comes to discover their sense of self-worth. “Hidden Flora” is told with insight and candor, and Silver gives a strong central performance as Roxii’s alter ego in a queer story that is both personal and universal.
“What a Feeling” is a charming romcom from Austria about Fa (Proschat Madani), an Iranian immigrant, who finds herself unexpectedly smitten with Dr. Marie Theres (Caroline Peters), who is reeling after her husband Alex (Heikko Deutschmann) leaves their marriage. Fa is a lesbian who can diffuse almost anyone and any situation, but she finds Marie Theres — a woman who may be as stubborn as she is — to be a bit of a challenge. “What a Feeling” enjoys letting these two very different women couple up, but as they fall in love, each woman hides their new relationship from a loved one, causing conflicts. Writer/director Kat Rohrer sometimes plays the comedy too broadly with Fa literally being stuffed in a closet in one scene, but “What a Feeling” goes down smoothly as these endearing women navigate their lives and families to live authentically. There is also a fun drag performance in the lesbian club the women frequent.

“Out” is director/co-writer Dennis Alink’s sensitive, observant drama about Tom (Bas Keizer) a bisexual budding filmmaker who moves to Amsterdam with his boyfriend Ajani (Jefferson Yaw Frempong-Manson), to attend film school. But as the young men experience life in the big city, the guys start to drift apart. The carefree Ajani befriends Fer (Fjodor Jozefzoon) and his pals, while the more serious Tom has trouble connecting with others, including his fellow film students. As Tom grows lonelier, he experiences a downward spiral, hitting rock bottom in a sex club. “Out,” shot in luminous black and white, is heartbreaking as Tom suffers a series of indignities, and Keizer expresses the depths of his despair with a haunting blank look. His affecting performance elevates this otherwise standard coming-of-age drama.
“The Silence of My Hands” is an immersive drama about two deaf queer lovers, Rosa (Rosa María Casillas Madrigal), a law student in Mexico, and Saira (Sai Yunuen Medina Soria), who lives in the United States. Director Manuel Acuña shows the women shopping, skateboarding, playing soccer and visiting an aquarium together. Their relationship is very intimate and affectionate, especially when they go to the beach or celebrate a birthday. This lovely film, which is told entirely in sign language, chronicles their relationship and experiences — which includes Sai meeting with a doctor to explore top surgery — sheds light on the queer deaf experience while creating a touching love story. It is a unique and sensorial film.
“This Is Ballroom” is an affectionate, high-energy documentary that depicts the Brazilian ballroom scene. Filmed in 2022, the various queer, trans and nonbinary participants recount the evolution and development of this subculture and describe the joy they have performing. The documentary includes deep dives into various competitive categories, including “Face,” “Runway,” “Old Way,” “Vogue Femme,” among others. The subjects, all of whom are ingratiating, discuss their voguing styles, and “performing extreme femininity.” Ciara talks about being trans and meeting his first boyfriend, Ivan, in the ballroom scene. The mother of the House of Cazul gives an emotional speech. Other subjects describe being “chopped” (told one isn’t ready to perform in the category). There are also discussions about race and gender and conflicts that have arisen. What comes across best is the importance of creating a safe space where one can be acknowledged and validated and find a chosen family. “This Is Ballroom” is a fantastic snapshot of the ballroom scene, and, of course, the music and dancing are fabulous.

Out gay actor Brian J. Smith (“Sense8”) makes an auspicious directorial debut with his affectionate documentary, “A House Is Not a Disco,” about the Fire Island Pines. His film traces a year, 2022, at the gay mecca. Smith interviews a diverse group of people from year long residents and seasonal workers to visitors, volunteers and activists who help create a strong sense of community. There are episodes that recount the Pines’ history, and how it has changed over the decades — including the current impact of global warming — but Smith mainly emphasizes that being on Fire Island provides a feeling of being in a safe, welcoming space where LGBTQ+ folks can express themselves freely — as one interviewee who rarely wears clothes does. Smith, who uses interviews, archival and observational footage, tells this story with reverence, celebrating the people that make Fire Island magical. It is the next best thing to being there.
For a full NewFest lineup, visit newfest.org/festival-2024.