NewFest 2008 kicks off this week in NYC with gay films aplenty

Logo (our mother ship) is one of the proud sponsors of NewFest 2008: The 20th Anniversary NY LGBT Film Festival , which runs from June 5th to 15th. We've already mentioned the festival's closing film, Were The World Mine, and another festival entry, The Sensei, so let's take a look at some other highlights (for a complete list, check out the festival's website).

The festival opens with Tru Loved, which stars Alexandra Paul, Cynda Williams, Jasmine Guy, Bruce Vilanch, Marcia Wallace, Alec Mapa, Jane Lynch, and Nichelle Nichols (what a cast!), and is described as a "thoroughly modern high school romantic comedy":

"Sixteen-year-old Gertrude aka Tru is a typical high school teenager from an atypical home - she is raised by her two moms, interracial couple Leslie and Lisa, who have just moved to a new town in suburban southern California, while her two dads remain in San Francisco. At school, Tru catches the eye of Lo, the closeted star quarterback who soon makes a deal with Tru to pretend they are an item. It’s seems like a perfect solution – it keeps his friends and family from asking too many questions, and it allows Tru to instantly find a place to belong in her new school. But when Tru befriends picked-upon openly gay student Walter and decides to join him in forming a Gay-Straight Alliance, she falls for GSA member Trevor, a handsome metrosexual who has been raised by his gay uncle. Her new love affair threatens to expose Lo's true desires and standing as big man on campus."

Chris & Don: A Love Story 

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One of the two "centerpiece" films is Chris & Don: A Love Story, about the relationship of Don Bachardy and writer Christopher Isherwood, who was many years his senior:

"When 18-year-old Don Bachardy was introduced to 49-year-old Christopher Isherwood in 1950s Malibu, neither man knew it would be the start of a love story that would last for 30 years. Chris & Don chronicles their years together, with the vibrant and engaging Don at this extraordinary documentary’s epicenter ... a touching, illuminating portrait of the enduring power of love."

See more upcoming festival entries after the break!

Equality U 

There are five "Festival Focus" series. The first is called "Activism/Repression", and includes the documentary Equality U:

"What happens when a busload of young LGBT Christian activists travel around the country to confront antigay discrimination policies at conservative religious and military colleges? Equality U tells the story of the Soulforce Equality Ride and their experiences combating hatred, fear, and ignorance through direct action. Their goal: to engage in a dialogue with university administration and students, explaining the tragic consequences that discriminatory policies have had on LGBT lives. Some schools welcome them, while others have them arrested and prevent them from speaking to students. Can these young activists create social change, one university at a time?"

Don't Go 

Included in the "African American Images" series is the tv pilot Don't Go:

"Melrose Place meets The L Word in the smart ensemble drama Don’t Go, a series pilot featuring Nisha Ganatra (Chutney Popcorn), Guinevere Turner, and a host of sexy, multicultural characters who all live in the same apartment complex in Los Angeles. The best elements of unexpected soap-style intrigue, romance, and humor play out with people of color directly in the spotlight."

Clapham Junction 

In the "NewFest Late Night" section is the UK entry Clapham Junction, which originally aired as a part of the "40 Years Out in the UK" television program (we reviewed it over here):

"In Clapham Junction, a number of separate stories weave together over the course of one long night - the celebration of a gay wedding, a young man devoted to his grandmother’s care, a schoolboy lusting after a much older man, a couple hosting a stylish dinner party, aided by a maid whose son walks home alone. Intersecting in surprising ways, these strands form a devastating and provocative portrait of modern day gay life in London, culminating in a shockingly violent climax in the titular area, the site of a real-life hate crime that claimed the life of a young gay man in 2005."

Daddy's Love 

From the "Parenthood" series is the Norwegian drama Daddy's Love:

"Kenneth is a young single gay Norwegian who wants nothing more than to be a father. Working with a surrogate mother in Kansas, he eagerly awaits his son’s birth. A fascinating, intimate portrait of a father’s love and of the straight couple that helps him realize it."

The Universe of Keith Haring 

And from the "Early Days of AIDS" series, comes The Universe of Keith Haring:

"Keith Haring was one of the most popular artists of the late 20th century, and his images remain some of the most recognizable today, 18 years after his death from AIDS. Christina Clausen’s film literally explores the scope of Haring’s universe, from his personal history to interviews and archival footage of the many friends, associates, and admirers who traveled in his orbit – including Yoko Ono, David LaChapelle, Madonna, Grace Jones, Andy Warhol, Junior Vasquez, and others. The Universe of Keith Haring serves as a wonderful celebration of his life and of the enduring legacy of his art."

For more films and for tickets, be sure to check out the festival's website.