After a highly successful run last year, the Newark LGBTQ Film Festival is once again focusing on filmmakers and stories of queer people of color. Opening night is just a few weeks away. The lineup will be featured from May 1-4, 2025.
This year’s selections promise to deliver a powerful experience to audiences. Each of the 27 short films and three feature-length films has been carefully chosen to highlight underrepresented voices, showcasing characters who are often marginalized in mainstream Hollywood releases. Queer BIPOC films, in particular, deserve more recognition, and the festival organizers aim to elevate these films and artists, providing them with a platform.
The opening night film will be Ponyboi, screening at Express Newark, and show time is set for 7 p.m. This award-winning film follows a young intersex sex worker in New Jersey who becomes entangled in a dangerous situation after a drug deal goes awry.
On the run from an abusive pimp, Ponyboi embarks on a journey of self-discovery and freedom in the film, meeting a mysterious cowboy along the way. With a star-studded cast including Dylan O’Brien, and a gripping story line that is full of depth and inspiring qualities, Ponyboi is sure to kick off the festival with a bang.
For those who prefer documentaries, Friday night’s film is a must-see. The Ball takes viewers inside the underground ballroom culture of 1970s New York City, a movement created by marginalized LGBTQ people of color. The documentary explores the power of acceptance and chosen family during a time when the world was even more hostile toward the LGBTQ community. This film will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will also screen at Express Newark.
More content will be shown throughout the weekend. The full lineup is available to be viewed at newarklgbtqcenter.org/2025-schedule. With it coming so soon, now is the perfect time to get your tickets for what will be several days of truly compelling stories. Tickets can be purchased now.
For the best value, they offer an all access pass which will give you unlimited admission for each day. However, if you are just interested in seeing a select film, they also offer individual tickets for specific programs.
Tickets available here: eventbrite.com/
