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Winter Film Awards Is New York City. Like the city itself, the organization showcases the eclectic diversity and excitement of the independent arts world. The 11th Annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival runs February 16-25, and includes awesome film screenings, cool discussion panels, career-building professional development workshops and super-fun parties at venues throughout NYC. The Fest celebrates the outstanding work of emerging filmmakers in all genres from around the world, with an emphasis on highlighting underrepresented and marginalized artists. The Festival’s 2023 lineup includes 73 outstanding films from 21 countries; half of the films were created by women, half were created by or about people of color.
For our 2023 program, Winter Film Awards is honored to screen an incredible collection of five films that highlight the LGBTQ+ Experience!
Be sure to also check out our Discussion Panel TRANS-Forming the Film Industry, Feb 23 07:00 PM – 08:15 PM, Cinema Village, 22 East 12th Street, New York NY 10003
Curated by Ley Comas and Ireashia M. Bennett, this panel discussion explores the issue of creating safety, care and accountability on film sets from filmmakers with oppressed and under-represented identities. What are the best practices of care we can implement to restructure the hierarchical approach in the film industry? How are we centering instead of tokenizing? What does it mean to be accountable in our inclusivity? Join us as we explore these questions and learn from the experiences of BIPOC, LGBTQ filmmakers in the industry.
All screenings take place at CINEMA VILLAGE, 22 East 12th Street, New York NY 10003
NI AQUÍ/NI ALLÁ is a personal documentary that centers on a conversation between filmmaker Ley Comas and their mother about their gender identity. As the middle child of Christian pastors, Ley never imagined that transitioning was possible. Growing up in the Dominican Republic, Ley only witnessed trans people portrayed as evil characters, punchlines in movies and TV shows, or outcasts and victims. At home, anything that went against God´s word was an abomination. This documentary follows Ley´s physical and psychological journey to become themself, while struggling to find a middle ground with their family.
Panah, a middle-aged transgender mother, is trying to leave Iran in order to have gender affirmation surgery but her visa and medical documents have been rejected. Her only hope and motivation is to once more see her son, and to be accepted by him as her authentic true self.
RAW MATERIALS is a coming-of-age drama. Sixteen year old fashion prodigy Malik struggles to find his direction and overcome an abusive community in order to fully embrace his talent and identity despite his homophobic community automatically labeling him as gay.
Caught between the expectations of his Guatemalan immigrant family and his desire to live happily ever after with his boyfriend, 19-year-old Hunter “Pixel” Jimenez takes us on an energetic and colorful journey through his life as a trans teen in LA and his dreams for the future.
Two girls fall in love playing football. A visual journey towards complicity, desire and eroticism between them.
About Winter Film Awards
Winter Film Awards is an all-volunteer, minority and women-owned registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2011 in New York City by a group of filmmakers and enthusiasts. Our mission is to promote diversity, bridge the opportunity divide and provide a platform for under-represented artists and a variety of genres, viewpoints and approaches. We believe that only by seeing others’ stories can we understand each other and only via an open door can the underrepresented artist enter the room.
Winter Film Awards programs are supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Promotional support provided by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment.
For more information about Winter Film Awards events and sponsors, visit www.WinterFilmAwards.com.
For more information about the Winter Film Awards judging process, visit our FAQ.
