The 2021 Lower East Side Film Festival (LESFF) lineup of US and international features and shorts will screen in-person at New York’s Village East Cinema (proof of vaccination required) from Thursday July 8th until Monday July 12th and virtually online from Thursday July 8th until Sunday July 18th.
The 11th edition of the annual festival includes an advanced in-person screening of the first two episodes of the upcoming Hulu Original series McCartney 3, 2, 1 featuring an in-depth conversation between music legends Paul McCartney and Rick Rubin, and a virtual screening of documentary feature The Revolution Generation. Exploring activism among Millennials, the film aims to “paint a powerful, hopeful, and actionable picture of how today’s youth can solve both the US political and global environmental crises”, and is narrated by Michelle Rodriguez, with subjects including Shailene Woodley, Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Tulsi Gabbard. There will also be a live stand-up comedy show with Tig Notaro and a screening of the new short film Still Standing which follows two 80-somethings embarking on late-in-life new comedy careers on the stand-up circuit.
“11 years ago, our festival was born out of the need for indie filmmakers to be able to be a part of a community that celebrates films made with huge creativity instead of huge budgets, and that has remained an important part of our ethos since inception,” said Lower East Side Film Festival Director, Roxy Hunt. “Year one, we were in a tiny storefront in the Lower East Side, year ten we were virtual, year 11 we’re hybrid! No matter where we are, we’re always excited to be able to deliver a unique experience to our community of filmmakers and film lovers.”
The 2021 festival jury includes the Emmy and Grammy nominated comedian Tig Notaro, Tribeca X Award-winning filmmaker Tiffany J. Johnson, and writer and director Chioke Nassor.
LGBTQ+ titles in this year’s festival include:
In the face of a crumbling Brazilian democracy, trans activist Indianara Siqueira fights to protect a safe house for her chosen family, the trans, housing unstable, sex worker community of Rio de Janeiro. A film by Adam Golub.
Waiting For Me (Official Music Video) by Madame Gandhi
The music video for Waiting For Me was conceptualized and produced in India by a female led team and features queer, trans, and gender non-conforming cast members. “This music video is a call to action for each of us to examine how hierarchy, capitalism, and systemic oppression serve to keep us obedient, with little space for dialogue or critical thinking”, Madame Gandhi comments.
In this documentary from Finland, we meet Jenni and Tony, two very different sides of one fascinating character as they navigate gender, identity, and what it means to be happy.
To view the full festival lineup and to purchase tickets head to: lesfilmfestival.com.
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