NYC INDIE THEATRE FILM FESTIVAL

Now in its 7th year, New Ohio Theatre’s NYC Indie Theatre Film Festival (NYCITFF), returns to New York City with in person screenings running February 16 – 19, and online screenings February 20 – 26. 

Six new feature films will be showcased including THE GODDAMN TOONEY LUNES, LEON’S FANTASY CUT, MENDACITY, MIDDAY BLACK MIDNIGHT BLUE, A POEM AND A MISTAKE, and UNPACKING. In addition, 35 short films (two thirds directed by women and non-binary creators) will be presented across four programs. All films will be available both in person and online.

LGBTQIA FILM LINEUP

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

SHORT FILM PROGRAM: DATING DRAMA at 12pm
Relationships aren’t always perfect, but they are always interesting.

EXCAPE – World Premiere
Director: Molly Rose Heller | Writer: Taylor Steele

While Jess and Marianna are on the heels of a breakup, their once shared apartment becomes the site of an Escape the Room challenge that requires them to confront the circumstances of the end of their relationship. The pair need to put aside differences and seek forgiveness from one another in order to free themselves.

MADE IN HEAVEN
Director/Writer: Yiqing Zhao

When a closeted lesbian journalist intern sets out to find her mom’s old boyfriend for a career-changing story and falls in love with mom’s assistant, she has to choose between truth and lies.

YOU CAN KISS ME
Director/Writer: Jan Jalenak

Frustrated with her family life, Penelope yearns for the intimacy and tenderness that has disappeared from her marriage. Her long time dream of walking into a local lesbian nightclub and connecting with a woman with whom she can lose herself finally comes true and she finds herself in a motel with a beautiful lesbian. When it turns out that this woman is also married with children like herself, her fantasy is crushed. After some difficulty, they navigate their way to something wonderful together only to be confronted by reality when their tryst is discovered.

Other shorts in this film block include FULL DISCLOSURE (writer Mia Rovegno), INTIMACY WORKSHOP (writer Eddie Prunoske), JULES & DEE (writer Juliet Perrell), ME, MYSELF, VS. I (writer Uzunma Udeh), and RED (writer Phoebe Dunn).

SHORT FILM PROGRAM: EVERYTHING CHANGES at 6pm
Nothing stays the same – and everyone is affected.

WENDY
Director: Maren Lavelle | Writer: Matt Steiner

Wendy can see the exact way she wants things to go in her head, but when she opens her mouth everything seems to fall apart. So when she develops a secret crush on Cassie, the lead actress in her middle school production of Romeo & Juliet, the stakes are higher than ever. Can she summon up the courage to let Cassie know how she really feels? Or is the risk of humiliation just too high?

Additional short films include METALERO (writer Karsten Otto), NONE OF THE ABOVE (written by Deniz Bulat, Luísa Galatti, Ana Moioli, Maria Luiza Müller, Giorgia Valenti), THIS IS HARRIET (writer Nastaran Ahmadi), WAITING PERIOD (writer Julia Greer & Julia Weinberg), WENDY (writer Matt Steiner), and WOMEN AND ELEPHANTS (writer Marlowe Holden).

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19

SHORT FILM PROGRAM: FRIENDSHIP BONDS at 2pm
There are all kinds of friendships – watch our characters’ relationships be tested in extreme circumstances.

LINDSAY LINDSEY LYNDSEY
Director: Claire Mathiot | Writer: Billy McEntee

Three childhood friends reunite and are unmoored — and disarmed — by each other’s developed sense of identity. “Lindsay Lindsey Lyndsey” is a new short comedy of manners about queer, triangular friendship and how who we are is both individually and communally informed.

SCENE STUDY – New York Premiere
Director/Writer: Trace Pope

Cal, an aspiring actor, is partnered up with Ryan in a scene study class. While rehearsing a scene from Julius Caesar, they discover a mutual attraction. Cal must then summon up the courage to ask out his new crush.

Additional short films include ANDY & KALIOPE (writer Rachel Handler), THE BOTTOM (writer James Kautz), EYEBALLS (writer Molly Powers Gallagher), THE ONE THEY WANTED (writer Byran Harlow), SAKRE FIS (SACRIFICE) (writer Nily Refal), TWO WOMEN ON A BRIDGE (writerTom Bean), and WE (DON’T) KNOW HOW TO LIVE (written by Jayne McLendon, Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah, Perrie Voss, and Hilary Wirachowsky).

All-access passes are $50, which provide access to both in-person and online programming, and both in-person only and online-only passes are $35 each. Individual screening tickets are $14. Tickets to workshops are $20. Passes and individual tickets are now on sale at https://nycitff2023.eventive.org.