Roxy Reelness: A Celebration Of Queer Cinema

The Roxy Cinema New York proudly presents the return of Roxy Reelness: A Monthlong Celebration Of Queer Cinema this June.

This vibrantly queer film series spotlights undiscovered cinematic gems, rarely seen seminal works, and exciting special premieres. Curated to celebrate the diversity and depth of queer storytelling, the series unearths powerful narratives that have long flown under the radar while honoring landmark films that have shaped queer cinema history. This year we’ll be featuring exclusive screenings and intimate post-film discussions that invite audiences to discover the rich tapestry of LGBTQ+ voices on screen in an atmosphere of community, celebration, and cinematic exploration.

Our 2025 series will explore multiple films distributed by Altered Innocence, which is dedicated to releasing LGBTQ+ & coming of age films with an artistic edge. From their catalogue we’ll be showing WILD TIGERS I HAVE KNOWN (Director’s cut and NYC premiere), THE WILD BOYS, DRESSED IN BLUE, and EQUATION TO THE UNKNOWN (35MM and NYC premiere).

We’re pleased to present Angelo Madsen’s newest feature, still on the festival circuit, A BODY TO LIVE IN, about the legacy of body modification pioneer Fakir Musafar, fresh off its Jury win at the Ann Arbor Film Festival.

Also on the schedule is Gregg Araki’s debut feature THREE  BEWILDERED PEOPLE IN THE NIGHT. Araki has become an important figure in the cinematic landscape with films like THE DOOM GENERATION and MYSTERIOUS SKIN. His film KABOOM even won the inaugural Queer Palm!

This year’s NY premieres at Roxy Reelness will also include S/he is Still Her/e – The Official Genesis P-Orridge Documentary. After selling out at Tribeca Festival, S/he is Still Her/e is having its very first theatrical run with Roxy Cinema. Genesis P-Orridge lived their art to the extreme. A pioneering musician, avant-garde artist, spiritual explorer and gender revolutionary, Genesis has been featured in films and videos, but never the full story…never this intimate…until now. In this authorized but raw and personal documentary, award-winning director David Charles Rodrigues (GAY CHORUS DEEP SOUTH) documents the final year of P-Orridge’s existence as they grapple with mortality and, in the process, reveal the many sacrifices and ultimate payoffs of a life that transcended boundaries. Featuring William Burroughs, Brion Gyson, Timothy Leary, Alice Genese (Psychic TV), David J (Bauhaus/Love and Rockets), Nepalese monks, African witch doctors, and a special cameo by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, plus never-before-seen archival treasures, including performances from Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV.

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The Wild Boys (2017)

Directed by Bertrand Mandico, The Wild Boys is a surreal, gender-bending tale about five adolescent boys sent to a mysterious island after committing a violent crime. Immersed in a lush, dreamlike landscape, they undergo a strange transformation that blurs the lines between masculinity and femininity. Visually striking and provocatively allegorical, the film challenges traditional notions of gender and identity.

Wild Tigers I Have Known (2006)

Directed by Cam Archer, this lyrical coming-of-age story about a lonely 13-year-old boy navigating his sexual awakening and obsession with a mysterious older classmate is set against the backdrop of disappearing mountain lions in California. Dreamy and introspective, the film explores desire, isolation, and identity.

Tongues Untied (1989)

A documentary and performance piece about the experiences of black homosexual men living in the United States of America. The film blends documentary footage with personal account and poetry in an attempt to depict the specificity of Black gay identity. The “silence” referred to throughout the film is that of Black gay men, who are unable to express themselves because of the prejudices of white and Black heterosexual society, as well as the white gay society.

Wigstock: The Movie (1995)

Documentary/Concert film covering the annual Drag festival in New York City hosted by Lady Bunny. Highlights include performances by RuPaul, Lypsinka, Deee-Lite, Crystal Waters, Candis Cayne, Girlina, Flloyd, Mistress Formika, Tabboo!, Perfidia, Donna Giles, Leigh Bowery, Wendy Wild and Joey Arias. Also featuring Alexis Arquette, Jackie Beat and more.

Dressed in Blue (1983)

Directed by Antonio Giménez-Rico, this groundbreaking Spanish documentary that intimately profiles six trans women living in Madrid, offers an honest, compassionate look at their lives, struggles, and resilience during a time of social repression.

Equation to an Unknown (1980)

This French erotic film directed by Francis Saveland starring Gianfranco Longhi was later rediscovered by director Yann Gonzalez. The film follows a young motorcyclist as he has a series of unsatisfying sexual encounters with other lonely men, exploring themes of desire, loneliness, and the fleeting nature of passion. It was previously considered a lost film, but was later restored and screened in 2018. 

Three Bewildered People in the Night (1987)

Directed by Gregg Araki, the film follows a love triangle between a video artist, her gay best friend, and her boyfriend as they navigate art, identity, and desire in 1980s Los Angeles. Shot in stark black and white, it’s a raw, intimate debut that captures the angst of young creatives.

Chinese Roulette (1976)

Directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Chinese Roulete is a tense psychological drama in which a disabled girl orchestrates a surprise meeting between her adulterous parents and their lovers, leading to a weekend of mind games and emotional revelations.

Going Down (1983)

Directed by Haydn Keenan, this wild, fast-paced snapshot of 1980s Sydney youth culture, following four teenage girls on a chaotic night of partying, rebellion, and self-discovery in the city’s underground scene.

A Body To Live In (2024)

Weaving stunning still photographs with the voices of queer elders, A Body To Live In traces the communities, philosophies, and controversial histories surrounding the Body Modification movement that began with underground artist Fakir Musafar.

S/He Is Still Her/e: The Genesis P-Orridge Documentary (2024)

An introduction, conversation and perhaps goodbye to Genesis P-Orridge, who left an astounding and provocative legacy on the worlds of music, art, performance, religion and the occult. A larger-than-life personality that must be experienced to be grasped, Genesis opens up portals to a way of living that transforms and transcends.

Fallen Fruit (2024)

Alex (Ramiro Batista), is a 20-something-year-old who begrudgingly moves back to his childhood home in Miami from New York after a breakup. Blinded by his optimism of returning to New York after the Summer, Alex underestimates the inevitable hurricane that is adulthood. As his Miami life takes its turns, Alex documents his version of rock bottom with an old camcorder found in his bedroom-turned-storage closet. Looking for an escape, he soon finds comfort in Chris (Austin Cassel), a random hookup, who shows him what a life in Miami might have to offer. Blinded by optimism and lust, the reality of adulthood comes flooding in, forcing him to begin to grow up.

*Stay tuned for our full calendar of events as we celebrate pride with Roxy Reelness!