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NewFest Pride to Premiere Betty S2, Trans-Led Legally Blonde Live-Read
Catch the virtual festival this weekend!
New York City's NewFest Pride festivities kick off this weekend, and the lineup includes an all-LGBTQ+ reading of Legally Blonde, Black queer panels, and the premiere of season 2 of HBO's Betty.
NewFest is New York’s leading LGBTQ film and media organization and one of the world's most respected LGBTQ film festivals. It takes place this weekend, June 4 - 7, 2021.
NewFest Pride will host a two-episode screening and panel to celebrate the release of Season 2 of HBO’s Betty on NewFest’s virtual platform. "The series follows five young women on journeys of self-discovery against the backdrop of New York City’s male-dominated skateboarding scene,” the description reads.
The post-screening discussion will feature Executive Producer Alliah Sophia Mourad and castmember from the series, including Dede, Moonbear and Ajani. The six-episode season will air on HBO and be available to stream on HBO Max.
"Betty’s vibrant ensemble, filmmaking moxie, and fluid narrative rhythms exude the soul of New York City’s streets and spirit of community” said NewFest Director of Programming Nick McCarthy. “We couldn’t think of a more apt way to celebrate personal expression and Pride than premiering and hosting a virtual conversation to amplify the upcoming launch of Betty: Season 2, which was filmed during the pandemic and shows the strength, resilience and importance of stories from our community and our great metropolis’.”
Other events include “The Evolution of Black Queer Representation in Scripted TV” panel with talent from BET's Twenties, Tyler Perry's Sistas, and Ms. Pat. It will discuss the importance of authentic storytelling and representation.
NewFest is also hosting a virtual live-read event fundraiser of Legally Blonde with an all-trans & queer cast. Empire and Transparent actor Alexandra Gray will star in the production as Elle Woods alongside Rain Valdez, Jen Richards, Fawzia Mirza, Ivory Aquino, Kiwi Smith, Mara Wilson, Symphony Sanders, Mal Blum, Jes Tom, Ava Capri, and Alexis G Zall. Drew Gregory, Autostraddle writer, is directing and narrating the production.
Learn more about Newfest here. Tickets are available to purchase.
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
