goes back to 1987, and is now one of the oldest lgbtqia+ film festivals in the world.
1980s
In 1987, Jim Hubbard and Sarah Schulman co-founded the New York Lesbian and Gay Experimental Film Festival (later MIX NYC) to showcase LGBTQ experimental cinema absent in mainstream venues. Supported by curators Jack Waters, Peter Cramer, and Ela Troyano, they launched “A Queer Sort of Film” at Millennium Film Workshop. The festival soon became a major queer cultural event, premiering groundbreaking films by Su Friedrich, Todd Haynes, and others, and championing Black gay and trans representation. MIX prioritized artist fees, inclusive access, and diverse programming, earning global influence while Hubbard preserved essential AIDS-era films for future generations.
From 1992, Jim Hubbard was joined by Marguerite Paris and Jerry Tartaglia, launching a new era with guest-curated shows. In 1993, Shari Frilot and Karim Ainouz became co-directors, renaming the festival “MIX” and expanding its multicultural focus. Frilot championed installations and queer BIPOC filmmakers, notably premiering Thomas Allen Harris’s Vintage and her own Black Nations/Queer Nations in 1995. Satellite festivals MIX Brasil and MIX Mexico emerged in this period. Rajendra Roy became director in 1997, moving MIX to Cinema Village, with new visibility under Anie Stanley. In 1999, MIX initiated Memorizing MIX, a preservation effort for past works.
1990s
2000s
In 2000, Rajendra Roy and Anie Stanley departed MIX, with Ioannis Mookas stepping in as Executive Director until 2002. In 2003, MIX launched the ACT UP Oral History Project, highlighting its activist roots. Larry Shea and Stephen Winter led the organization through a period of financial difficulty, stabilizing MIX before stepping down. In 2006, a new leadership team—Stephen Kent Jusick, Szu Burgess, Andre Hereford, Kate Huh, and August Eckhardt, who joined in 2007—returned the festival to its November dates. MIX’s commitment to installations and alternative spaces became a defining feature throughout the following years.
Throughout the 2010s, under the leadership of Stephen Kent Jusick, MIX moved to large Brooklyn warehouses, expanding both its installations and screening to growing audiences. The festival became a space for bold artistic statements and growing community involvement, with memorable programs like Valencia: The Movies and LA Zombie selling out and prompting additional screenings. Venue design continued to be a key feature, with Diego Montoya’s visionary work shaping the festival's immersive environments. After financial and organizational challenges, Devon Gallegos took over as Executive Director in 2017, continuing the festival’s commitment to queer experimental cinema and liberated community space.
2010s
Today
In 2019, an abbreviated festival was hosted at Anthology Film Archives, organized by the Board of Directors. With screenings showcasing past work, the event aimed to raise funds and awareness to keep MIX NYC alive. Board members, including Niknaz Tavakolian, played a crucial role in sustaining the organization. In 2024, queer artists and activists Blake Pruitt and Alex Smith, approached Stephen Winter about reviving the festival. A new committee-based leadership was formed, and MIX NYC is now hosting One-Night Stands, experimental screenings aimed at reviving the festival for 2024 and once again fostering a community space for queer experimental film.
