Paris is Burning (1990, R)
Category: Event Calendar
Date and Time
- Friday, Jun 20, 2025 7pm - 9pm
Location
400 Quail Road
Details
Where does voguing come from, and what, exactly, is throwing shade? The landmark documentary “Paris is Burning” (1990, R) provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City’s African American and Latinx Harlem drag ball scene. Made over the course of seven years, the film offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion “houses,” from fierce contests for trophies, to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia and transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty.
Featuring legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women—including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza—”Paris Is Burning” brings it, celebrating the joy of movement, the force of eloquence, and the draw of community.
