What is New Queer Cinema?

New Queer Cinema emerged as early as the 1980s and explored the intersectional cultures of queerness that were deemed too trivial for mass media and film consumption during the time. These independent films were screened at film festivals and praised for their unique storytelling — even noteworthy of their dynamic editing. The term, "New Queer Cinema", was first coined by B. Ruby Rich in the early 90s, recognizing the influx of queer filmmakers and their presentations of openly visible LGBTQ+ identities and stories.