“A New York Christmas Wedding” Writer/Director Otoja Abit on His Debut Feature

When we attended the Savannah Film Festival in 2018, one of the filmmakers we covered was Otoja Abit, an actor who had roles in television series (The Defenders, The Night Of) and film (Stonewall), who was in Savannah to screen his short, Jitters.

'A New York Christmas Wedding': Holiday film takes on 'queerness, ethnicity and culture'

Otoja Abit is best known for his award-winning debut short, Jitters, in which he wrote, directed, produced, and starred. Otoja expands on his short Jitters’ theme with his first-of-its-kind urban-leaning holiday film A New York Christmas Wedding now available on Netflix.

'A New York Christmas Wedding': Holiday film takes on 'queerness, ethnicity and culture'

The team behind the Netflix movie wanted to break away from the formulaic approach and “create something to add to the conversation,” said director Otoja Abit.

A New York Christmas Wedding Shows the ‘Cheesy’ Christmas Genre Is Finally Evolving

First things first: A New York Christmas Wedding, now streaming on Netflix, is a groundbreaking film. A holiday movie about a queer Black woman, featuring a predominantly Black and Latinx cast? HELLO, FINALLY. It also features a lead bisexual character, another rarity.

Otoja Abit: What Hasn't Been Said Before

The path from actor to director and producer isn’t an easy one, and there’s no roadmap to guaranteed success — and that’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s the kind of democratic aspect of the art form that has made it possible for generations of auteurs to forge new paths in film.

Better Than Besties: Why Gay Holiday Films Matter

This season’s movies with queer characters may be a largely chaste affair, but their comforting formulas also tell L.G.B.T.Q. viewers that they are seen.

“A New York Christmas Wedding” Asks You to Believe in the Power of Love at Christmas

I’m a firm believer that, among us who are obsessed with All Things Christmas, there are only two camps of people: 1) there’s “Christmas Begins The Day After Halloween” people, and 2) there’s “Christmas Begins The Day After Thanksgiving” people. And I am strongly the latter. I have never listened to a single note of Mariah Carey nor dusted off my Christmas movie collection out of the streaming queue until the turkey has been stuffed, then stuffed into my belly and the last slice of pecan pie has been served cold with annual Day After Thanksgiving coffee. That was, until I saw the trailer for Netflix’s A New York Christmas Wedding.

10 Of The Coziest Holiday Movies You Can Already Stream On Netflix Today

Get ready for the holiday season by getting cozy with these 10 Netflix Christmas and holiday movies that are already streaming, waiting to be enjoyed.

‘A New York Christmas Wedding’ updates Hallmark holiday tropes

In December, as filmmaker Otoja Abit was editing his first feature film — a Christmas movie — a scandal was erupting around the Hallmark Channel because execs had pulled an ad that showed two brides kissing. While the network, which is known for its cheesy-romantic holiday fare, reversed its stance and put the ad back on the air, the uproar resonated with Abit.

New York Christmas Wedding is a Heartfelt Surprise

Imagine my surprise when I saw the trailer for A New York Christmas Wedding distributed by MarVista Entertainment? Far from the company’s usual fare, this film is what Hallmark and Lifetime wishes it could air with their recent push towards more inclusive fare.

2019 BUSHWICK FILM FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS AND PRIZES ANNOUNCED

Brooklyn, NY – October 9, 2019 – The Bushwick Film Festival (BFF) celebrated its 12th anniversary this year with nearly 100 films, a dozen panels, special events, and nearly 3,500 attendees! The festival culminated with an awards ceremony at Syndicated Movie Theater where 23 films took home awards. The award winners told bold stories, featured extraordinary characters and embodied the independent spirit; reminding us of how films inspire, entertain and connect us.

Red carpet moments at the latest Urbanworld Film Fest

One of the fun parts of film festivals is being able to see up-and-coming film talent, both behind and in front of the camera, make their way down the red carpet.