In its 31st year, Newfest film festival stays true to its city roots even as it attracts movies from around the world.

“We are opening and closing the festival this year with films that are set in NY, we have another 15 more films set here in our city,” said David Hatkoff Executive Director of Newfest.

Writer/Director Mike Doyle's "Sell By" opens Newfest. It features an ensemble cast led by Kate Walsh and Scott Evans, who plays a struggling NY artist in a slump with his partner.

The festival features 160 LGBTQ films from more than 30 countries. The rich lineup of documentaries includes ‘All We've Got’ by Brooklyn writer and first time filmmaker, Alexis Clements looks at lesbian bars, bookstores and social spaces that are staying in business at a time when so many across the country are shuttering.

Her film highlights two NYC spaces that have been around for decades.

“The first is a lesbian herstory archives in park slopes. It started in an apartment on the upper west side and is now in a brownstone in Brooklyn. And, the other space is the Wow Cafe Theater, which is in the East Village,” said filmmaker Alexis Clements.

What is happening here that is allowing them to stay in business?

“The spaces that have a vital cross generational participation, that is key, that is what is keeping these spaces around,” said Clement.

The concepts of building community and giving voice are at the heart of this festival include quirky imaginative films, shorts from across the boroughs, and offerings from countries without this kind of platform.

We have 5 films from Brazil in this year’s festival. Their president has withdrawn any funding for any LGBTQ film projects, so it felt really important to us to be able to shine a spotlight on Brazil and make sure those stories are being told.

The festival runs at three locations in Chelsea and the village. For details go to newfest.org.