‘Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin’
Screening Virtually In Celebration of Pride Month
Free and On-Demand June 28-30th
An award-winning film biography of Bayard Rustin, a key figure of the Civil Rights Movement and organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. Intelligent, gregarious, and charismatic, Rustin was denied his place in the limelight for one reason - he was gay. Watch on-demand: https://watch.eventive.org/workersunitefilmfest2025
Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin - On November 20, 2013, Bayard Rustin was posthumously awarded the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. Who was this man? He was there at most of the important events of the Civil Rights Movement - but always in the background. BROTHER OUTSIDER asks "Why?" It presents a vivid drama, intermingling the personal and the political, about one of the most enigmatic figures in 20th-century American history.
One of the first "freedom riders," an adviser to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and A. Philip Randolph, organizer of the March on Washington, intelligent, gregarious and charismatic, Bayard Rustin was denied his place in the limelight for one reason - he was gay. This film contributes a fascinating new chapter to our understanding of both progressive movements and gay life in 20th-century America. (83 min, 2003, Directors: Nancy Kates and Bennett Singer) (Trailer)
"It's an impressive gathering of facts and interviews about the man who was also openly gay at a time when even many liberals, including his fellow civil-rights activists, were homophobic." - Boston Globe
"For young folks who take their freedoms for granted, the entire documentary is an important reminder that some people fought hard and put their lives on the line to attain those freedoms." - Philadelphia Inquirer
You only need to create a free login on Eventive to watch. You can also download the Eventive app to your TV and login there after adding the film screening to your account.
This virtual screening is sponsored in part by the DC Labor Film Fest and the Global Film Festival Network.
Submissions for Season 14 (Oct 17-30, 2025) Are Open
Next Deadline: July 7th
Congratulations to Our Season 13 Winners!
Missed the Season 13 Festival? You can watch all trailers below:
Season 13 Designs Are Up On Worx!
New Union Cooperative Print Shop
Click on the images or go to shop.worxprinting.coop/collections/wuff
Thank You to Our Season 13 Sponsors!
Interested in sponsoring the main festival this October? Email andrew@workersuniteff.org or message us here.
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About the Festival
The Workers Unite Film Festival, now in its 14th season, is a celebration of Global Labor Solidarity. The Festival aims to showcase student and professional films from the United States and around the world which publicize and highlight the struggles, successes and daily lives of all workers in their efforts to unite and organize for better living conditions and social justice.
WUFF brings together activists, academics, and filmmakers of all ages and backgrounds for a celebration of social justice and the arts. Through dozens of documentary screenings, community forums, and interactive events across New York City, the festival provides working people with a platform to tell their stories while leading a movement for meaningful change. In recent years, we've incorporated theater production, live music, and poetry/spoken word nights. We are the largest worker solidarity themed film festival in the nation and the only one in NYC, with the full support of NYC Council Speaker Adrienne E. Adams, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, NYC Central Labor Council, National & New York State AFL-CIO, IBEW Local 3, PEF, 1199SEIU, The Puffin Foundation, The NY Labor History Association, UA Local 1 Plumbers, UFT, NYSNA, NY District Council of Carpenters, RWDSU, Workers United NY & NJ, and many more.
We are a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
WUFF14 Submissions for 2025 Are Now Open!
The festival screens documentaries, narratives, features, and shorts from all over the world (English language or subtitles), as well as screenplays. You must have an account with Film Freeway to submit your work through their website. The Next Deadline is June 16th, 2025.
Promotional Videos:
2019 promo trailer documenting the variety of events during the most recent film festival.
The Workers Unite Film Festival is proud to be a part of the Global Labor Film Festival, recognized by the afl-cio. See the complete list here.
The 14th Workers Unite Film Festival is made possible in part with public funds from Creative Engagement, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and administered by LMCC.
wuff is Honored to have received a 2019 Manhattan Community Award Program (MCAP) Grant from the Manhattan Borough President’s Office.
honored to have received the 2019 Harry Kelber Fellowship Award from the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. School of Labor Studies, SUNY Empire State University.