Assembly

Directed by: Johnny Symons and Rashaad Newsome Released: 2026 (educational) Year of Production: 2025 Running Time: 98 min Language: English Subtitle Options: English Closed Captions Subjects: African American Studies, Race Power and Privilege, Queer Studies Artist Rashaad Newsome prepares to showcase “Assembly,” a groundbreaking exhibit at New York’s Park Avenue Armory. By blending visual art, performance, and artificial intelligence, the project centers the global evolution of vogue while honoring Black and queer resistance and calling for a more liberated future. Special Jury Award for Documentary Feature, deadCenter Film Festival Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature Documentary, Utah Queer Film Festival Diversity Film Prize, Afrika Film Festival Köln Jury Award for Non-Fiction Feature, Wicked Queer: Boston’s LGBTQ Film Festival Best Documentary Nominee, SXSW Special Presentation, Hot Docs Audience Award for Best Documentary, Black Alphabet Film Festival, Chicago Honorable Mention for Audience Award, Wicked Queer: Boston’s LGBTQ Film Festival "Assembly is a rich, extraordinary documentary that takes its lead from Newsome’s expansive, inspiring and invigorating process as an artist. Not only does it capture the excitement and anticipation of putting on a show and the thrill of seeing it come together from conception to execution, but it compellingly delivers the emotional human stories of many of those involved and presents us with some profound questions." — The Queer Review About the filmmaker Johnny Symons is an Emmy Award-nominated filmmaker specializing in LGBTQ+ documentaries. His work has premiered at Sundance, SXSW, and SFFILM, screened at 250 festivals, won 25 awards and broadcast in 20 countries. He is a professor at San Francisco State’s School of Cinema and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Rashaad Newsome is an award-winning artist whose work blends film, performance, technology, and community organizing to explore Black and queer culture. Newsome has exhibited in galleries, museums, and festivals throughout the world and created 15 short films. He holds an honorary doctorate in fine arts from the University of Connecticut. Host a Screening and Book the Filmmaker at your Event