Nina West’s ‘Queens of the Dead’ Debuts at Tribeca Festival
Drag icon celebrates indie horror comedy with fierce queer storytelling on the big screen.
Image: Instagram
A Pinch-me Moment On The Red Carpet
Nina West, the ever-joyous drag performer whose stage persona has garnered nationwide acclaim, took to the Tribeca Festival red carpet as Queens of the Dead made its world premiere in New York City. The indie horror comedy, written and directed by DJ Trx, blends bite-sized scares with campy humor and a fierce queer spirit. “Our little movie that could is finally making its way out to the world,” West wrote in an Instagram post. “So proud to be part of this incredible company of people, sharing this ridiculously fun, fierce, and fearless QUEER story right now.”
From Social Share To Spotlight
The excitement began even before the screening. In a pre-festival Instagram update, West posted alongside a glam-rock portrait: “It’s a full on pinch-me moment today. Hello, @tribeca 🧝♀️ Thank you for this @dj_trx 💗,” she captioned, tagging director DJ Trx and fellow creatives. Both posts underscore West’s gratitude toward her collaborators, including stylist @mikeystyles and makeup artist Erin M. Acker, whose bold palettes and faux-blood accents mirrored the movie’s mix of fright and fantasy.
From Drag Race To Indie Film
Born Andrew Levitt in Greentown, Ohio, Nina West first rose to prominence on season 11 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, where her warmth and quick wit earned her Miss Congeniality honors. Since then, she’s parlayed reality-show fame into a multifaceted career as a singer, author, producer and philanthropist. Queens of the Dead marks her first foray into feature narrative, a leap from short drag performances to starring amid undead protagonists in a story that champion s LGBTQ+ voices.
Behind The Scenes Style
West’s festival looks spotlighted collaborations made for social-media gold. Mikee Styles curated a wardrobe mix of sequins, leather and custom headpieces that balanced horror tropes with high drag glamour. Hairstylist and makeup artist Erin M. Acker crafted bold eye looks and ebony brows, pairing synthetic lace wigs with faux-blood splatter accents—an aesthetic that reflects the film’s playful tension between terror and camp.
A Queer Tale Finds Its Stage
While plot details remain under wraps, early reactions describe a narrative that weaves undead protagonists with drag-infused performances—think ghoul-chic meets midnight cabaret. The Tribeca slot places Queens of the Dead alongside high-profile documentaries and studio titles, a win for queer-led independents fighting for visibility in mainstream circuits. Festival programmers praised the film’s blend of social commentary, satire and spook-house thrills, noting West’s cameo as “infectiously magnetic.”
Next Stop: Stage And Screen
West’s creative calendar doesn’t slow after Tribeca. Later this summer, she’s headlining Sugar in the Tank: A Big Gay Musical Adventure at Pilgrim House in Provincetown, running July through September. In a recent Instagram announcement, she invited fans to “join me for song, sass and sequins” alongside pianist Yaron Spiwak—proof that her star continues to rise on both screen and stage.
As the lights dimmed and the credits rolled, West and her team stood for a final bow—hair teased, heels clicking, and hearts racing. With Queens of the Dead, Nina West continues to rewrite drag’s narrative boundaries, turning monstrous imagery into moments of joy and solidarity.
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