Vidiots, One Institute, and the 2026 Circa: Queer Histories Festival invite you to a special 4K restoration screening of Chocolate Babies, with director Stephen Winter in attendance. Come dressed with the intention of serving queer fabulousnesses and revel in this audacious debut comic political satire. Follow a band of HIV-positive black drag queens, trans and queer urban activists – including a young Pilipino-American lad – as they stage a series of surprise attacks on local officials to expose political corruption surrounding the AIDS epidemic. This program is co presented by Vidiots and One Institute as a part of the 2026 Circa: Queer Histories Festival.

Participant Bios

Stephen Winter is an award-winning New York independent filmmaker and writer living in New York City for over 30 years. His 1996 debut feature film Chocolate Babies was restored by UCLA/Outfest in 2021; twice featured on the Criterion Channel and since been cited in multiple “best-of” lists including Indiewire.

Chocolate Babies is presented by Vidiots in community partnership with One Institute as part of the 2026 Circa: Queer Histories Festival, presented by One Institute.

• 

  A one-of-a-kind hub for film lovers, filmmakers, and everyone curious about cinema, Vidiots is dedicated to inspiring human interaction around film through preserving, growing, and providing access to a 70,000-title diverse DVD, BluRay, and rare VHS collection, and showcasing and celebrating the work of emerging, master, and underrepresented artists with year-round unique and affordable film events and vital education programs.