Norwalk Native To Receive Local Film Festival Honor

Norwalk Film Fest:Robin De Jesús has been one of Norwalk’s brightest stars ever since he first graced the Crystal Theater stage when he was 14 years old. The youngest of three children raised by Puerto Rican factory workers, Robin’s enthusiasm and penchant for charming audiences continued into his years at Norwalk High School, where he performed in productions of Anything Goes, Mame, Once Upon a Mattress, and Kismet.

When he was just 18, Robin gained a cult following for his exuberant turn in the 2003 indie musical Camp, which was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize for Drama at the Sundance Film Festival. He played the role of Michael, a talented gay teenager navigating the difficulties of homophobia and young romance at a performing arts summer camp in Upstate New York.

Robin has since enjoyed a prolific and multifaceted career on Broadway. After making his debut in the Pulitzer-Prize winning musical RENT, he garnered widespread critical praise and three Tony Nominations: the first as Sonny for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights, the second for the role of Jacob in La Cage aux Folles, and the third as Emory in the 2018 production of The Boys in the Band, which featured an entirely gay cast and won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play.

Robin and his cast-mates will be reprising their roles in the film adaptation of The Boys in the Band, produced by Ryan Murphy and premiering on Netflix in 2020.

Throughout his career, Robin has been a passionate advocate for Latinx visibility and LGBTQ rights, and a positive role-model for young audiences struggling with self-acceptance. In consideration of his accomplishments, it is the Norwalk Film Festival’s distinguished honor to present Robin De Jesús with its first annual “Standing Ovation Award.”

Get the Norwalk Film Festival invite by signing up at: www.norwalkfilmfestival.com