Tina Romero’s Queens of the Dead Wins at Tribeca

Queens of the Dead is Tina Romero’s feature directorial debut, a glittery, disco‑soaked queer zombie comedy that follows a diverse group of drag queens and club kids fighting a slow‑zombie outbreak on the eve of a Brooklyn warehouse/club party. Co‑written with comedian Erin Judge over roughly eight years and partly inspired by promoter drama in New York nightlife, Romero honors her father George A. Romero’s traditional rules for the undead while reshaping the genre with joyful queer representation, chosen‑family themes and campy nightclub visuals. The film premiered at Tribeca, where it won the Audience Award, screened at NewFest, and opened in theaters on Oct. 24. The ensemble cast includes Katy O’Brian, Dominique Jackson, Margaret Cho, Jaquel Spivey, Nina West, Tomás Matos and effects legend Tom Savini. Early reviews have been mostly positive, praising the performances and visuals while noting some social themes could have been explored more deeply.