Screening and Director Q&A: Cashing Out

In honor of Love & Fury: New York’s Fight Against AIDS, join Poster House for a special screening of the critically acclaimed short film Cashing Out, followed by a Q&A with director Matt Nadel. In the early 1990s, the AIDS epidemic was in its second decade. Unable to work and with months left to live, many people with AIDS sold their life insurance policies to investors and, in exchange, received a portion of their own death benefit upfront. Some used the money for survival, to pay rent or buy medications, while others opted for end-of-life luxury, embarking on lavish trips, buying vacation homes, and starting businesses. Cashing Out spotlights the morally complex stories of everyday people as they pursued dignity outside the institutions that neglected them—and found joy on the brink of death. By examining who was and wasn’t able to access that dignity and joy, Cashing Out also connects AIDS history to timely questions around healthcare access, equity, and the social safety net. This film has a runtime of 40 minutes and will be followed by a 30-minute talkback and Q&A. Matt Nadel is an award-winning documentary filmmaker whose work explores queer history, survival, and the contradictions of American life. Shortlisted for an Academy Award, his latest film, Cashing Out, examines a controversial industry that emerged in the early days of AIDS—and his own unlikely connection to it. Nadel’s previous film, CANS Can’t Stand, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival Emerging Filmmaker Showcase and was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award. Nadel’s work has been distributed by The New York Times, The New Yorker, and PBS. Accessibility Note: Masks are available free of charge at the museum. Assistive listening devices and stools are available. ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or a CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) is also available upon request. Please contact [email protected] or (914) 295-2387 to request interpretation services and to address any other accessibility needs. For other event-related questions, please contact [email protected].