Outfest

Outfest Sets 'Vito' As Opening Film of 30th Edition; John Waters To Receive Achievement Award

Peter Knegt — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:26:17 GMT

Jeffrey Schwarz's "Vito" will open the 30th anniversary edition of Outfest: The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, it was announced today. In addition, the festival announced that John Waters will receive the 16th annual Achievement Award.

The Achievement Award will be presented to Waters prior to the Opening Night Gala screening of “Vito” on Thursday, July 12 at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.

Outfest will run July 12 – 22, 2012. Full press release below, including more programming details.

Los Angeles, May 16, 2012 – Outfest – the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing, showcasing and protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media – announced today that Jeffrey Schwarz’s documentary “Vito” has been selected as the Opening Night gala of the 30th Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. “Vito” chronicles the story of Vito Russo, founding father of the gay liberation movement, author of "The Celluloid Closet," and vociferous AIDS activist in the 1980s. The film features Lily Tomlin, Armistead Maupin, Bruce Vilanch, Richard Berkowitz and Larry Kramer.

Outfest will also present its 16th annual Achievement Award to filmmaker, author and artist John Waters. The Achievement Award is Outfest's highest honor and is presented in recognition of a body of work that has made a significant contribution to LGBT film and media. John Waters is a filmmaker, visual artist, author, comedian, and essayist. With films ranging from the taboo-pushing PINK FLAMINGOS to the teen-dance spectacular HAIRSPRAY, Waters and his work have been unapologetically queer, championing outside values and personal expression in a world that rarely appreciates difference. The Achievement Award will be presented to Waters prior to the Opening Night Gala screening of “Vito” on Thursday, July 12 at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.

“Honoring two legendary figures Vito Russo and John Waters is the perfect way to launch Outfest’s 30th anniversary,” said Executive Director Kirsten Schaffer. “Over that past three decades, Outfest has had a global impact on LGBT lives by promoting understanding, launching world-class talent and preserving our filmed history for generations to come.”

The nation’s leading LGBT film festival, and the oldest film festival in the city of Los Angeles, will be held July 12 – 22, 2012.

Waters will also be performing his show “This Filthy World: Gayer and Filthier” on July 11th in the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever. Focusing in on Waters’ early negative artistic influences and his fascination with true crime, exploitation films, fashion lunacy, and the extremes of the contemporary art world, this joyously devious monologue elevates all that is trashy in life into a call to arms to “filth followers” everywhere. Tickets for this screening are available at HollywoodForever.ticketfly.com.

As part of its 30th anniversary year, Outfest will celebrate this milestone across all of its programs by producing the best film festival to date, premiering its most significant feature film restoration and debuting an impressive youth filmmaking project, among many innovative and expanded initiatives.

·        30 YEARS OF OUTFEST: THE FILMS THAT SPARKED A CULTURAL REVOLUTION
A series of seminal LGBT films from the 1960’s to the 2000’s including a recreation of the first festival in 1982: QUEEN OF SHEBA MEETS THE ATOM MAN (1963-4), MAKING LOVE (Hill, 1982) and TAXI ZUM KLO (Ripploh, 1981). This series is supported by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

·        DOWNTOWN 30
A monthly screening series taking place at the Downtown Independent Theatre, presenting new and classic films of interest to LGBT audiences.

·        “DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS” RESTORATION
The Outfest Legacy Project for LGBT Film Preservation, a partnership with the UCLA Film & Television Archive, will unveil its most significant restoration to date, arguably the earliest surviving cinematic work made explicitly about LGBT people .Thispeople. This restoration is partially funded by a grant from the Andrew J. Kuehn, Jr. Foundation.

·        30 YEARS OF IMPACT: CHANGING HISTORY ONE STORY AT A TIME
Stories of Outfest filmmakers, volunteers and members from the last thirty years whose lives and careers have been deeply impacted by Outfest will be posted weekly on our website. Filmmakers and audiences will also have the opportunity to post their own story of how Outfest changed their lives by uploading a video to the site.

·        ABSOLUT OUTRAGEOUS
Absolut Vodka, one of Outfest’s longest supporters is also turning 30th this year. Absolut, celebrating supporting the gay and lesbian community going out and coming out for 30 years, is joining the Outfest 30th anniversary celebration and the iconic vodka is bringing a special gift to the party. In honor of OutfestUTFEST’s anniversary, our long termlong-term partner, Absolut Vodka, has pledged an Absolut OUTrageous cash gift of $30,000 for the Outfest Legacy Project.

Outfest 2012: The 30th Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival is presented by HBO. Grand Sponsors include Absolut and Ease Entertainment Services. For more information about Outfest 2012 sponsorship, visit www.outfest/org/sponsor.

Outfest Extends to NYC By Taking Over NewFest

Nigel M Smith — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 21:01:48 GMT

Outfest, the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, is expanding their reach to New York.

Today, Outfest announced a new partnership with NewFest, New York's LGBT film festival, effectively taking over programming duties for this year's edition of NewFest. Their intent is to create "one national arts organization," according to their release.

So what does this all mean for NewFest staff? Well for the last three years NewFest has not had a full-time staff, hiring instead on a seasonal basis. (Full disclosure: Indiewire contributor Bryce Renninger served NewFest's head programmer for last year's edition.) The exception was executive director Lesli Klainberg, who resigned at the start of this year to work at the Film Society of Lincoln Center.

According to a festival representative, Outfest intends to hire an operations manager to coordinate the festival on the East Coast, and possibly others, who will work along with the staff of Outfest on the West Coast.

NewFest Board Co-President Steve Mendelsohn said of the development, "Outfest brings a wealth of knowledge and wide-ranging capabilities to NewFest and will enable us to enhance our annual festival and expand our year-round programming. The potential benefit for NewFest and New York's LGBT film community as a whole is something we’re very excited about."

Whether NewFest will partner up with the Film Society of Lincoln Center again this year for its gala presentations remains to be seen, under this new intiative.

The 24th edition of NewFest runs July 27-30 in New York.

Full release below:

OUTFEST and NEWFEST Form Strategic Partnership

Outfest to Program New York LGBT Festival

Los Angeles, March 26, 2012 -- Outfest, the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing, showcasing and protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media, announced today that it is forming a strategic partnership with NewFest, the New York LGBT film festival, with the intent of merging NewFest into Outfest and creating one national arts organization.

Outfest, which is celebrating its 30^th anniversary this year, will be responsible for programming this year’s edition of NewFest which will take place July 27 – 30, 2012 at a venue to be announced.

"Extending the reach of Outfest as a national organization and ensuring that Outfest continues to be a leader in bringing stories of the LGBT community to audiences is a great way to celebrate our 30^th anniversary milestone," said Outfest board Co-Presidents Jon Larson and Laura Ivey. “We look forward to working with the team at NewFest on their festival this year and on future initiatives,” added Kirsten Schaffer, Executive Director of Outfest.

NewFest Board Co-President Steve Mendelsohn said, “Outfest brings a wealth of knowledge and wide-ranging capabilities to NewFest and will enable us to enhance our annual festival and expand our year-round programming. The potential benefit for NewFest and New York's LGBT film community as a whole is something we’re very excited about."

About Outfest

Outfest, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, is the leading organization showcasing, nurturing and protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender film images and artists. For three decades, Outfest has brought together film lovers, innovative artists, celebrities and entertainment industry professionals to create a world-class forum for stories that reflect and often transform LGBT lives. Outfest has showcased over 5,600 films to audiences, totaling close to one million people, educated hundreds of emerging filmmakers and protected 18,000 stories and images through the Outfest Legacy Project for LGBT Film Preservation, the only program of its kind in the world.

About NewFest

As one of New York City's premier LGBT arts organizations for over twenty years, NewFest empowers, educates, entertains, and provokes the culturally rich and diverse communities of the greater metropolitan region. Through its annual film festival and year-round programming, NewFest showcases international, US,

"Weekend," "Habana Muda" Among Top Outfest Winners

Brian Brooks — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:27:28 GMT

Andrew Haigh's "Weekend" won the Grand Jury Award for "Outstanding International Dramatic Feature," while Eric Brach's "Habana Muda" took the Grand Jury Award for "Outstanding Documentary Feature Film" over the weekend at Outfest, capping the 29th Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. The jury nod in the U.S. dramatic feature category went to Stephen Cone's "The Wise Kids," which also received Outfest's screenwriting award. Director Maryam Keshavarz's "Circumstance" won the festival's Audience Award for "Outstanding First U.S. Dramatic Feature" and Tom Tykwer's "3" won Outstanding Dramatic Feature Film in the category.

The 29th Outfest took place July 7 - 17 in Los Angeles, featuruing 163 films, including 67 features and 96 shorts from 25 countries. Outfest closed out Sunday night with JAnne Renton's "The Perfect Family," starring Kathleen Turner, Jason Ritter, Emily Deschanel and Richard Chamberlain.

Outfest winners with information, award commentary and credits provided by the festival:

Jury prizes:

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Documentary Short Film: "Thank You for Your Call," Directed by Shawn Nee

For its moving examination of one man’s emotional journey through a complex and systematic issue of inequity which currently and will continue to affect many of us, we award the Outfest 2011 Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Documentary Short Film to "Thank You for Your Call," directed by Shawn Nee.

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Short Film: "I Don't Want to Go Back Alone," Directed by Daniel Ribeiro

For its sensitive and original portrayal of a young man’s self-realization of his sexuality, and for the quality of its direction, writing, and its performances, we award the Outfest 2011 Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Short Film to I DON’T WANT TO GO BACK ALONE, directed by Daniel Ribeiro.

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Documentary Feature Film: "Habana Muda," Directed by Eric Brach

This year’s winning documentary is a beautifully crafted narrative that reveals multiple worlds and gives us access to intimate moments and complex relationships. It’s a very personal story that rises above the issues it explores, and entertains us in every moment. The Outfest 2011 Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Documentary Feature Film goes to "Habana Muda," directed by Eric Brach.

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding International Dramatic Feature Film: "Weekend," Directed by Andrew Haigh

This year’s winning international dramatic feature film is a touching, authentic portrayal of gay life as we truly experience it: not stylized, not glamorized, but heartfelt, perceptive and absorbingly real. From the first frame it manages to get beneath the artifice we are used to. In its own quiet, unflinching way it leaves you a little bit changed, and yet more yourself than you ever were. The Outfest 2011 Grand Jury Award for Outstanding International Dramatic Feature Film goes to "Weekend," directed by Andrew Haigh.

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film: Nikohl Boosheri, "Circumstance."

For her fierce and sensual portrayal of a young woman struggling to balance the tumultuous landscape of her sexuality in a world in flux around her, the Outfest 2011 Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film goes to Nikohl Boosheri for her portrayal of Atafeh in "Circumstance."

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film, the cast of "Private Romeo."

For bringing fresh life to a timeless love story and infusing each moment with a 21st century immediacy that balances naked passion with longing and delivering it all with brilliant coherence, the Outfest 2011 Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film goes to the entire cast of "Private Romeo."

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Screenwriting: Stephen Cone, "The Wise Kids"

For a script that transports us to a world with rare authenticity and plunges into the lives of a myriad of characters with surprising depth and compassion and never judges its characters, the Outfest 2011 Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Screenwriting goes to Stephen Cone for "The Wise Kids."

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding U.S. Dramatic Feature Film: "The Wise Kids," Directed by Stephen Cone

We were very moved by this film not only as a love letter to the community it depicts but as a universal portrayal of characters both coming of age and coming of middle age. We also believe this film represents American independent cinema at its best and marks the discovery of a filmmaker with a compelling cinematic voice. The Outfest 2011 Grand Jury Award for Outstanding U.S. Dramatic Feature Film goes to "The Wise Kids," directed by Stephen Cone.

Audience prizes:

Audience Award for Outstanding Documentary Short Film: "Same Difference," Directed by Catherine Opie & Lisa Udelson

Audience Award for Outstanding Dramatic Short Film: "Tsuyako," Directed by Mitsuyo Miyazaki

Audience Award for Outstanding Documentary Feature Film: "We Were Here," Directed by David Weissman & Bill Weber

Audience Award for Outstanding Dramatic Feature Film: "3," Directed by Tom Tykwer

Audience Award for Outstanding First U.S. Dramatic Feature Film: "Circumstance," Directed by Maryam Keshavarz

Special Programming Awards:

Special Programming Award for Freedom: "No Look Pass," Directed by Melissa Johnson

For its unflinching look at the life of a young lesbian basketball star facing the hardships of coming out and a relationship challenged by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" the Outfest Special Programming Award for Freedom goes to "No Look Pass."

Special Programming Award for Artistic Achievement: "The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye," Directed by Marie Losier

For matching the conceptual daring and aesthetic bravado of its subjects’ lives with an equally powerful filmmaking style and for never losing sight of the love story that flourished in an atmosphere of gender experimentation and conceptual music, the Outfest Special Programming Award for Artistic Achievement goes to Marie Losier, director of "The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye."

Special Programming Award for Emerging Talent: Madeleine Olnek, Writer/Director, "Co-dependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same."

For her witty and creative vision, her skill at eliciting memorable performances, for deftly blending old school science fiction and deadpan comedy, and for believing that true love exists even if it means going to another planet to find it, the Outfest Special Programming Award for Emerging Talent goes to Madeleine Olnek, the writer/director of "Co-dependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same."

World of Wonder's Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbato: "No is the beginning of yes"

Kim Adelman — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 07:19:31 GMT

What's the secret behind the success of Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, the duo responsible for "Becoming Chaz" and "RuPaul's Drag Race" and recipients of the 15th Annual Outfest Achievement Award? According to Tori Spelling, who moderated Outfest's panel with the producing partners on July 9th, it's their motto: "No is the beginning of yes."

"Few acts can balance mainstream popularity with cult status and maintain their independence, singular vision, and relevance - especially in the mood shifting LGBT landscape," praised Kirsten Schaffer, Executive Director of Outfest, when announcing that Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato would be receiving the festival's 2011 achievement award, which was given to John Schlesinger in its inaugural year (1997) and last year to Jane Lynch.

It's no doubt that Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato know how to put on a show. At the Tori Spelling-moderated Outfest panel, which took place two days after the achievement award ceremony, a tribute reel summed up Bailey and Barbato's dizzying array of credits ranging from "Party Monster" to all six seasons of "Tori & Dean." Spelling joked that the duo have a "no is the beginning of yes" drawer in which they keep projects they won't give up on no matter how many potential buyers pass over the years.

While accepting their Outfest award, Bailey and Barbato pitched their most recent passion project to the captive audience at the Orpheum Theatre. "Picture this," hyped Barbato, "'Entourage' meets 'Flashdance' with Abercrombie & Fitch sprinkled on top." And onto the stage danced the attractive Shaping Sounds troupe to perform a well-received interpretive dance number.

Between the two Outfest events, Bailey and Barbato spoke to indieWIRE about their thoughts on how the independent film and documentary landscape have changed over the years and why they consider today a golden age.

Barbato: In terms of independent film, we've watched it go from kind of 'niche but exciting' [in which] you'd discover and hear from new voices, and a lot of those happened to be gay or lesbian because it was really the only outlet. But then we watched independent film almost become mainstream and become co-opted by the mainstream in many ways.
Right now we're at an interesting time where there's such a thin line between the mainstream and independent film.
Bailey: One of the big changes that we've seen is that the separate worlds of independent film and the world of television are converging.
A lot of people talk about Reality TV often in quite negative terms, but we see a lot of Reality TV - not all, but a lot - as being an incredible renaissance for verite filmmaking, for documentary storytelling.
Sometimes the differences between these different genres are more emphasized than the things that they have in common. We feel not much attention gets paid to that. And that's why it was so very special to get that Outfest award last night. We have made some feature films, and we've also made theatrically released documentaries, and we've done a lot of television. But the way we see it, it's about storytelling.
What's so exciting about the time we're in is that there are so many different ways to tell a story - far more ways than there once were. It's technology, it's cameras, it's more media, it's more channels, it's more outlets.
As for the model of how you distribute - or monetize - your film, there are so many different ways to do it now. It used to be maybe you'd take your film to a festival, and try to sell the film at a festival to get a theatrical deal. But now to get your film seen by people, it's not always necessary that your film be released in theaters. It could be on the small screen, it could be via Netflix - there are so many ways to get your film out there. And depending on what your story is, what kind of film it is, I think you just have to look at each case individually and see what works best.
It's a great time to be in the world, telling real stories. It's an amazing golden age.
While they were looking back, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato congratulated indieWIRE on its 15th anniversary...
Barbato: indieWIRE has been the place to go for 15 years, and Fenton and I have been regular readers that whole time. It's often where we not only get our information but also get some of our juicy gossip.
Bailey: The success and growth of indieWIRE speaks to the seismic changes in film in that period of time. Because when indieWIRE started, I don't think anyone necessary thought that it would become the go-to place...to get your news in that space. So the success of indieWIRE, the underdog, is very exciting. Because in regards to monolithic structures, it's all changing. IndieWIRE rises, "News of the World" falls.
Barbato: It's exciting turning 15 - going from puberty into adulthood. In the past year or so there have been interesting and exciting changes that make us look forward to indieWIRE's future.

Gregg Araki: "The worst reason to make a film is just to go out and make one"

Kim Adelman — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 09:59:16 GMT

Director Gregg Araki is an indie film stalwart, with films dating back into the '80s with "The Long Weekend (O'Despair)" and into the '90s with "The Living End," "Totally F***ed Up," "The Doom Generation," "Nowhere" and more. This century, he recruited Joseph Gordon-Levitt in "Mysterious Skin" and the likes of Anna Faris, John Krasinski and Adam Brody in "Smiley Face" and Juno Temple in last year's "Kaboom."

But it all started back in 1987 with "Three Bewildered People in the Night," a film Araki recalls he "had to make," financing the $5K budget himself. The film revolves around a trio of young lovers who sort through their angst and despair in a late-night coffee shop. The film is the subject of Outfest's U.S. premiere screening of a new high-definition transfer July 10 as part of its Legacy Project.

Gregg Araki will attend the Outfest screening of "Three Bewildered People in the Night" July 10 at the Directors Guild Theater in Los Angeles.

Below, Araki shares with iW his thoughts on first films generally, and what "should drive" would-be filmmakers to plunge into making movies, recalling why he took on "Bewildered People." He also gives his take on the state of the indie biz in the past two decades and also gives a shout-out to indieWIRE on the occasion of its 15th anniversary this month...

This is my own personal philosophy about first films. I think first-time filmmakers should make a film when they're ready to make a film and when they have a film that they're dying to make. I think the worst reason to make a film is just to go out and make one -- or because you want to go to Sundance, or you want to be like Quentin Tarantino. The reason to make a film is because you have a story you want to tell, you have something you really, really want to say.
And that to me is what was so striking about "Three Bewildered People in the Night," that it came from a place of almost desperation. I was just so desperate to make this movie. This was way back in the old days of indie filmmaking. The whole movie cost like five grand. I kind of financed it out of my own pocket. It's really a trip to watch it, like a time machine for me -- going back to what my life was like when I made that movie. It takes me back to a much more naive and innocent time. The movie is really cool in that way.
I find people's first films so fascinating. For instance, Gus Van Sant's "Mala Noche" or Rick Linklater's super-8 feature that he made before "Slacker" are really interesting to watch because there is so much in that first film, so much of the director's passion and sheer will to get it made. And I think that that's so important for a first-time filmmaker.
When I made "Three Bewildered People," I was in my angst-ridden 20s. When I was in Toronto for a retrospective of my work, they had one Q&A night where they showed clips of all of my movies back-to-back and we talked about each one. It was amazing for me to look back at all the movies put together. As a person and a filmmaker, I've changed so much. And for me, particularly because my movies are all so personal, they really capture where my head is at, at the time I'm making them. So it was really a trip to see the progression and see all the different phases and mindsets, the things that were affecting me when I made the movie. To me, that is one of the coolest things about making films.
Independent film, particularly in the United States, goes through cycles of boom years and lean years. It's just like the economy. We went through a very hard patch a few years ago when the economy crashed, all the money dried up and all the companies were going out of business. It seems like there's been a little bit of a renaissance and things are coming back, which is always good news for filmmakers.
But my experience in making movies, is that it's always been a struggle; it's never been easy. I think that to be an independent filmmaker you have to have a certain amount of tenacity and stubbornness. And the passion to keep doing it in the face adversity, to overcome a lot of obstacles.
There's so much excitement and so much interesting work being done. I think that's really cool, and it's great that indieWIRE has been around for 15 years to keep their finger on the pulse beat and keep everybody informed about everything that's going on. It's great that the indie film community is still thriving, still growing and still going strong.

[Below is the trailer for the TIFF Bell Lightbox series looking at Araki's work in Toronto, which he refers to in this article.]

[Brian Brooks contributed to this article]

Outfest Reveals 2011 Festival Line-up, Ones to Watch, and More

Indiewire Staff — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:11:39 GMT

Outfest's 29th Annual Gay & Lesbian Film Festival kicks off in L.A. on July 7th and runs until the 17th with 163 films (67 features and 96 shorts) from 25 countries, along with over a dozen panels and special events. "This year's line-up is one of the strongest in Outfest history and we're excited to be showcasing work that is both exploring and expanding the possibilities of LGBT themes and challenging our audiences through their storytelling," said Director of Programming Kim Yutani.

Outfest 2011 opens with Rashaad Ernesto Green's first feature film, "Gun Hill Road," and will close with feature film debut, "The Perfect Family," from filmmaker Anne Renton. Other gala screenings include: Maryam Keshavarz's "Circumstance" (U.S. Dramatic Centerpiece), Andrew Haigh's "Weekend" (International Centerpiece), P. David Ebersole's "Hit So Hard" (Documentary Centerpiece), and Tom Tykwer's "3" (Broad Stage Gala). The 2011 selections for the festival's Four in Focus series include: Lisa Aschan's "She Monkeys," Maryam Keshavarz's "Circumstance," Madeleine Olnek's "Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same," and Eldar Rapaport's "August."

Full Line-up below: [Synopses courtesy of the festival]

GALAS

Opening Night Gala – “Gun Hill Road” (July 7 at 8:00pm – Orpheum Theatre)
After three years in prison, macho Enrique (Esai Morales) returns home to the Bronx and finds things changed. His wife, Angela (Judy Reyes), is distant, and his teenage son, Michael, has come out as Vanessa, a transgender woman. Unable to accept his child for who she is now, Enrique clings to his masculine ideals while Angela attempts to hold the family together by fiercely protecting Vanessa. Still under the watchful eye of his parole officer, Enrique must become the father he needs to be or once again risk losing his family and freedom.

The heart of GUN HILL ROAD lies in two places: the richly drawn character of Michael/Vanessa (newcomer Harmony Santana is unforgettable) and a father's inability to escape the vicious cycle of his life. Writer/director Rashaad Ernesto Green's first feature film is told with gentle humor, sensitivity and a deep understanding of the environment that defines its inhabitants.

U.S. Dramatic Centerpiece – “Circumstance” (July 12 at 8:00pm – DGA 1)
In a vibrant contemporary Tehran, two beautiful teenage girls struggle for their personal freedom. Atafeh and her best friend Shireen are full of youthful exuberance and a healthy streak of rebellion as they drink, smoke and go dancing at underground parties. When Atafeh's brother Mehran returns from drug rehab, he embraces a new way of life and joins the Morality Police - much to the surprise of his affluent and liberal parents - and becomes increasingly obsessed with and involved in Atafeh and Shireen's intimate relationship.

Nikohl Boosheri (Atafeh), Sarah Kazemy (Shireen) and Reza Sixo Safai (Mehran) smolder on screen in their fearless and complex performances. A feast for the senses, CIRCUMSTANCE is the original vision of writer/director Maryam Keshavarz, whose first feature effort creates a stylish and sensual coming-of-age film, presenting a timely and important story of a new generation of women in Iran who dream of a place where they can be free.

Winner of the Audience Award: Dramatic at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

International Dramatic Centerpiece – “Weekend” (July 13 at 8:00pm – DGA 1)
British filmmaker Andrew Haigh, winner of Outfest 2009's Artistic Achievement Award for his first feature, GREEK PETE, returns to the festival with his second feature - already an acclaimed award-winner itself. With the same intimacy and rare authenticity of his impressive debut, WEEKEND explores the relationship between two young gay men that evolves from a drunken one-night stand into a dynamic and complex portrait of modern gay romance over the course of a booze, drug and sex fueled weekend, building to a delicate emotional climax.

The chemistry between coleads Tom Cullen and Chris New lights fire to a precise yet free-flowing script that allows them to playfully explore the dimensions and shifting moods of their characters. The film's natural rhythm utilizes the confines of its construct to explicitly and unapologetically express themes that transcend sexuality without ever denying it. WEEKEND advances the gay narrative - both filmic and socially - in ways that few films have.

Winner of the 2011 SXSW Emerging Visions Audience Award.

Documentary Centerpiece – “Hit So Hard” (July 14 at 8:00pm – Ford Theatre)
Patty Schemel, the hard hitting drummer of Courtney Love's seminal rock band Hole, is not only a master of the sticks, but a true survivor. After growing up as an outsider near Seattle she shot to stardom in the early 90’s, engulfed by the music scene and ensuing popularity. She documented her life as a rock star – at band practice, on the road, backstage and in front of millions of people. She captured rare, precious moments behind the scenes with Hole and Kurt Cobain and the intense highs and lows of these dynamic relationships often shaped by drug abuse and an addiction that consumed her and almost killed her.

Director P. David Ebersole has masterfully woven Patty’s Hi8 videos with contemporary interviews of Patty, her band mates (including Love, Melissa Auf der Maur and Eric Erlandson), other musicians, and important figures in Patty’s life to craft a story that is as beautiful and inspirational as it is a significant cultural record.

Broad Stage Gala – “3” (July 11 at 8:00pm – Broad Stage)
In one of his most singular and stylish films, German filmmaker Tom Tykwer (RUN LOLA RUN) returns to Berlin for the setting of this seductive drama centered on an upscale middle-aged couple whose routine coexistence is upset when they separately encounter the same man and explore their sexual fluidity. Complementing an inventive narrative with a slick visual polish and dynamic soundtrack, Tykwer crafts a sophisticated film full of ideas and themes that range from erotic to darkly comic to cruel and fatalistic. Sophie Rois (Hanna) and Sebastian Schipper (Simon) deliver pitch-perfect performances as the married couple, and Devid Striesow brings a unique dimension to his role as their unwitting lover, Adam. When a complication threatens to expose their carefully guarded secrets, the resolution is both surprising and inevitable.

3 premiered at last year's Venice Film Festival and screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and earlier this year at the 2011 Berlinale.

Closing Night Gala – “The Perfect Family” (July 17 at 8:00pm – Ford Theatre)
How far will one suburban housewife go to win the Outstanding Catholic of the Year Award? Dedicated churchgoer Eileen Cleary (Kathleen Turner, in a heartbreaking performance) will bend over backwards to portray her dysfunctional brood as the Catholic ideal, even though her son (Jason Ritter) has just left his wife for the woman he really loves, and Eileen's daughter Shannon (Emily Deschanel) is about to marry her lesbian lover.

In her feature film debut, filmmaker Anne Renton skillfully balances the dramatic tension with a humorous undertone centered on Eileen's struggle to reconcile her faith and her goal of perfection with the reality of her life. A talented cast that also includes Angelique Cabral and Richard Chamberlain bolsters this unforgettable comedy-drama.

Line-Up

U.S. Dramatic Features:

AUGUST

Dir/Scr: Eldar Rapaport, 2010, USA, 100 min.

What if the ex-boyfriend you never quite got out of your system moved back to town in the middle of a heat wave? That’s what happens to Jonathan, when his sexy ex Troy returns to L.A. during a particularly sweaty summer. Jonathan falls quickly back into bed with Troy, but will this steamy summer fling pull Jonathan away from his smoldering Spanish lover Raul? Find out in this sensual melodrama that will have you sweating along with its stunning protagonists.

BUMBLEFUCK, USA

Dir: Aaron Douglas Johnston, Scr: Aaron Douglas Johnston & Cat Smits, 2011, USA, 91 min.

Distraught by the recent death of a close gay friend, Alexa travels from Amsterdam to her friend’s hometown in Iowa to make a documentary about homosexuality in small-town America. Once there, she meets local artist Jennifer, for whom she develops unprecedented romantic feelings. Bolstered by beautiful cinematography illustrative of the American experience, BUMBLEFUCK, USA is an evocative chronicle of Alexa’s journey to understand both her grief and her sexuality.

CODEPENDENT LESBIAN SPACE ALIEN SEEKS SAME

Dir/Scr: Madeleine Olnek, 2011, USA, 75 min.

Serving on a special mission, three lesbian aliens are sent to Earth. As the fetching extraterrestrials search for romance on the New York dating scene, one finds love with Jane, an eager stationery store clerk who is oblivious to the fact that she’s dating an alien. Tightly scripted with lo-fi styling and campy B-movie effects, this wholly original comedy embraces the intrinsic hilarity of lesbian life to tell a story about love that transcends galaxies.

ECUPID

Dir/Scr: JC Calciano, 2011, USA, 95 min.

Nowadays it’s not uncommon to be on an online dating site: Match.com, OkCupid, and Grindr. But what if your dating site began to manipulate your every move and spin you into a frenzy? And what if that app was voiced by Morgan Fairchild?! Marshall is feeling stuck in his 7-year relationship with Gabe and turns to an online site for help. Little does he know that the site will take control of his life - all in the name of finding true love, of course.

GOING DOWN IN LA-LA LAND

Dir/Scr: Casper Andreas, 2010, USA, 104 min.

Trying to make it as an actor in L.A.? Trying to keep your integrity while doing it? This is the story of Adam - a fresh, young, gay transplant from New York - and his trials as a struggling actor. After a few months of working a spirit-crushing job, Adam finds himself tempted by less glamorous opportunities that may not be beneficial to his resume. This slice of Hollywood life, written and directed by co-star Casper Andreas, will have you laughing, crying and maybe even reconsidering your own aspirations for stardom.

THE GREEN

Dir: Steven Williford, Scr: Paul Marcarelli, 2010, USA, 90 min.

Michael Gavin and his partner Daniel trade the rat race of New York City for the idyllic charm of the Connecticut shoreline, with hopes of a simpler life and time for Michael to finish his first novel. All that changes when one of Michael’s high school students accuses him of “inappropriate conduct,” and the town rushes to judgment. Featuring stand-out performances by Cheyenne Jackson, Julia Ormond and Illeana Douglas, THE GREEN is a gripping emotional journey that will keep you guessing until the very end.

JAMIE AND JESSE ARE NOT TOGETHER

Dir/Scr: Wendy Jo Carlton, 2011, USA, 95 min.

From writer/director Wendy Jo Carlton (HANNAH FREE) comes a lesbian romantic comedy-with musical numbers! For anyone who has ever fallen for a friend. Jamie is moving from Chicago to New York with the hope of becoming a Broadway actress. Her best friend Jessie is bummed because she is not-so-secretly in love with Jamie. As moving day approaches, Jessie tries to make Jamie jealous by dating other women... but the plan backfires in a way Jessie never could have imagined.

LEAVE IT ON THE FLOOR

Dir: Sheldon Larry, Scr: Glenn Gaylord, 2011, USA, 105 min.

Twenty years after PARIS IS BURNING brought Harlem’s drag balls to the world’s attention comes this energetic, dance-filled musical set in L.A.’s ball scene. Kicked out of his house for being gay, Darnell falls in with the city’s most trophy-challenged house, but these runway walkers will overcome tragedy and heartbreak to become the fiercest crew of all. And child, you know they’re gonna leave it all on the floor.

LONGHORNS

Dir/Scr: David Lewis, 2011, USA, 75 min.

Beers and queers run rampant in this scandalous comedy from the makers of BEARCITY and FRUIT FLY. It’s the ‘80s and “straight” Texas frat boy Kevin has a habit of lending his buddies a helping hand during male bonding sessions, but he really gets his lasso in a twist upon meeting his dorm’s new guy, the openly gay Cesar Kevin attempts to forget his attraction by escaping to a cabin in the Hill Country, but LONGHORNS still manages to give “ride ‘em cowboy” a whole new meaning.

MANGUS!

Dir/Scr: Ash Christian , 2011, USA, 88 min.

Mangus Spedgwick was destined to be Jesus - just like his daddy, and his daddy before him - in River City, Texas’ production of Jesus Christ Spectacular! When a freak accident leaves him paralyzed, Mangus wanders through the desert of small-town life, until he is shown the way by a vision of Jesus in a titty bar. Ash Christian (FAT GIRLS) directs an epic cast, including Leslie Jordan, John Waters, Jennifer Coolidge and Heather Matarazzo.

PRIVATE ROMEO

Dir/Scr: Alan Brown, 2011, USA, 98 min.

Romeo and Juliet has never been more provocative than in this contemporary all-boy staging. Writer/director Alan Brown transfers the setting from fair Verona to a high school military campus where a small group of boys from rival schools act out the tragedy in real life. This bold adaptation eschews convention and challenges common perceptions of masculinity, gay youth and the military. Anchored by solid performances, the film balances the tough dialogue, tender romance and unique setting with an erotic rhythm and a few surprising twists.

VACATION!

Dir/Scr: Zach Clark, 2010, USA, 90 min.

Four girlfriends reunite for a week of partying on the beach, and it’s all sand, sun and margaritas until one of them turns up dead. Glass Candy’s electropop soundtrack and a deliciously colored backdrop set the tone for a film in which a dead body may be the least surprising twist. VACATION! is a dazzling guessing game that includes a mysterious surfer dude, a UFO and an acid trip featuring blonde wigs and Miracle Bowel Cleanser.

THE WISE KIDS

Dir/Scr: Stephen Cone, 2011, USA, 91 min.

In a Baptist church community in Charleston, South Carolina, three teenage friends contemplate the next stage of life. There’s the devout Laura; openly gay Tim, who is anxious to start film school in New York; and gorgeous Brea, who is undergoing a deep crisis of faith. Writer/director Stephen Cone infuses comedy into a dramatic narrative. A character-driven film with an extraordinarily talented young cast, THE WISE KIDS is respectful and earnest, and never claims to have all the answers.

WITHOUT

Dir/Scr: Mark Jackson, 2010, USA, 87 min.

On a remote wooded island, nineteen-year old Joslyn (Joslyn Jensen, in a finely tuned and unshakable performance) arrives to take care of an elderly man left alone by his vacationing family. In this isolated setting, the memories of her girlfriend and circumstance of her death consume Josyln’s fragile emotions. Writer/director Mark Jackson carefully balances the film’s simple dramatic narrative with undertones of a psychological thriller that slowly reveal Josyln’s internalized grief and sense of loss in subtle and sometimes bizarre ways.

WOMAN'S PICTURE

Dir/Scr: Brian Pera, 2010, USA, 105 min.

Powerful women take the lead in this homage to the female protagonist-driven films of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. Writer/director Brian Pera (THE WAY I SEE THINGS) has drawn fascinating and complex characters in a series of vignettes, featuring Calpernia Addams as a transwoman returning to her family and childhood home; and the enchanting Ann Magnuson as a popular home shopping hostess with a complicated home life.

International Dramatic Features:

ABSENT (AUSENTE)
Dir/Scr: Marco Berger, 2011, Argentina, subtitled, 87 min.
Argentinean writer/director Marco Berger (PLAN B) returns to Outfest with a dramatic film about obsession and repression. Adorable 16-year-old Martin not so subtly pursues his ostensibly straight swim coach/gym teacher, Sebastian, who in turn harbors complicated feelings toward Martin. A beautifully shot and unusually moody thriller about forbidden desire, ABSENT is driven by a palpable sexual tension and the interplay of fantasy and reality. Winner of the 2011 Teddy Award at the Berlin Film Festival for Best Feature Film.

BASHMENT

Dir/Scr: Rikki Beadle-Blair, 2010, UK, 110 min.

Riki Beadle Blair (FIT) returns to Outfest with this hard-hitting urban drama adapted from his 2005 stage play exploring the intersection of race, sexuality and music. After a brutal gay bash attack at a reggae dancehall competition, a group of thuggish performers defend their actions as being provoked by the victim. They serve a shockingly light sentence, and as their release date nears, their original public defender rallies with the victims to examine the homophobic song lyrics and ask the question “Did the music make you do it?” Featuring finely tuned performances by a multiracial cast.

BREAK MY FALL

Dir/Scr: Kanchi Wichmann, 2010, UK, 105 min.

In this gritty and realistic drama, four queer hipster friends in East London find their lives changed one fateful drug and alcohol-fueled night. Liza and girlfriend Sally play in an indie rock band and have an intense and dysfunctional relationship. Their guy pals are also floundering: Vin works as a hustler, while Jamie looks to find stability in a boyfriend. Writer/director Kanchi Wichmann takes an unflinching and artistic look at the complex and often not so pretty terrain of human relationships.

THE FAMILY COMPLETE

Dir/Scr: Imaizumi Koichi, 2010, Japan, subtitled, 106 min.

Imaizumi Koichi’s twisted look at family dynamics and sexual obsession ranks among the most wonderfully weird films we’re screening this year. A grandfather carries a mysterious disease that makes other people want to have sex with no one but him - and soon everyone in the household is afflicted! (And then there’s the guy in the bear costume who meows like a kitten, but we’ll leave that for you to figure out.)

A FEW DAYS OF RESPITE (QUELQUES JOURS DE RÉPIT)

Dir/Scr: Amor Hakkar, 2010, Algeria/France, subtitled, 80 min.

Having escaped Iran, where their relationship means a death sentence, Hassan and Mohsen manage to make it to France. In a small town awaiting their train to Paris, Mohsen befriends lonely Yolande, and finds himself torn between a security he has never known before and his passionate connection to his younger lover. Without forced sentimentality or manufactured drama, A FEW DAYS OF RESPITE questions the nature of love and happiness, and the sacrifices we might make to achieve either.

HAPPY, HAPPY (SYKT LYKKELIG)

Dir: Anne Sewitsky, Scr: Ragnhild Tronvoll, 2011, Norway, subtitled, 85 min.

Housewife Kaja manages to stay cheerful, despite the fact that her husband would prefer to watch wrestling on TV than have sex with her. When a seemingly perfect couple moves in next door, both Kaja and her husband’s sexual liberation comes within reach, forcing the inevitable truths and secrets out. Dark humor, flat-out hilarity and tight storytelling make HAPPY, HAPPY a delightful look at the folly and resilience of adult relationships. Winner of the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

HARVEST (STADT LAND FLUSS)

Dir/Scr: Benjamin Cantu, 2011, Germany, subtitled, 85 min.

Marko, a brooding young man, is a student in an agricultural school on a farm 40 miles outside of Berlin. Driving tractors, cleaning stables and herding cows is livened up with the arrival of Jacob, an affable pretty boy, with whom Marko begins a friendship. HARVEST reveals itself with subtle storytelling and a quiet tension, while the inner workings of the farm and the natural beauty of its surroundings create an intimacy of two young men finding their way in life.

JOE + BELLE

Dir/Scr: Veronica Kedar, 2010, Israel, subtitled, 80 min.

Things get very complicated very quickly when Joe, an angsty drug dealer, meets Belle, a buoyant suicidal psychopath, in this dark comedy. After an outlandish accident in Tel Aviv leaves the pair with a body to dispose of, they embark on a madcap journey to lose the cops - and end up finding love in Sderot (the target of ongoing rocket attacks). Gritty but tender, JOE + BELLE offers an absurd portrait of life in contemporary Israel.

KAWA

Dir: Katie Wolfe, Scr: Kate McDermott & Witi Ihimaera, 2010, New Zealand, 76 min.

Kawariki must become the leader of the family after his father retires in this intimate drama. A husband and father, he realizes that in order to lead with integrity, he must come out and be honest about his own life, even though it will test the boundaries of acceptance and unconditional love. Offering valuable insights into Maori traditions, family ideals and cultural values, this feature debut is rich and textured with emotional layers and stunning New Zealand landscapes.

MARY LOU

Dir: Eytan Fox, Scr: Shiri Artzi, 2010, Israel, subti tled, 150 min.

What MAMMA MIA! did for ABBA, MARY LOU does for Israeli pop sensation Svika Pick. Meir grows up obsessed with his mother, who left them on his tenth birthday. As a teen, he and his best female friend fall for the hot new boy in school, and as the three friends reach adulthood, Meir’s yearning for his mother - and his elaborate drag performances - both bring the trio together and tear them apart. This latest film from Eytan Fox (THE BUBBLE, YOSSI & JAGGER) is funny, moving and packed with catchy tunes.

THE NIGHT WATCH

Dir: Richard Laxton, Scr: Paula Milne & Sarah Waters, 2011, UK, 90 min.

The highly anticipated BBC film adaptation of Sarah Waters’ novel, THE NIGHT WATCH doesn’t disappoint, with all the mystery, betrayal and hunger you would expect from the author of Fingersmith and Tipping the Velvet. It’s an intimate character study of five Londoners in the 1940s, as their intertwining secrets and desires reflect the precious humanity and havoc of the war that serves as their backdrop. A hauntingly beautiful story, this poignant film burns with a sensual flame.

OLD CATS (GATOS VIEJOS)

Dir/Scr: Sebastián Silva & Pedro Peirano, 2010, Chile, subtitled, 89 min.

Isadora’s septuagenarian mind is fast deteriorating, which is surprisingly good news for her daughter and her daughter’s butch girlfriend, who want to take control of Isadora’s gorgeous apartment. The relatives-meets-reality drama comes to a head over a fateful family dinner in this hilarious and oddly moving dark comedy featuring perfectly tuned performances from an ensemble cast. This is the most recent collaboration from acclaimed co-directors Sebastián Silva and Pedro Peirano, whose previous film THE MAID wowed audiences worldwide and won numerous awards, including the 2009 Sundance Grand Jury Prize.

ROMEOS

Dir/Scr: Sabine Bernardi, 2011, Germany, subtitled, 94 min.

When Lukas is assigned to the women’s dormitory for his compulsory civil service in Germany, this transman learns that there’s much more to transition than physical changes. His femme best friend Ine is assigned to the same dorm, and they dive right into the anything-goes world of queer Cologne. Lukas is instantly popular, and when he meets the darkly attractive Fabio on the dance floor, his carefully controlled life changes forever, and he finds himself wanting more.

SHE MONKEYS (APFLICKORNA)

Dir: Lisa Aschan, Scr: Lisa Aschan & Josefine Adolfsson, 2011, Sweden, subtitled, 84 min.

Winner of the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival Grand Jury prize, SHE MONKEYS takes the cliché mean girl movie and deepens the exploration of girlhood desire. Set in the world of female equestrian acrobatics, the competition gets hot when 15-year-old Emma is assigned to train with the older, self-confident Cassandra. The frienemies immediately ignite a psychological battle, cruelly pushing each other's boundaries of strength, sexuality, and overall control in this coming of age story that's both innovative and provocative.

Documentary Features:

THE ADVOCATE FOR FAGDOM

Dir: Angélique Bosio, 2011, France, 91 min.

Bruce La Bruce has been called bold, revolutionary, controversial, irritating, and pornographic. Whatever your take on his films, no one can deny that he’s one of the only filmmakers consistently bucking the system and pushing boundaries. In this intimate and revealing documentary, rare interviews - including candid insight from John Waters, Gus Van Sant, other contemporaries and La Bruce himself describing his artistic process - combine with archival footage to piece together an authentic portrait of this elusive artist.

ANGEL

Dir: Sebastiano d’Ayala Valva, 2010, France, subtitled, 62 min.

Angel, a former boxer from Ecuador, now works as a prostitute in Paris to support himself and his extended family. After five years away, Angel returns home, only to find ambiguous relationships and the same grinding poverty he left behind. Openly queer and living between genders, Angel faces frequent harassment, which he gracefully defuses and transforms into acceptance. Angel’s riveting story explores the intersections between migration, poverty, perseverance, sexuality and gender.

BOY CHEERLEADERS

Dir: James Newton, 2010, UK, 60 min.

Armed with pink pompoms and pursed lips, the South Leeds DAZL Diamonds are determined to become the first all-boy cheerleading squad to win the national championship in London. Under the fierce guidance of their flamboyant coach Ian Rodley, these rough and tumble boys find a drive and purpose they’ve never known before. With a flare for the dramatic, Ian inspires fearless creativity in the youngsters, whose fervent spirit and infectious charm is unforgettably life affirming.

CAROL CHANNING: LARGER THAN LIFE

Dir: Dori Berinstein, 2011, USA, 83 min.

There are very few legends left in show business, but there’s no denying that the inexhaustible star of Broadway’s Hello, Dolly! deserves that title. This delightful and delicious documentary traces Channing’s extraordinary history, from her early success as a classroom mimic to her late-in-life reunion with her childhood love. Everyone from Debbie Reynolds, Chita Rivera, and Bruce Vilanch to Channing’s devoted chorus of “Dolly Boy” dancers pops up to pay tribute to this amazing performer.

HABANA MUDA

Dir: Eric Brach, 2011, France, USA, subtitled, 61 min.

This beautifully crafted and carefully observed film follows Chino, a deaf-mute leading a working class life with his mute wife and two young children in Havana while maintaining an open relationship with a financially supportive gay lover living abroad in Mexico. This tangled love triangle slowly unravels in surprising and sometimes bizarre ways revealing questionable motives and rich complexities that will confound you and move you profoundly.

HOLLYWOOD TO DOLLYWOOD

Dir: John Lavin, 2010, USA, 81 min.

Gay twins Gary and Larry have always loved Dolly Parton. They left their small town home ten years ago to make it in Hollywood and are finally ready to get their script to Dolly. In a RV named Jolene, the boys embark on the adventure of a lifetime. This road trip is also a journey of self-discovery and an attempt to resolve mommy issues that have divided them since childhood. Featuring 15 of Dolly’s classic songs and Chad Allen, Dustin Lance Black, Beth Grant, and Leslie Jordan.

I AM

Dir: Sonali Gulati, 2010, USA, India, 71 min.

In this first-person account, thirty-three year old filmmaker Sonali Gulati returns to her childhood home in India to resolve personal demons and explore broader issues facing the gay community in India, where homosexuality was still illegal when she started the film. Hoping to reconcile feelings of loss and regret, and find closure to unresolved feelings about her dead mother, Sonali's personal journey introduces her to many colorful characters (including openly gay prince and activist Manvendra Singh Gohil) facing unique issues in a country that finally overturned its ban on homosexuality in 2009.

NO LOOK PASS

Dir: Melissa Johnson, 2011, USA, 98 min.

Basketball player Emily Tay has always been an overachiever. From star point guard at the Marlborough School in Los Angeles to a successful college career at Harvard, the engaging Tay is now a professional basketball player in Germany and in a relationship with a U.S. servicewoman. In this insightful and poignant documentary, Tay, the first generation daughter of Burmese parents, finds herself facing one of the biggest challenges of her life - telling her traditional parents who she is really is.

ORCHIDS: MY INTERSEX ADVENTURE

Dir: Phoebe Hart, 2010, Australia, 60 min.

A closely guarded family secret has left filmmaker Phoebe Hart and her two sisters filled with shame and anger. When she breaks the silence about the hereditary intersex condition that runs in her family, she is confronted with fear and hostility from her mother, and rage from her younger sister. This unique family is transformed by Phoebe’s insistence that they accept each other (and themselves) unconditionally.

PAUL GOODMAN CHANGED MY LIFE

Dir: Jonathan Lee, 2011, USA, 89 min.

Lesser known today than his more celebrated counter culture contemporaries, Paul Goodman is mostly remembered for his book Growing Up Absurd (1960), which gave voice to a generation of young people and helped define a New Left. He was an openly bisexual philosopher, poet, essayist, and pacifist whose work was essential to the emerging gay movement of the early 1970s. Privately, he lived his life with equal devotion to a wife and family he cherished. Using a wealth of archival footage and interviews with family, friends, and scholars this film is a moving tribute to Goodman’s writings and legacy, and a thoughtful exam of his unapologetic lifestyle.

SHUT UP LITTLE MAN!AN AUDIO MISADVENTURE

Dir: Matthew Bate, 2011, Australia, 90 min.

In 1987, Eddie and Mitch, two young punks from the Midwest, moved into a terrible San Francisco apartment. Through paper-thin walls, they were introduced to their middle-aged alcoholic neighbors, Raymond, a raging homophobe, and Peter, a flamboyant gay man. Compelled by Ray’s and Peter’s barrage of vitriolic diatribes, Eddie and Mitch made audio recordings to document their neighbors’ bizarre relationship. SHUT UP LITTLE MAN tells their story as a darkly comedic exploration into the blurred boundaries among privacy, art and exploitation.

TALES OF THE WARIA

Dir: Kathy Huang, 2010, USA, subtitled, 57 min.

Halfway around the world in Makassar, Indonesia, a community of transwomen called the “Waria” - Wanita (Woman) + Pria (Man) - has long been an accepted part of the cultural fabric. However, because physical transition is frowned upon in the world’s most populous Muslim nation, they are forced to walk between worlds. In this inspiring documentary, we see how four of these women manage to do that with their heads held high.

WE WERE HERE

Dir: David Weissman & Bill Weber, 2010, USA, 90 min.

Director David Weissman (THE COCKETTES) returns to Outfest with this moving chronicle of the earliest years of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco. The film breaks new ground by shedding light on the people behind the statistics, telling the moving, personal stories of five individuals who experienced the impact AIDS had on the city and witnessed the LGBT community coming together in response. Elegiac but inspirational, WE WERE HERE, which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, bears witness to the experiences of those who died - and, equally importantly, those who lived.

WISH ME AWAY

Dir: Bobbie Birleffi & Beverly Kopf, 2010, USA, 120 min.

As a high-profile artist in one of the most visible and conservative industries, country music star Chely Wright risked her entire career by publicly revealing her homosexuality last summer. No one - not even Chely - knew if the fans that helped build her career would stick by her or turn against her. WISH ME AWAY is a candid, insightful, all-access look at how she came to this decision after decades of denial, and the at-times surprising and heartbreaking reactions she received. Her story of strength and determination will inspire and encourage anyone who has ever experienced fear and doubt in their quest to become their authentic self.

WITH YOU

Dir: Scott Gracheff, 2011, USA, 90 min.

As the10th anniversary of 9/11 nears, Scott Gracheff’s documentary is a timely tribute to one of the gay heroes of that day - Mark Bingham. We know the story of Mark’s heroism on flight United 93, and we know about the international Bingham Cup rugby tournament that honors him, but this film introduces us to the man behind the legend. Featuring extensive interviews with Bingham's mother, friends, family and classmates, the film gives us a richer view of Bingham, from his teen metal-head period to his rambunctious college years through coming out and embracing the world with enthusiasm before his tragic demise.

Outfest To Honor Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato

Peter Knegt — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 08:36:49 GMT

Outfest 2011 has announced that its 15th Annual Achievement Award will be presented to Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, the team behind "Party Monster," "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" and, most recently, "Becoming Chaz."

Full press release below.

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 1, 2011) - Outfest, the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing, showcasing and protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media, will present its 15th Annual Achievement Award to Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato.

The Achievement Award is Outfest's highest honor and is presented in recognition of a body of work that has made a significant contribution to LGBT film and media.

"Few acts can balance mainstream popularity with cult status and maintain their independence, singular vision and relevance - especially in the mood shifting LGBT landscape," says Kirsten Schaffer, Executive Director of Outfest.

The award will be presented to Bailey and Barbato prior to the Opening Night Gala screening of "Gun Hill Road" on Thursday, July 7 at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.
Says Fenton Bailey, "Outfest has been such an important organization to us and to the entertainment industry, although we are certain that they got this wrong, because we aren't gay and we are far too young to be honored in this way!" Randy Barbato adds, "Actually we are gay dinosaurs, and given we were born this way, thank goodness there was an Outfest 15 years ago to help welcome us to Hollywood."

For twenty years, Fenton Bailey's and Randy Barbato's World of Wonder global entertainment company has been producing ground breaking and landmark film, television, and web programming often reflecting lifestyles and subjects no one else is brave enough to approach. Their ambitious work has had a profound impact on LGBT audiences, and we're proud to call them part of the Outfest family.

Emerging from the '80's punk scene as disco-pop-rock duo The Fabulous Pop Tarts and NYU's Graduate Film Program, the multi-media partnership between Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato morphed into World of Wonder in 1990. Their immediate success gave birth to an immense and diverse body of work including 1997's "The Real Ellen Story," the 1998 Outfest award-winning "shockumentary" PARTY MONSTER; the wildly popular documentary THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE that opened Outfest in 2000; and "101 Rent Boys" also in 2000. Their documentary output has been prolific, including titles ranging from; MONICA IN BLACK AND WHITE to INSIDE DEEP THROAT and docu-series like "Transgenerations."

In 2003, Randy and Fenton became the first filmmakers to twice open Outfest - this time with a scripted version of the "party monster" story (PARTY MONSTER). Over the years they have produced work for almost every US Cable Network, including four seasons of "Million Dollar Listing," six seasons of "Tori & Dean" and "RuPaul's Drag Race" now shooting its fourth season. They premiered their latest documentary film BECOMING CHAZ at this year's Sundance Film Festival and in May the film was broadcast on OWN as the first film in the Oprah Winfrey Documentary Club. Randy and Fenton continue to expand their reach with everything from blogs to an art gallery and a coffee table book.
Last year's Outfest Achievement Award was presented to Jane Lynch, and previous recipients include: Don Roos, Jane Anderson, Gregg Araki, Bill Condon, Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, Todd Haynes, Sir Ian McKellen and Gus Van Sant.

The complete line-up for Outfest 2011 will be announced on June 7th.

"Gun Hill Road" and "The Perfect Family" to Bookend 29th Outfest

Indiewire Staff — Thu, 19 May 2011 08:08:12 GMT

Outfest announced the gala films for the 29th Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. The fest will kick off with Rashaad Ernesto Green's "Gun Hill Road" and close with "The Perfect Family," starring Kathleen Turner. “This year’s selection of galas represent some of the most acclaimed and thematically diverse films of the year,” stated Kirsten Schaffer, Executive Director of Outfest. “These movies have huge potential for cross-over appeal, and we are thrilled and proud to showcase them at the festival this July."

The complete line-up will be released June 7th. The festival runs July 7-17 in Los Angeles.

Below is the full list of gala films, courtesy of Outfest.

Opening Night Gala – “Gun Hill Road” (July 7 at 8:00pm – Orpheum Theatre)
After three years in prison, macho Enrique (Esai Morales) returns home to the Bronx and finds things changed. His wife, Angela (Judy Reyes), is distant, and his teenage son, Michael, has come out as Vanessa, a transgender woman. Unable to accept his child for who she is now, Enrique clings to his masculine ideals while Angela attempts to hold the family together by fiercely protecting Vanessa. Still under the watchful eye of his parole officer, Enrique must become the father he needs to be or once again risk losing his family and freedom.
The heart of "Gun Hill Road" lies in two places: the richly drawn character of Michael/Vanessa (newcomer Harmony Santana is unforgettable) and a father's inability to escape the vicious cycle of his life. Writer/director Rashaad Ernesto Green's first feature film is told with gentle humor, sensitivity and a deep understanding of the environment that defines its inhabitants.
U.S. Dramatic Centerpiece – “Circumstance” (July 12 at 8:00pm – DGA 1)
In a vibrant contemporary Tehran, two beautiful teenage girls struggle for their personal freedom. Atafeh and her best friend Shireen are full of youthful exuberance and a healthy streak of rebellion as they drink, smoke and go dancing at underground parties. When Atafeh's brother Mehran returns from drug rehab, he embraces a new way of life and joins the Morality Police - much to the surprise of his affluent and liberal parents - and becomes increasingly obsessed with and involved in Atafeh and Shireen's intimate relationship.
Nikohl Boosheri (Atafeh), Sarah Kazemy (Shireen) and Reza Sixo Safai (Mehran) smolder on screen in their fearless and complex performances. A feast for the senses, "Circumstance" is the original vision of writer/director Maryam Keshavarz, whose first feature effort creates a stylish and sensual coming-of-age film, presenting a timely and important story of a new generation of women in Iran who dream of a place where they can be free.
Winner of the Audience Award: Dramatic at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.
International Dramatic Centerpiece – “Weekend” (July 13 at 8:00pm – DGA 1)
British filmmaker Andrew Haigh, winner of Outfest 2009's Artistic Achievement Award for his first feature, "Greek Pete," returns to the festival with his second feature - already an acclaimed award-winner itself. With the same intimacy and rare authenticity of his impressive debut, "Weekend" explores the relationship between two young gay men that evolves from a drunken one-night stand into a dynamic and complex portrait of modern gay romance over the course of a booze, drug and sex fueled weekend, building to a delicate emotional climax.
The chemistry between coleads Tom Cullen and Chris New lights fire to a precise yet free-flowing script with a natural rhythm that uses the confines of its construct to explicitly and unapologetically explore greater themes to connect in a way that transcends sexuality without ever denying it. "Weekend" advances the gay narrative - both filmic and socially - in ways that few films have.
Winner of the 2011 SXSW Emerging Visions Audience Award.
Documentary Centerpiece – “Hit So Hard” (July 14 at 8:00pm – Ford Theatre)
Patty Schemel, the hard hitting drummer of Courtney Love's seminal rock band Hole, is not only a master of the sticks, but a true survivor. After growing up as an outsider near Seattle she shot to stardom in the early 90's, engulfed by the music scene and ensuing popularity. She documented her life as a rock star - at band practice, on the road, backstage and in front of millions of people. She captured rare, precious moments behind the scenes with Hole and Kurt Cobain and the intense highs and lows of these dynamic relationships often shaped by drug abuse and an addiction that consumed her and almost killed her.
Director P. David Ebersole has masterfully woven Patty's videos with contemporary interviews of Patty, her bandmates (including Love, Melissa Auf der Maur and Eric Erlandson) and other important figures in Patty’s life to craft a story that is as beautiful and inspirational as it is a significant cultural record.
One of Filmmaker Magazine's "25 New Indie Faces," David's writing/directing includes "Desire" (Fox TV), "Wicked Wicked Games" starring Tatum O'Neal, STRAIGHT RIGHT (Sundance Channel), the award-winning short "Death in Venice, CA," last year's Outfest short "Swimming" starring Gretchen Phillips and Phranc; and he co-produced "Stranger Inside" (HBO), directed by Cheryl Dunye, produced by Jim McKay, Michael Stipe and Effie Brown.
Broad Stage Gala – “3” (July 11 at 8:00pm – Broad Stage)
In one of his most singular and stylish films, German filmmaker Tom Tykwer ("Run Lola Run") returns to Berlin for the setting of this seductive drama centered on an upscale middle-aged couple whose routine coexistence is upset when they separately encounter the same man and explore their sexual fluidity. Complementing an inventive narrative with a slick visual polish and dynamic soundtrack, Tykwer crafts a sophisticated film full of ideas and themes that range from erotic to darkly comic to cruel and fatalistic. Sophie Rois (Hanna) and Sebastian Schipper (Simon) deliver pitch-perfect performances as the married couple, and Devid Striesow brings a unique dimension to his role as their unwitting lover, Adam. When a complication threatens to expose their carefully guarded secrets, the resolution is both surprising and inevitable.
"3" premiered at last year's Venice Film Festival and screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and earlier this year at the 2011 Berlinale.
Closing Night Gala – “The Perfect Family” (July 17 at 8:00pm – Ford Theatre)
How far will one housewife go to win the Outstanding Catholic of the Year Award? Dedicated churchgoer Eileen Cleary (Kathleen Turner, in a heartbreaking performance) will bend over backwards to portray her brood as the Catholic ideal, even though her son (Jason Ritter) has just left his wife for the woman he really loves, and Eileen' daughter Shannon (Emily Deschanel) is about to marry her lesbian lover. Eileen's struggle to reconcile her faith and her goal of perfection with the reality of her life makes for an unforgettable comedy-drama, bolstered by a talented cast that also includes Richard Chamberlain.

At Outfest 2010, In with the Old & In with the New

Bryce J. Renninger — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:42:59 GMT

As the juries and special guests handed out the awards for this year's Outfest, LA's LGBT Film Festival, we were constantly reminded that the landscape of queer film has been changing and is still changing.

As people in the film industry continue to ask about the role and relevance of queer film and queer film festivals, many films in Outfest's 2010 lineup showed why it is important to support, foster, and create LGBT/queer film. I've heard many contend that Outfest's closer "Spork," which screened outdoors last night at the Ford Amphitheater, is pushing the boundaries of queer cinema in one of the directions it should be pushed. Ned Farr's multiple award winner "A Marine Story" and Steve Clark Hall's doc "Out of Annapolis" both tackled the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy that prohibits gay military personnel from serving openly. Docs like "Le Tigre: On Tour," "Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields," and "The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls" celebrated LGBT musical artists, while "Florent: Queen of the Meat Market" and "An Ordinary Couple" were popular studies of LGBT history told through the stories of men who have lived through it.

Aside from its lineup of new films that explore LGBT history, Outfest is home to the only film preservation program that exclusively preserves and archives queer film and video, the Outfest Legacy Project, a partnership between Outfest and the UCLA Film & Television Archive. In addition to providing these (often rare) films to the public and using film and video in the collection for education and community outreach, the project tries to salvage, restore, and archive footage in danger of being lost. Currently, with the initiative celebrating its fifth anniversary, Legacy Project manager Kristin Pepe asked five queer artists to choose films from the archive to present to Outfest audiences. I'll profile two of those re-screened films below, putting them side-by-side to two films (both currently without U.S. distributors) from Outfest's 4 in Focus directors, which spotlights new directing talent.

Student/Teacher Love/Lust: "Mädchen in Uniform" and "La Robe du Soir"

In the 1958 remake of the Weimar era 1931 film "Mädchen in Uniform" by Géza von Radványi, Lili Palmer plays the teacher to German film star Romy Schneider's student Manuela (this was the German belle's first mature role...and what a role it is). After the final shot faded, my viewing partner turned to me and said, "That was the gayest film I've seen at the festival." Though the original film is left in fragments mostly seen on VHS, this recently recovered print of the 50's remake shows off the brilliant cinematography and fantastic display of blatant homoeroticism in an all-girls Catholic school. As filmmaker/film historian Jenni Olson noted when presenting the film as her choice for the series, "Mädchen in Uniform" started the trend of schoolgirls-fawning-over-teachers in lesbian film. Wolfe has acquired the rights to distribute DVDs from the new "Mädchen" print, with a release date set for this fall.

Another schoolgirl/teacher story, Myriam Aziza's "La robe du soir (The Evening Dress)" also played to enthusiastic audiences this week. The film stars French chanteuse Lio as Ms. Solenska, a slightly raunchy teacher who has all of her students under her thumb. One student in particular, the tomboy Juliette (Alba Gaia Bellugi) is particularly struck by Ms. Solenska, and is motivated by schoolgirl lust and jealousy to go to all ends to make something out of this relationship with her French teacher. In an interview with indieWIRE, Aziza explained her motivation for making the film, "I...wanted to say something about the power a teacher can have on pupils when the line between education and seduction becomes blurred. More or less, some teachers play with it in order to fill a narcissistic wound." What results is a refreshingly new take on this old story, with bold characters and a deft directorial hand by the French director (who cut her teeth in the documentary world).

Queer Stories, Queer Forms: "Hustler White" and "Open"

In the Legacy Project's only sold-out screening (audience members took advantage of the standing-room only accommodations), Rick Castro and Bruce LaBruce's 1996 West Hollywood romp "Hustler White" showed off the queerest in queer film. Introducing the film, Le Tigre's JD Samson spoke of the film's impact on her own experimental filmmaking and the way it helped her find her place as a young punk when she was living in New York. The film, made "by hook or by crook" for almost no money, follows an anthropologist (LaBruce) just appointed to a post at UCLA who is studying hustlers. He takes on a subject-muse in Monty (former Madonna boyfriend Tony Ward), and the two explore the hustler scene along Santa Monica Boulevard. Made with the cooperation of hustlers and their clients, it includes several enthralling fetish sex scenes. The film's verisimilitude was made possible through the photographic work of Castro, who in the Q&A at Outfest explained he met many of his actors as a photographer documenting hustlers along Santa Monica and would listen to their "hustler yarns" in the years prior to making this film.

It may be true that "Hustler White" has not much in common with Jake Yuzna's debut film, but "Open," which won awards at the Berlinale and at the Tel Aviv LGBT fest, is also an astute practice in queer aesthetics. The film tells the tales of Gene and Jay, a trans-female pandrogynous couple based on the life of Genesis P-Orridge of Psychic TV and Throbbing Gristle, and a trans-man and his boyfriend. In his iW interview, Yuzna noted his inspirations for the film, "I’ve always been interested in alternatives to conventional society and culture. From the situationist international to COUM transmissions. Groups and artists who are exploring other options of living and being. I wanted to create a film that showcased this diversity of humanity. Both the people who are still living in the fringes of culture, as well as those exploring new frontiers of love, sex, and identity."

The resulting film is queer in all regards, a true intervention into conventional love stories in its narrative, in its style, in its acting, and in its editing. It's a jarring portrayal of love with a beautiful soundtrack. Just another example of what can be gained by curating, watching, and encouraging queer arts -- acts whose value Outfest reminded us of all too well.

Outfest Awards "Marine Story," "Bearcity" with 2010 Awards

Bryce J. Renninger — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 11:03:51 GMT

In a ceremony Sunday morning at the DGA Theater in West Hollywood, LA's LGBT Film Festival, Outfest, announced the award winners for their 28th annual fest. The ceremony, hosted by LA drag queen Momma, focused on celebrating films that uncovered stories that have not yet been told. The fest honored "A Marine Story" with three awards (Best U.S. Feature, Best Actress, and the Feature Audience Award). Ned Farr's film, a searing indictment of the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy stars Dreya Weber as a tough recently discharged servicewoman who must mentor a young woman who, in dire straits, must join the military.

The entire list of awards:

Grand Jury Awards:

US Narrative Feature: "A Marine Story," Ned Farr

Screenwriting: Douglas Langway and Lawrence Ferber, "Bearcity"

Actor in a Feature Film: Stephen Guarino, "Bearcity"

Actress in a Feature Film: Dreya Weber, "A Marine Story"

International Feature: "The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister," James Kent

Documentary Feature: "Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields," Kerthy Fix and Gail O'Hara

Narrative Short Film: "Samaratin," Magnus Mork

Documentary Short Film: "Close (Pod Bluzka)," Lucia Von Horn Pagano

Audience Awards:

First Narrative Feature: "The Four-Faced Liar," Jacob Chase

Narrative Feature: "A Marine Story," Ned Farr

Documentary Feature: "Forever's Gonna Start Tonight," Michelle Lawler

Narrative Short Film: "You Move Me," Gina Hirsch

Documentary Short Film: "I'm Just Anneke," Jonathan Skurnik

Special Programming Awards:

Freedom Award: "The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls," Leanne Pooley

Outstanding Emerging Talent: Drew Droege, ("Go Go Reject," "Fagney and Gaycey")

Outstanding Artistic Achievement: "Undertow (Contracorriente)," Javier Fuentes-Leon

Dispatch from Outfest: "Fourplay" and Jane Lynch Lead Jampacked Start

Bryce J. Renninger — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:03:31 GMT

In just a few days, Outfest, Los Angeles' LGBT Film Festival, the oldest film festival still running in the city, has succeeded in showing, that despite any doom and gloom reports in the independent film market, good queer film is still coming down the pipeline.

From the gorgeously shot "Children of God" by Kareem Mortimer to the lesbian period piece, "The Secret Diary of Miss Anne Lister" (the ladies were just gushing about it afterwards!) to Jake Yuzna's Teddy-winner "Open" (a part of the 4 in Focus here at Outfest) the narrative features programming has been widely praised. As for the docs, Andy Blubaugh's "Adults in the Room" (profiled on iW here) was formally ambitious and, for me, really paid off. Big buzz formed around Michelle Lawler's portrait of an aging drag queen, "Forever's Gonna Start Tonight," and audiences eagerly await Thursday's outdoor screening at the Ford Amphitheater of Kerthy Fix's "Le Tigre: On Tour."

The Outfest 2010 opening night film, "Howl," from prolific documentary filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, packed the Orpheum downtown fairly well. The filmmakers, who were Outfest Achievement Award honorees in 2000, are best known for their work as directors of the seminal LGBT docs "The Celluloid Closet," "The Times of Harvey Milk," and "Paragraph 175." Last night, Cheryl Dunye took the stage with her parliament of owls (or cast and crew, as the case may be) to chat about her U.S. Centerpiece film "The Owls."

"Humanizing Transgressive Sex: the "Fourplay" Series"

The team behind "Fourplay: San Francisco" waits in the line for the ladies' rest room. (L to R) Carlos Treviño, Kyle Henry, Paul Soileau, Chloe

Outfest's standout world premiere is not a feature (yet); it is the 27-minute short film "Fourplay: San Francisco," which centers on a transvestite prostitute who is hired to have sex with a paralyzed man. Though they're headed to Chicago soon, Kyle Henry and the people behind the "Fourplay" series still consider themselves Austin filmmakers. Working with a mostly Austin crew, Henry and team are in the process of finishing the four short films that make up their "Fourplay" series. Each short is set in a different U.S. city (San Francisco, Tampa, Austin, New Haven), and features a different transgressive sex act as the scene on which the characters' arcs hinge.

Henry and his partner/co-writer Carlos Treviño were inspired by stories their friends and acquaintances told them about their sexual experiences. In the San Francisco installment, the couple was delighted to create a transvestite character based on their friend, the sex-positive sex worker activist Chloe, staying away from any trans-cliché. When writing the character of Aliya (played by Paul Soileau, who moonlights as performance artist Christeene), the couple was intent not to create another asexual transvestite, so they gave Aliya a very intimate sex scene.

After gaining funding and executive producing support from Jim McKay and Michael Stipe, who saw cuts of "San Francisco," Henry and his team are finished with the second short, cutting the third, and prepping for a shoot on the fourth. Henry is releasing the four short films online via IndiePix ("San Francisco" is available today...Watch it now!) after they get a festival premiere. The unique online plan was perfect for his "hard R"/NC-17 content. His films, after all, necessitate "a minor titillating [sexually explicit] moment that is a truly meaningful turning point." Henry called the serialized release a test case for this distribution plan. He plans to recut the four together as a feature film and then hit the fest circuit. The next three stories chronicle: a straight couple engaging in public sex, a "gangbang bathroom farce," and a closeted lesbian who dog-sits for her priest and uses peanut butter to.... According to the filmmakers, Chloe is probably the only inspiration for the stories who will help them promote their film.

Outfest Honors Jane Lynch

This year's Outfest Achievement Award recipient was "Glee" star Jane Lynch. Lynch, who - in my opinion - makes a splash in every film she's in, from "Best in Show" to "Julie and Julia," "Role Models" and "A Mighty Wind," was gracious and hilarious in accepting her award from "Glee" co-star Chris Colfer and the show's director Paris Barclay on opening night. The next afternoon, in an onstage interview moderated by Variety's lead critic Peter DeBruge, Lynch detailed her career and its highs and the lows.

Starting from the time her mother told her she would never be an actress (later: "My family isn't very funny."), Lynch recounted her long road to success, which didn't come until she was in her late thirties/early forties. A role as a doctor in "The Fugitive" convinced her to move to LA, where she starred as Carol Brady in a stage show that recreated episodes of "The Brady Bunch," with embellishments ("We would make the relationships between the siblings incestuous."). As she transitioned from a sketch comedienne on stage to a Hollywood character actor, Lynch said her "best acting work was in therapy." During this period, she also learned that she didn't have to rely on "hackety hack" jokes and grab her crotch for a laugh. Before her "Glee" star shone so bright, she was most frequently noticed for her work on Christopher Guest films, work which she says requires more preparation than any of the other roles she has had, which distinguishes her from such off-the-cuff guest co-stars as Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy. As for the Sue Sylvester character? Ryan Murphy did indeed (she claims) say in the series' development meetings, "Her name will be Sue Sylvester and she will be played by Jane Lynch." Oh, and "SNL," if you call and she can work it around her "Glee" schedule, she's there.

Bryce J. Renninger, an indieWIRE contributor in the New York office, is also the shorts programmer for Newfest and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Media Studies at Rutgers University. He can be reached via Twitter.

Outfest 4 in Focus: "Contracorriente"'s Javier Fuentes-León + 3 More

Indiewire — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:27:01 GMT

Opening night for LA's LGBT Film Festival, Outfest is tonight, and to get ready, we've been profiling the four first-time filmmakers the festival is putting the spotlight on for their 4 in Focus program.

The past three days, we've profiled the following three filmmakers and films:

Adriana Magg's "Grown Up Movie Star"

"I wanted to explore oppression, forgiveness, and sexual awakenings in differences ages and states of being. Whether the awakening is ‘right’ or ‘wrong,’ it often happens exactly the same way."

Jake Yuzna's "Open"

"When I was 17 or so, I became active in the homocore scene in the Midwest. It was a place where punk and queer culture overlapped. A lot of people who didn’t fit in anywhere else found a home there. Through this I met a lot of transmen, and I began to wonder what it would be like to have a child with a transman."

Myriam Aziza's "The Evening Dress"

"When I was 12, I had a French teacher I liked a lot. I admired her and she was a good role model. I wanted to be her favourite pupil. Throughout this story, I want to deal with the question of the construction of femininity at this peculiar age, between childhood and adulthood, which had not been shown much in cinema."

Editor's Note: Earlier this summer, we profiled Outfest's fourth 4 in Focus filmmaker, Javier Fuentes-León in our FUTURES column. The following was published in that earlier FUTURES profile.

Javier Fuentes-León's "Contracorriente" ("Undertow")

Outfest screening: July 13

"The seed for the story came accidentally while I was studying," director Javier Fuentes-León told indieWIRE of his 2010 Sundance award-winning film, "Contracorriente" (Undertow). The unusual story, which opened the recent NewFest in New York and is one of 4 in focus at this year's Outfest, takes place in a small conservative seaside village in Peru. On the surface, all appears well for a fisherman and his devoted wife who are expecting their first baby. The hero is a hardworking and respected member of his community, which holds fast to rigid traditions.

There is one wrinkle - he is also devoted to his male lover. A catastrophic accident does not erase the presence of his lover, as the fisherman must now contend with the apparitions of his forbidden love and the gossip and disapproving stares of his neighbors. And it may go without saying - his wife isn't too pleased either.

"I started working on 'Undertow' in 2002 and was invited to a screenwriting lab at Outfest. There I got advice from Don Roos ("The Opposite of Sex") and John Cooper from Sundance." From there, the project took on a saga of its own, with Fuentes-León later attending the Talent Campus in Berlin, meeting German co-producers in Cologne. There was also money fundraising in France, a screenwriting workshop in Argentina, and meeting Colombian producers. Finally, he secured financing from Peru where he grew up. "They became my guardian angels really," Fuentes-León said from Los Angeles. Production began in June 2008 with principal photography taking place in November and December of that year.

The result is an entertaining and unique story. Too often, gay cinema can be one note, but "Undertow" marks a maturation for queer film and Fuentes-León is a fresh cinematic voice.

"It was amazing...," said Fuentes-León. The reaction was great and we had four screenings - two with standing ovations. And then we won the Audience Award. I hope I don't sound cliche but it was great."

Fuentes-León also felt vindicated because some had told him the supernatural aspect in the story would narrow the potential audience for "Undertow." "People said that it was a fine line. The film is gay and it has a ghost and not too many people would get it. The screenings at Sundance were a great affirmation."

Now that he has his first feature under his belt, Fuentes-León is looking to carry on with other projects, though he is still traveling to festivals around the world with "Undertow" (the film is currently showing at the Sydneay Film Festival in Australia).

"I have three different projects and they're all over the place," Fuentes-León said with laughs. "One is another love story, but it's between and man and a woman. I also have a psychological thriller set in L.A., and another one is a rock musical." The one common thread in his ideas, including "Undertow," is an element of the fantastical present. "There's a fragile realism [in my stories]. Bringing something that is real, but somehow a bit off is natural. It allows you to talk about issues that in a way is very liberating."

10 Outstanding Shorts at Outfest ‘10

Kim Adelman — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 06:55:38 GMT

With 87 short films scheduled to play Outfest 2010, culling a list consisting of only ten must-see shorts is extremely difficult due to the impressive roster put together by the fest’s programmers. Leaving off festival circuit favorites like Jenifer Malmqvist’s “Birthday” and ignoring “Howl” star James Franco’s own directorial work in “The Feast of Stephen” seem unjustifiable. But the line must be drawn somewhere, and those two shorts have already been given their fair share of attention. Here, in alphabetical order, is a sampling of ten less well-known but definitely outstanding lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender shorts screening July 8 – 18 in Los Angeles.

“Bella Maddo” - Janice Danielle directs and stars in this 14-minute crazed-mother soap opera, which has the unique hook of an all-transgendered cast playing non-transgender characters. The acting is all over the map, but that only adds to the piece’s charm. This is one film that audiences will remember long after the screening is over. “Bella Maddo” plays in the festival’s always-popular outrageous comedy shorts program, which this year is titled “From Uranus to Titicaca.”

“Broddy's Boy” – Yes, director Carl-Gustaf Nykvist is the son of Sven. But that is the least interesting thing about this fascinating 37-minute Swedish documentary about a dying yet still vibrant man reflecting back on his life, especially the lies his family fed him during childhood.

“Close (Pod Bluzka)”– In a total running time of 9 minutes, Lucia Von Horn Pagano delivers a captivating look at young love as her documentary camera focuses in on a group of Polish girls. This short also played Frameline in San Francisco last month.

“Damelo Todo (Give Me Everything)” – This 10-minute hybrid documentary/narrative piece provides an all-access look at the culture and history of a long-established Los Angeles Latino gay bar called the Silver Platter. The short is actually part of a larger piece about Latina transgender women who build community with queer performance artists at the bar, which director Wu Ingrid Tsang plans to complete by the end of the year.

“Fourplay: San Francisco” - Kyle Henry’s 27-minute drama, executive produced by Michael Stipe and Jim McKay and written by Carlos Treviño, world premieres at Outfest. The first-rate drama centers on a transvestite prostitute (Paul Soileau, excellent) who travels to Marin County to service a bed-ridden married man. This is the first of a quartet of bundled stories (the others are set in Austin, Tampa, and New Haven) that will be showcased at festivals and online throughout the coming year. In the meantime, “Fourplay: San Francisco” will be available online at IndiePix after July 13.

“Gayby” – In 12 minutes, director Jonathan Lisecki showcases two wonderful comedic performances from Jenn Harris and Matthew Wilkas as two old college buddies who come together for one night to make a baby the old fashioned way. “Gayby” played Slamdance earlier this year. Note: Matthew Wilkas also appears in another terrific short playing at Outfest, Alain Hain’s “Curious Thing."

“Gaysharktank.com” – Director Guy Shalem and his huge cast (including blink-and-you’ll-miss-him Jai Rodriquez) clearly had a good time making this 15-minute Chatroulette parody. Just when you worry that the fun concept has overstayed its welcome, Shalem quickly wraps it up. This one should definitely be an audience-pleaser.

"Public Relations” - Gianna Sobol’s accomplished 17-minute love story about two assistants working for mean bosses should play incredibly well to the industry-heavy Outfest crowd. The Lark cupcake scene alone should endear this film to local audiences. However, this short has already proved to be popular with festival goers throughout North America, having played Seattle International, Atlanta, and Inside Out Toronto.

“Samaritan” – This 29-minute drama by Norwegian helmer Magnus Mork centers around an unexpected relationship that develops between a lonely middle-aged man and an illegal immigrant worker. The dining room dance scene and the unsettling ending are just two of the many memorable moments in this film.

“You Move Me” – Natural performances from writers/stars Drae Campbell and Rebecca Drysdale make director Gina Hirsch’s breakup comedy feel like it should be a feature. After spending only 12 minutes with these two friends driving around in a U-Haul, the audience will be eager for their further adventures.

Outfest schedules the majority of its shorts into nine dedicated programs screening at the Directors Guild theater and Laemmle Sunset 5. Of the above, only “Damelo Todo” precedes a feature, the documentary “Forever's Gonna Start Tonight." Outfest, which is the oldest film festival in Los Angeles, runs July 8 - 18.

Outfest 4 in Focus: Director Adriana Magg's Canadian Childhood Revisited in "Movie Star"

Indiewire — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 11:09:09 GMT

Coming off special jury awards for acting at this year's Sundance Film Festival and Newfest, Adriana Maggs's first feature "Grown Up Movie Star," arrives at Outfest with surging buzz. Says Outfest, "Teenager Ruby dreams of following her mother to Hollywood where they will be big stars, but she's stuck in a small Canadian town with her annoying little sister, her irresponsible father and his sexually aggressive best friend. As she awakens to her power over the opposite sex, her father - a former NHL star - struggles with his long-suppressed identity. In this family dramedy about the complications of sexuality and secrets, Ruby is forced to grow up faster than she may want to, as her dad plays catch-up." [Synopsis courtesy of Outfest]

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of a collection of interviews with the filmmakers from Outfest 2010’s “Four In Focus” selection, which features work from four first time directors.

Outfest screening: July 15

Maggs on her Canadian roots and why she made "Grown Up Movie Star"...

I am a writer and director from Newfoundland, an island off the east coast of Canada.

I wanted to tell a story that was very personal, though it is not autobiographical. I wanted to explore the idea that as humans none of us are purely good or purely evil, and that one can empathize with almost every journey a person chooses, if one was privy to the incidents and secrets that lead to a person's actions. And that even if this is true, it doesn't mean we don't destroy each other completely.

I wanted to explore oppression, forgiveness, and sexual awakenings in differences ages and states of being. Whether the awakening is 'right' or 'wrong,' it often happens exactly the same way.

On directing performers and on the challenges she faced in completing the project...

I wrote the film, so i was determined to make sure that the actors understood the characters I created through and through. But of course film is a collaboration and it became very clear very quickly that the actors in the film were going to breath life into the characters that i could never have predicted. So i backed off.

The film is both funny and often dark, so I had to work really hard to balance that tone. It was cold where we were shooting, extremely cold, Northern Atlantic Ocean in February kind of cold. Sometimes it was hard to make the most gorgeous actors look sexy in all that wind and freezing rain. Wreaks havoc on makeup.

On why audiences will warm to the film, and on one film that continues to inspire her...

Audiences will find themselves in the characters. The superficial teen who wants to be a Hollywood star is as scared, and humiliated and brave as we have ever had to be. The rural dad who can't live as a straight man for one more day, despite his military father, will remind us of our deepest secrets, and our most triumphant freedoms. The paralyzed man in a wheelchair who falls in love with a precocious young girl, and actually thinks that she wants a sexual relationship with him, will evoke the delusions and impossible dreams we have all had. It is a film that reminds us that things get completely out of control one deliciously pleasurable step at a time.

"Boys Don't Cry" was a film that deeply affected me when i was younger. I loved the colors and the visuals, they reminded me of where i lived in Newfoundland, even though it was the Southern U.S.

Outfest 4 in Focus: "Open" Director Jake Yuzna On His Queer Aesthetic

Indiewire — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 05:55:58 GMT

With the distinction of being the only American film to win the feature film Teddy and an acting award for star Morty Diamond at this year's Newfest, "Open" compels wherever it plays. Says Outfest, "First-time feature director Jake Yuzna presents a beautifully shot, intense film that blurs the borders of gender and sexuality. As transwomen, Gene and Jay - inspired by artist Breyer P. Orridge (of Psychic TV fame) - alter their bodies to become a single Pandrogynous being. Syd, a young gay transman, deals with dating cisgender hipster Nick. OPEN is an uncommonly human and yet equally esoteric portrait of transgender men and women and the complexities of their relationships." [Synopsis provided by Outfest]

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of a collection of interviews with the filmmakers from Outfest 2010’s “Four In Focus” selection, which features work from four first time directors

Outfest screenings: July 11 & 14

Yuzna on the filmmaking blood pulsing through his veins...

There was never a defining moment when I decided to make cinema. That desire has always been there. Ever since I can remember. To put it simply, it's what I do. All of my other pursuits are chosen either to support the creation of new work, or the refinement and development of my own practice. I'm a bit obsessive like that.

I also come from a creative family, my mother being a poet and my uncle a director. You could say there is something in the blood.

On coming to the story for "Open"....

When I was 17 or so, I became active in the homocore scene in the Midwest. It was a place where punk and queer culture overlapped. A lot of people who didn't fit in anywhere else found a home there. Through this I met a lot of transmen, and I began to wonder what it would be like to have a child with a transman. At the same time I've always been interested in alternatives to conventional society and culture. From the situationist international to COUM transmissions. Groups and artists who are exploring other options of living and being. I wanted to create a film that showcased this diversity of humanity. Both the people who are still living in the fringes of culture, as well as those exploring new frontiers of love, sex, and identity.

Yuzna's evolution as a filmmaker...

I came out of the American film education of the early '00s. During this time I felt surrounded by my fellow students, who created works that where direct imitations of their favorite filmmakers. Looking around, one would constantly see little packs of Tarantinos, Wes Andersons, and Spike Jonzes. It seemed as if my classmates where attempting to recreate that special feeling these directors' films gave them. It just seemed like everyone was chasing this strange cinema high. That it had become a big feedback loop. Without breaking free from what has come before, a lot of the work suffered. Suffered from lacking a reason behind why it was being made. I wanted to break from this. Instead, I was interested in seeing what new possibilities still lie in the form and themes of cinema. Utilizing the medium to explore uncharted waters.

On gaining support for the film...

It may seem surprising, but we had a lot of support. From the film community, from the queer community, even from funding groups. Hell, even the National Endowment for the Arts supported us. The only real challenge was working with a small budget, but that always leads to difficulties. Then again, what independent film ever has the amount of money they would like to be working with?

On what audiences can gain from "Open"...

A new perspective. It was important for the film to showcase queer, trans, intersexed, and pandrogynous people as people. First and foremost. To not see these individuals as freaks. 'Open' was made to be a very unique film. I like to think of it as similar to the first time you kiss someone with tongue. Its a bit different. Not what you expected. But at the same time compelling, and if you're lucky, it'll open you up to all kinds of new experiences.

On influences (that aren't Tarantino, Anderson, and Jonze)...

When I first began to make "Open" I saw it as a strange love child of the work of Greg Araki and Sébastian Lifschitz. But films have their own life in a way. Like a child, you have to let them grow and find themselves. After Open was finished, I saw an influence from directors like Michael Haneke, Pasolini, Von Trier. But I am sure there is a lot of other influences floating around in there as well.

And new projects??

I don't like to talk about projects until they've already begun. It's more fun to keep it a surprise.

Outfest 4 in Focus: Myriam Aziza Uses "The Evening Dress" to Live Out School Daydreams

Indiewire — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 06:27:54 GMT

Myriam Aziza uses personal experiences to inform her widely admired debut feature, "The Evening Dress" ("La Robe du Soir"). "Like many of her male classmates, 12-year-old tomboy Juliette has a crush on Mrs. Solenska, a teacher distinguished by stylish attire and an uninhibited, provocative classroom demeanor. Juliette's fascination turns into all-consuming obsession, forcing revelations from both the girl and her teacher. A daring coming-of-age story, the film is elegantly commanded by director Myriam Aziza along with a fearless lead performance by young actor Alba Gaia Bellugi." [Synopsis courtesy of Outfest]

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of a collection of interviews with the filmmakers from Outfest 2010’s “Four In Focus” selection, which features work from four first time directors

Outfest screenings: July 11 & 17

Aziza on her filmmaking journey....

After briefly studying mathematics, I entered the film school FEMIS' filmmaking department in 1991. There, I directed three short films "Sauf le vendredi" ("Except on Fridays"), "Méprises" ("Do not lean out"), "Comme on respire" ("As I breathe") which were given awards at different festivals. After leaving school, I met Sophie Bredier and co-directed with her two documentary films about identity questions, "Nos traces silencieuses" ("Our silent traces") in 1998 and "Séparées" ("Separated") in 2001.

While pursuing different projects, two short films, "Le Pourboire" ("The tip") shot in 2000 and "L’âge de raison" ("The age of reason") in 2004, and my third documentary film "L’an prochain à Jerusalem" ("Next year in Jerusalem") in 2007, I dedicated my partner Sophie Bredier and I dedicated ourselves to writing my first full-length film, "The Evening Dress."

On coming to the story for "The Evening Dress"...

When I was 12, I had a French teacher I liked a lot. I admired her and she was a good role model. I wanted to be her favourite pupil. Throughout this story, I want to deal with the question of the construction of femininity at this peculiar age, between childhood and adulthood, which had not been shown much in cinema. We usually see stories about teenagers, 15 or 16 years old. Mrs. Solenska represents the picture of the inaccessible adult woman, a picture of a perfect and idealized woman, which contrasts with the very common and austere picture of the story's mother.

I also wanted to say something about the power a teacher can have on pupils when the line between education and seduction becomes blurred. More or less, some teachers play with it in order to fill a narcissistic wound. Their class is their theatre stage and the pupils their best audience, but they don’t always realize the impact this has on students. Throughout this story, I wanted to do a portrait of two lonelinesses: the child’s one which is filled by imagination and the adult’s one which takes refuge in the positive picture sent by the pupils.

I was interested by taking the point of view of Juliette, by being in her mind. We must guess and share her emotions by staying constantly with her point of view and we must feel like her even when she gets out of control or she betrays or she denounces. We see how much her feelings compel her to act out. The unbounded imagination of Juliette is the main dynamic of the story.

I tried to show what she feels thanks to pictures and a work on sensations. Beauty, colours and love are missing to Juliette and these lacks express themselves more on the body than in the mind. Her fantasies are based on the imagination and this imagination takes in the reality to build itself : a dress, a colour, a smell …

On artistic choices....

I wanted light, sunshine, bright colours, heat which contrast and emphasize the loneliness and her pain. I chose to film in cinemascope because this format anchors the movie in the fiction. Paradoxically it allows to materialize in the picture the emptiness around Juliette. For this film, I wanted the direction to be in the service of the story and of the emotion. The sobriety allows her to highlight the emotional strength.

During the writing and the preparation of the film, I thought a lot about two films : "Misunderstood" from Luigi Comencini and "The 400 blows" from François Truffaut. In those two films we are always in the child’s point of view, and Comencini and Truffaut express something very strong about loneliness of childhood. I was also very inspired by the directing of Terry Zwigoff’s "Ghost World" and Kubrick’s "The Shining."

And now...

I’m presently writing the script for my next feature film “Coming In," a comedy about a Jewish young woman shared between a woman and a black Muslim man. It’s a reflection about communities, sexual and religious identities.

Outfest Lets 2010 Lineup Out of the Closet

Bryce J. Renninger — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 10:49:33 GMT

J.B. Ghuman, Jr.'s gender-bending high school dance comedy "Spork" will join previously announced opening night film "Howl" in bookending Outfest 2010: The 28th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. In addition to "Spork" as the fest's closing night film, Outfest has just revealed two other gala screenings: Cheryl Dunye's ("The Watermelon Woman") thriller/doc hybrid "The Owls" and Javier Fuentes-León "Undertow (Contracorriente)." Fuentes-León is also a fellow of Outfest's Screenwriting Lab. The fest, LA's oldest, will run from July 8 through July 18. Over the eleven days of the festival, Outfest will screen 147 films from 23 countries and host panels and events across the city. For the complete lineup, check out the Outfest website here.

As was previously announced, "Glee" star Jane Lynch will receive Outfest Achievement Award this year. "Glee" cast member Chris Colfer and director Paris Barclay will present the honor to Lynch on opening night. The Outfest Legacy Project for LGBT Film Preservation will be presenting five films introduced by five filmmakers, musicians, and journalists as a tribute to LGBT film classics: “Clueless,” “Hustler White,” “Mädchen in Uniform,” “Out of the Shadows/Sign of Protest” and “Macho Dancer.” A special series of films will also screen in honor of West Hollywood's 25th anniversary as an incorporated city. These include: “The Broken Hearts Club,” “An Ordinary Couple,” “Is It Just Me?” and “Out of the Shadows.” Outfest will also be spotlighting four films from first-time feature directors who are bound for big things in their 4 in Focus Series. Included in this list are: Myriam Aziza’s “The Evening Dress (La Robe Du Soir),” Javier Fuentes-León’s “Undertow (Contracorriente),” Adriana Maggs’ “Grown Up Movie Star” and Jake Yuzna’s “Open.”

Speaking on this year's lineup, Outfest Executive Director Kirsten Schaffer said, "This year’s incredible line-up celebrates all of the forward-thinking artists that push the boundaries for LGBT rights and equality. From Allen Ginsberg’s quest for personal and artistic liberation to stories that challenge the status quo in the age of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and gay marriage bans, this inspiring collection of films is sure to impact both gay and straight audiences.” Kim Yutani, the fest's Director of Programming noted, ""The Outfest 2010 program showcases the work of veteran filmmakers and first-timers whose voices and stories are vital to the LGBT community. Whether it's brand new feature films, the stellar short film program or our retrospective screenings, these are some of the most exciting voices - from both the past and present - in what will certainly be a dynamic 11-days of Outfest."

Complete Lineup of Feature Films:

Opening Night Gala – “HOWL,” Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman (July 8 at 8:00pm – Orpheum Theatre)

Closing Night Gala – “Spork,” J.B. Ghuman, Jr. (July 18 at 8:00pm – Ford Theatre)

U.S. Dramatic Centerpiece – “The Owls,” Cheryl Dunye (July 12 at 8:00pm – DGA 1)

International Dramatic Centerpiece – “Undertow (Contracorriente),” Javier Fuentes-León (July 13 at 8:00pm – DGA 1)

U.S. Dramatic Features
"BearCity," Doug Langway
"Bloomington," Fernanda Cardoso
"Earthling," Clay Liford
"Elena Undone," Nicole Conn
"The Four-Faced Liar," Jacob Chase
"A Marine Story," Ned Farr
"Is It Just Me?," JC Calciano
"My Normal," Irving Schwartz
"Leading Ladies," Daniel Beahm & Erika Randall Beahm
"Open," Jake Yuzna
"Role/Play," Rob Williams
"Violet Tendencies," Casper Andreas
"Stuck!," Steve Balderson
"We Have To Stop Now," Robyn Dettman

International Dramatic Features
"Children of God," Kareem Mortimer
"Fit," Rikki Beadle-Blair
"The Evening Dress," Myriam Aziza
"From Beginning to End," Aluisio Abranches
"Grown Up Movie Star," Adriana Maggs
"The Last Summer of Boyita," Julia Solomonoff
"Hideaway," Francois Ozon
"Light Gradient," Jan Kruger
"I Killed My Mother," Xavier Dolan
"Paulista," Roberto Moreira
"Plan B," Marco Berger
"The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister," James Kent
"The Purple Sea," Donatella Maiorca
"Spring Fever," Ye Lou
"Sasha," Dennis Todorovic
"The String," Mehdi Ben Attia

Documentary Features
"The Adults in the Room," Andy Blubaugh
"Bisexual Revolution," Eric Wastiaux & Laure Michel
"Bear Nation," Malcolm Ingram
"Florent: Queen of the Meat Market," David Sigal
"Forever’s Gonna Start Tonight," Michelle Lawler
"Le Tigre: On Tour," Kerthy Fix
"Gay Days," Yair Qedar
"An Ordinary Couple," Jay Gianukos & Susan Barnes
"Hooters!," Anna Margarita Albelo
"The Other City," Susan Koch
"Other Nature," Nani Sahra Walker
"Postcard To Daddy," Michael Stock
"Out in the Silence," Dean Hamer & Joe Wilson
"Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields," Kerthy Fix & Gail O’Hara
"Out of Annapolis," Steve Clark Hall
"The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls," Leanne Pooley

Outfest Gets a "HOWL"ing Opener

Brian Brooks — Mon, 03 May 2010 10:35:03 GMT

Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman's Allen Ginsberg-inspired "Howl" will open the 28th Outfest, the Los Angeles LGBT film festival at the Orpheum Theatre on July 8th in Downtown LA.

Starring James Franco, David Strathairn, Jon Hamm, Mary-Louise Parker and Jeff Daniels, "Howl," is the story of how a young Ginsberg's seminal work broke down societal barriers in the face of an infamous public obscenity trial. In his famously confessional style, Ginsberg - poet, counter-culture icon, and chronicler of the Beat Generation - recounts the road trips, love affairs, and search for personal liberation that led to "Howl," the most timeless work of his career.

Three interwoven stories - the unfolding of a landmark 1957 censorship trial; the revelations of a renegade artist breaking down barriers to find love and redemption; and an imaginative ride through a prophetic masterpiece that rocked a generation - come to life in a genre-defying feature film that is at once a legal drama, a character study and an animated trip into the magic and madness of the modern world.

"We've had the pleasure of showcasing Rob and Jeffrey's excellent work over the years, and we are proud to continue this relationship and collaborate with such distinguished and visionary filmmakers," said Outfest Executive Director Kirsten Schaffer in a statement.

"The film reminds us of the influence of Allen Ginsberg's groundbreaking work, and eloquently tells the story of an artist who challenged the status quo on a personal and artistic level. By selecting 'Howl' as our opening night, we believe that it will set the tone for this year's festival and celebrate all of the forward-thinking artists that will be part of our exciting line-up," added Kim Yutani, Director of Programming.

The film is produced by Elizabeth Redleaf and Christine Kunewa Walker for Werc Werk Works and executive produced by Gus Van Sant and Jawal Nga.

"Howl" screened opening night at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival in January and also played at the 2010 Berlinale in February. Oscilloscope Laboratories will release "Howl" in theaters and VOD on September 24, 2010.

As previously announced, Jane Lynch will receive this year's Outfest Achievement Award. Fellow Glee cast member Chris Colfer who plays gay high school student Kurt Hummel will present the award to Jane prior to the Opening Night Gala. Outfest, which takes place July 8 - 18, will unveil its complete line up June 2nd.

Outfest Announces 7th LGBT People of Color Fusion Fest

Bryce J. Renninger — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:11:43 GMT

Outfest, LA's premiere LGBT media showcase, has announced the lineup for Fusion: the Los Angeles LGBT People of Color Film Festival. The festival, now in its seventh year, will run from March 11-13, with events held at NBCUniversal and Hollywood's Egyptian Theater. The festival will screen two short programs, a Legacy screening of "Portrait of Jason," and a Gala screening of Quentin Lee's "The People I've Slept With."

Wilson Cruz, who stars in "The People I've Slept With" and is best known for his role as Ricky on "My So-Called Life" will receive the 2010 Fusion Achievement Award. In a statement, Outfest noted, "Through his activism and art, Cruz is a role model of courage and honesty who inspires those within and outside the LGBT community." The festival will also be accompanied with Access LA -- a series of workshops meant to help emerging filmmakers break into the TV, film, and new media industries.

For more information and a complete schedule, visit the Fusion website here.