Outfest — the long-running Los Angeles Lgtbq focused film festival — continues to face setbacks, announcing Thursday that it will be scaling back operations, issuing leaves for its staff and postponing the Legacy Awards, its gala fundraiser.
According to a statement from the Board of Directors provided to The Hollywood Reporter, the changes come due to “the financial climate of the media and entertainment industry.”
The news of the current cuts comes several weeks after the staff of the nonprofit announced plans to unionize. “To succeed in our mission to build a more just and equitable film industry, we must first build that for our organization,” read the note to the Board of Directors from staffers, asking for voluntary recognition of the union. Two days later it was announced that five of Outfest’s 12 employees, all of whom voted to unionize, were notified Thursday that they had been laid off. Additionally, executive...
According to a statement from the Board of Directors provided to The Hollywood Reporter, the changes come due to “the financial climate of the media and entertainment industry.”
The news of the current cuts comes several weeks after the staff of the nonprofit announced plans to unionize. “To succeed in our mission to build a more just and equitable film industry, we must first build that for our organization,” read the note to the Board of Directors from staffers, asking for voluntary recognition of the union. Two days later it was announced that five of Outfest’s 12 employees, all of whom voted to unionize, were notified Thursday that they had been laid off. Additionally, executive...
- 10/13/2023
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Lgbtqia+ arts and entertainment organization Outfest has announced the postponement of the Legacy Awards to 2024 and the suspension of programming, citing struggles amid the current “financial climate” of Hollywood.
Outfest’s board of directors released a statement on the decision.
“To ensure that Outfest endures and thrives for the next 40 years in its core mission to champion Lgbtqia+ storytellers and create opportunities, the Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to scale back our operations for the next several months,” reads the statement.
Most of the organization’s staff will have to go on leave while it pauses programming.
The message continues, “Like other nonprofit organizations, Outfest has been severely impacted by the financial climate of the media and entertainment industry. This means the organization will unfortunately also have to initiate leaves for the majority of our staff, while we humbly focus on creating a financial model that...
Outfest’s board of directors released a statement on the decision.
“To ensure that Outfest endures and thrives for the next 40 years in its core mission to champion Lgbtqia+ storytellers and create opportunities, the Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to scale back our operations for the next several months,” reads the statement.
Most of the organization’s staff will have to go on leave while it pauses programming.
The message continues, “Like other nonprofit organizations, Outfest has been severely impacted by the financial climate of the media and entertainment industry. This means the organization will unfortunately also have to initiate leaves for the majority of our staff, while we humbly focus on creating a financial model that...
- 10/13/2023
- by Jaden Thompson
- Variety Film + TV
Outfest’s board of directors says it voted to recognize its employee union a day after it laid off nearly half of the workers that had pushed for the effort.
The vote took place on Friday during a special session and the film festival nonprofit’s new acting executive director, Zackery Alexander Stephens described it as an enthusiastic approval. “Several board members and I are proud union members,” said Stephens in a statement issued Friday afternoon. “This organization would not be possible without the support of labor unions. This recognition is a powerful promise to continue to support and uplift Outfest staff members and those who will join the organization well into the future.”
Outfest board co-president Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey confirmed the special session, adding, “We appreciate the staff’s patience in providing us the time needed to schedule a vote with quorum. Our board and our organization are pro-union...
The vote took place on Friday during a special session and the film festival nonprofit’s new acting executive director, Zackery Alexander Stephens described it as an enthusiastic approval. “Several board members and I are proud union members,” said Stephens in a statement issued Friday afternoon. “This organization would not be possible without the support of labor unions. This recognition is a powerful promise to continue to support and uplift Outfest staff members and those who will join the organization well into the future.”
Outfest board co-president Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey confirmed the special session, adding, “We appreciate the staff’s patience in providing us the time needed to schedule a vote with quorum. Our board and our organization are pro-union...
- 9/29/2023
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Update 4:30 Pm Et Sept. 29: Outfest’s board of directors has informed Queer Filmmakers United (Qfu), the group of employees that this week voted to unionize, that it will voluntarily recognize the new union, avoiding a formal election with the National Labor Relations Board.
The news follows the organization laying off five staff members, all of whom were part of Qfu, two days after they had announced their intention to unionize. The layoffs are still in effect.
Outfest is maintaining that the staff reductions are due to “financial hardship” and that the non-profit will have other temporary reductions to programs, administration, and staff.
“I am proud to report that Outfest’s Board of Directors has enthusiastically voted today to recognize Queer Filmworkers United as a union representing our staff. Several Board members and I are proud union members,” said acting executive director Zackery Alexander Stephens. “This organization would not...
The news follows the organization laying off five staff members, all of whom were part of Qfu, two days after they had announced their intention to unionize. The layoffs are still in effect.
Outfest is maintaining that the staff reductions are due to “financial hardship” and that the non-profit will have other temporary reductions to programs, administration, and staff.
“I am proud to report that Outfest’s Board of Directors has enthusiastically voted today to recognize Queer Filmworkers United as a union representing our staff. Several Board members and I are proud union members,” said acting executive director Zackery Alexander Stephens. “This organization would not...
- 9/29/2023
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Outfest is facing turbulent times.
The Los Angeles LGBTQ film festival, which was founded in 1982 and has grown into one of the country’s leading queer festivals, is experiencing upheaval in its ranks as executive director Damien Navarro is stepping aside for a “minimum” 45-day leave of absence.
Separately, five staffers were notified Thursday that they have been laid off, effective Friday. The five staffers were part of a larger coalition of 12 Outfest employees who had notified Navarro and Outfest board members just two days ago of an intention to unionize following a majority vote in partnership with the Communications Workers of America (Cwa) Local 9003.
In an email obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, the staffers offered a request for voluntary recognition of Queer Filmworkers United. The email, signed “in solidarity” by the dozen staffers, confirmed the group’s passion for the festival’s mission of paving “the way to a...
The Los Angeles LGBTQ film festival, which was founded in 1982 and has grown into one of the country’s leading queer festivals, is experiencing upheaval in its ranks as executive director Damien Navarro is stepping aside for a “minimum” 45-day leave of absence.
Separately, five staffers were notified Thursday that they have been laid off, effective Friday. The five staffers were part of a larger coalition of 12 Outfest employees who had notified Navarro and Outfest board members just two days ago of an intention to unionize following a majority vote in partnership with the Communications Workers of America (Cwa) Local 9003.
In an email obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, the staffers offered a request for voluntary recognition of Queer Filmworkers United. The email, signed “in solidarity” by the dozen staffers, confirmed the group’s passion for the festival’s mission of paving “the way to a...
- 9/29/2023
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The staff of Outfest — the LGBTQ+ Los Angeles-based film festival — has announced plans to unionize, asking for voluntary recognition from the nonprofit’s management on Tuesday.
The organizers are seeking to include 11 staff members across the organization whose designations fall below the Associate Director level, according to organizers, with a recent card count being described as “near-unanimous” in favor of unionizing. The group is attempting to join the Communications Workers of America Local 9003.
The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Outfest for a comment.
Today’s announcement notes that the hopeful Outfest union, which is being pursued under the name Queer Filmworkers United, is the third LA-based film nonprofit to unionize. The Academy Foundation Workers Union and Documentary Workers United at the International Documentary Association have already successfully mounted unionization campaigns, with the latter having ratified its first contract this summer.
Queer Filmworkers United’s mission statement was forwarded to...
The organizers are seeking to include 11 staff members across the organization whose designations fall below the Associate Director level, according to organizers, with a recent card count being described as “near-unanimous” in favor of unionizing. The group is attempting to join the Communications Workers of America Local 9003.
The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Outfest for a comment.
Today’s announcement notes that the hopeful Outfest union, which is being pursued under the name Queer Filmworkers United, is the third LA-based film nonprofit to unionize. The Academy Foundation Workers Union and Documentary Workers United at the International Documentary Association have already successfully mounted unionization campaigns, with the latter having ratified its first contract this summer.
Queer Filmworkers United’s mission statement was forwarded to...
- 9/26/2023
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Workers at Outfest, the Lgbtqia+ non-profit arts organization known for its annual Outfest Los Angeles film festival, have announced their intention to unionize with the Communications Workers of America (Cwa).
A nearly unanimous group of 12 Outfest employees eligible for union representation voted this weekend to be recognized as an organized labor body by management under the name Queer Filmworkers United (Qfu), Cwa Local 9003.
As part of the Qfu’s mission statement, the group wants a better work-life balance; regulations that protect from “scope creep,” in which other job responsibilities seep into their own; seasonal staff to help run the many additional events thrown each year; higher wages to meet the cost of living in Los Angeles; and more say in budget decisions and organizational vision.
“We are dedicated to making the mission of our organization a reality, which is why we are
forming a union — to strengthen it,” said a...
A nearly unanimous group of 12 Outfest employees eligible for union representation voted this weekend to be recognized as an organized labor body by management under the name Queer Filmworkers United (Qfu), Cwa Local 9003.
As part of the Qfu’s mission statement, the group wants a better work-life balance; regulations that protect from “scope creep,” in which other job responsibilities seep into their own; seasonal staff to help run the many additional events thrown each year; higher wages to meet the cost of living in Los Angeles; and more say in budget decisions and organizational vision.
“We are dedicated to making the mission of our organization a reality, which is why we are
forming a union — to strengthen it,” said a...
- 9/26/2023
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
John Waters was delighted that he’s “closer to the gutter than ever” as his name was added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday.
In his acceptance speech, Waters said that the Walk of Fame was the first landmark he saw when he got to Los Angeles.
“After driving across the country with David Locke, I got out of my vehicle in 1970 at Hollywood and Vine, darted across the street and got a jaywalking ticket,” he recalled. “The first one — and I never looked back.”
Waters’ star is located outside of the Larry Edmunds Bookshop on Hollywood Blvd. and N. Cherokee Ave. Waters said bookstore, which specializes in literature about film and showbiz history, is his favorite spot on the famous street.
The Walk of Fame event, which was sponsored by Outfest, came alongside the newly opened Academy Museum exhibit “John Waters: Pope of Trash,” which looks back...
In his acceptance speech, Waters said that the Walk of Fame was the first landmark he saw when he got to Los Angeles.
“After driving across the country with David Locke, I got out of my vehicle in 1970 at Hollywood and Vine, darted across the street and got a jaywalking ticket,” he recalled. “The first one — and I never looked back.”
Waters’ star is located outside of the Larry Edmunds Bookshop on Hollywood Blvd. and N. Cherokee Ave. Waters said bookstore, which specializes in literature about film and showbiz history, is his favorite spot on the famous street.
The Walk of Fame event, which was sponsored by Outfest, came alongside the newly opened Academy Museum exhibit “John Waters: Pope of Trash,” which looks back...
- 9/19/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has been set to receive Outfest’s inaugural Achievement Award for Press and Media, the L.A.-based nonprofit’s highest honor, celebrating representation of the LGBTQ+ community in the media.
While she’ll be officially recognized with the honor during the Closing Night of the 41st Outfest Los Angeles Summer Festival this Sunday, July 23rd, a source close to Jean-Pierre clarifies that she will not be present in person at the ceremony amidst the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. She’ll instead have a statement read at the event, underlining her belief in the importance of fair pay and benefits for these creatives.
The news comes shortly after the announcement that Jean-Pierre’s fellow Outfest honorees Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone have backed out of attending the festival to pick up their James Schamus Ally Award, recognizing their support and advocacy for the Lgbtqia+ community,...
While she’ll be officially recognized with the honor during the Closing Night of the 41st Outfest Los Angeles Summer Festival this Sunday, July 23rd, a source close to Jean-Pierre clarifies that she will not be present in person at the ceremony amidst the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. She’ll instead have a statement read at the event, underlining her belief in the importance of fair pay and benefits for these creatives.
The news comes shortly after the announcement that Jean-Pierre’s fellow Outfest honorees Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone have backed out of attending the festival to pick up their James Schamus Ally Award, recognizing their support and advocacy for the Lgbtqia+ community,...
- 7/21/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone have scotched plans to pick up a prestigious honor at Outfest, the Los Angeles Lgbtqia+ film festival, and it’s all down to the actors strike.
The Hollywood couple were to have accepted the James Schamus Ally Award at Outfest’s closing night on Sunday but cancelled because of the SAG-AFTRA walkout. The award, named for the co-founder and former CEO of Focus Features, recognizes McCarthy and Falcone’s support and advocacy for the Lgbtqia+ community.
“We understand that Melissa and Ben are unable to join us for our closing night due to the strike,” Outfest Executive Director Damien Navarro said in a statement. “We will miss them, as our closing night will be a wonderful celebration of our community.”
The festival wraps with a gala event at the Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood, featuring a screening of Chasing Chasing Amy, a documentary that...
The Hollywood couple were to have accepted the James Schamus Ally Award at Outfest’s closing night on Sunday but cancelled because of the SAG-AFTRA walkout. The award, named for the co-founder and former CEO of Focus Features, recognizes McCarthy and Falcone’s support and advocacy for the Lgbtqia+ community.
“We understand that Melissa and Ben are unable to join us for our closing night due to the strike,” Outfest Executive Director Damien Navarro said in a statement. “We will miss them, as our closing night will be a wonderful celebration of our community.”
The festival wraps with a gala event at the Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood, featuring a screening of Chasing Chasing Amy, a documentary that...
- 7/21/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s been quite a week for filmmaker Andrew Ahn.
On Wednesday, his Hulu film Fire Island earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Television Movie, and on Thursday night at the opening of Outfest he received the Lgbtqia+ festival’s Outfest Achievement Award, recognizing a body of work that includes Fire Island, Driveways (2019), and Spa Night (2016).
The festival called Ahn “a beloved member of the Outfest family” and “a champion of promoting diversity in the arts by mentoring youth filmmakers through programs like our OutSet program, among many others.”
“It’s cool,” Ahn told Deadline of the Outfest honor. “It feels a little early in my career. I legit tried to turn it down when [Outfest director of programming] Mike Dougherty emailed me about it, but they were very supportive and effusive that this was my time. I’m so thankful because Outfest was a big part of my coming of age as a filmmaker.
On Wednesday, his Hulu film Fire Island earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Television Movie, and on Thursday night at the opening of Outfest he received the Lgbtqia+ festival’s Outfest Achievement Award, recognizing a body of work that includes Fire Island, Driveways (2019), and Spa Night (2016).
The festival called Ahn “a beloved member of the Outfest family” and “a champion of promoting diversity in the arts by mentoring youth filmmakers through programs like our OutSet program, among many others.”
“It’s cool,” Ahn told Deadline of the Outfest honor. “It feels a little early in my career. I legit tried to turn it down when [Outfest director of programming] Mike Dougherty emailed me about it, but they were very supportive and effusive that this was my time. I’m so thankful because Outfest was a big part of my coming of age as a filmmaker.
- 7/14/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Updated with more quotes on actors strike and AI from original 7/14 story: The 41st edition of Outfest is underway in Los Angeles after an opening-night event dominated by talk of the actors strike.
“Let’s also acknowledge the elephant in the room,” Outfest Executive Director Damien Navarro said as he welcomed the festival crowd at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown L.A. “We are living in uncertain times where the very foundation of our industry is being shaken. Actors, writers and creators are facing immense challenges… I want to extend an even deeper and unwavering commitment to every artist and creator in our community who is grappling with the same fears and uncertainties.”
The Lgbtqia+ festival, which runs from July 13-23, kicked off with the narrative feature Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, a drama about two high school boys in Texas and their friendship that develops into a romance.
“Let’s also acknowledge the elephant in the room,” Outfest Executive Director Damien Navarro said as he welcomed the festival crowd at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown L.A. “We are living in uncertain times where the very foundation of our industry is being shaken. Actors, writers and creators are facing immense challenges… I want to extend an even deeper and unwavering commitment to every artist and creator in our community who is grappling with the same fears and uncertainties.”
The Lgbtqia+ festival, which runs from July 13-23, kicked off with the narrative feature Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, a drama about two high school boys in Texas and their friendship that develops into a romance.
- 7/14/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 7 winner Violet Chachki will honored with the Cultural Icon Award at Tom of Finland Foundation’s 30th annual Tom’s Bar fundraiser. Dita Von Teese will present the award.
“Mean Girls” movie musical and “Looking” star Daniel Franzese emcees.
The all-day festivities take place June 18 at The Avalon & Bardot Hollywood in Los Angeles. The theme for this year’s bash is “All roads lead to Tom.” “Tom’s Bar is a place where all corners of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies converge for a big party under one roof,” ToFF creative director Richard Villani said in a statement. “Leathermen, pups, kinksters and fetishists of all stripes are welcome to dance and party all day long.”
The 2022 honoree was musician Orville Peck. See more Pride event news below.
Outfest Announces Opening and Closing Night Films
The opening night film for this year’s Outfest will be...
“Mean Girls” movie musical and “Looking” star Daniel Franzese emcees.
The all-day festivities take place June 18 at The Avalon & Bardot Hollywood in Los Angeles. The theme for this year’s bash is “All roads lead to Tom.” “Tom’s Bar is a place where all corners of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies converge for a big party under one roof,” ToFF creative director Richard Villani said in a statement. “Leathermen, pups, kinksters and fetishists of all stripes are welcome to dance and party all day long.”
The 2022 honoree was musician Orville Peck. See more Pride event news below.
Outfest Announces Opening and Closing Night Films
The opening night film for this year’s Outfest will be...
- 6/6/2023
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe to open, Chasing Chasing Amy to close Los Angeles fest.
For the first time features by trans filmmakers will bookend Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival (July 13-23), with opener Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe and closing selection Chasing Chasing Amy.
Both Aitch Alberto and Sav Rodgers are alumni of Outfest’s artist development programmes. Alberto took part in the Outfest Screenwriting Lab in 2007 and has returned to mentor young filmmakers in Outfest’s programmes.
Rodgers is an alum of both OutSet – Outfest’s filmmaking lab and...
For the first time features by trans filmmakers will bookend Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival (July 13-23), with opener Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe and closing selection Chasing Chasing Amy.
Both Aitch Alberto and Sav Rodgers are alumni of Outfest’s artist development programmes. Alberto took part in the Outfest Screenwriting Lab in 2007 and has returned to mentor young filmmakers in Outfest’s programmes.
Rodgers is an alum of both OutSet – Outfest’s filmmaking lab and...
- 6/6/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Outfest has lined up its opening and closing night films.
The Los Angeles LGBTQ film festival — scheduled for July 13-23 and presented by Warner Bros. Discovery and Genesis Motor America — will open with Aitch Alberto’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe at the Orpheum Theatre and close with Sav Rodgers’ Chasing Chasing Amy at the Montalbán Theatre.
The selections mark the first time in the fest’s history that both the opening and closing night films come from trans filmmakers. Furthermore, both Alberto and Rodgers hail from Outfest’s artist development programs. Alberto participated in the Outfest screenwriting lab in 2007 and has since served as a mentor to young filmmakers in Outfest programs, while Rodgers participated in Outfest’s OutSet filmmaking lab and mentorship program as well as the screenwriting lab in 2021.
Based on Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s young adult novel, Aristotle and Dante Discover the...
The Los Angeles LGBTQ film festival — scheduled for July 13-23 and presented by Warner Bros. Discovery and Genesis Motor America — will open with Aitch Alberto’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe at the Orpheum Theatre and close with Sav Rodgers’ Chasing Chasing Amy at the Montalbán Theatre.
The selections mark the first time in the fest’s history that both the opening and closing night films come from trans filmmakers. Furthermore, both Alberto and Rodgers hail from Outfest’s artist development programs. Alberto participated in the Outfest screenwriting lab in 2007 and has since served as a mentor to young filmmakers in Outfest programs, while Rodgers participated in Outfest’s OutSet filmmaking lab and mentorship program as well as the screenwriting lab in 2021.
Based on Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s young adult novel, Aristotle and Dante Discover the...
- 6/6/2023
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Today, Outfest announced the Opening and Closing Night gala film selections for the 41st edition of the Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival, taking place from July 13 – 23 in Los Angeles, presented by Warner Bros. Discovery and Genesis Motor America. The festival will open with Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, directed by Aitch Alberto, and the 11-day event will close with Chasing Chasing Amy, directed by Sav Rodgers. The Opening Night Gala will screen at the Orpheum Theatre, with the Closing Night Gala screening at The Montalbán Theatre.
This marks the first time in Outfest’s history that both Opening and Closing night will feature films made by trans artists, underlining the deep roster of trans, non-binary, and intersex talent working in the entertainment industry as well as the diversity of trans storytelling at this moment in history. These events also represent a homecoming for both Alberto and Rodgers,...
This marks the first time in Outfest’s history that both Opening and Closing night will feature films made by trans artists, underlining the deep roster of trans, non-binary, and intersex talent working in the entertainment industry as well as the diversity of trans storytelling at this moment in history. These events also represent a homecoming for both Alberto and Rodgers,...
- 6/6/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Outfest has today unveiled the lineup for the third edition of its LGBTQ+ TV festival Outfronts, a four-day virtual gathering to take place this year from June 2-5.
The lineup for the festival, aiming to highlight the diverse representation of LGBTQ+ characters on screen, includes panels with the stars of Fox’s 9-1-1: Lone Star, Max’s Our Flag Means Death and Prime Video’s With Love, as well as the creators and cast of both Somebody Somewhere (HBO) and The Other Two (Max), and the writer-director and stars of NBC’s Quantum Leap revival, who discuss its episode “Let Them Play.” Also to be highlighted is a talk with Raina Deerwater, one of the architects of GLAAD’s 2022-2023 Where We Are On TV report, as well as Ian Carlos Crawford and Monica Monroe, about the future of Lgbtqia+ representation in television.
Panels will be available...
The lineup for the festival, aiming to highlight the diverse representation of LGBTQ+ characters on screen, includes panels with the stars of Fox’s 9-1-1: Lone Star, Max’s Our Flag Means Death and Prime Video’s With Love, as well as the creators and cast of both Somebody Somewhere (HBO) and The Other Two (Max), and the writer-director and stars of NBC’s Quantum Leap revival, who discuss its episode “Let Them Play.” Also to be highlighted is a talk with Raina Deerwater, one of the architects of GLAAD’s 2022-2023 Where We Are On TV report, as well as Ian Carlos Crawford and Monica Monroe, about the future of Lgbtqia+ representation in television.
Panels will be available...
- 5/25/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including red carpets for Air, Renfield, Beef, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and Murder Mystery 2.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves premiere
Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Sophia Lillis, Justice Smith, Hugh Grant, Daisy Head and co-directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley walked the carpet at Sunday’s L.A. premiere of their Dungeons & Dragons flick.
Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Sophia Lillis, Justice Smith, Daisy Head, Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, Regé-Jean Page and Jeremy Latcham Chris Pine, Paramount Pictures president and CEO Brian Robbins, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein
Air premiere
After first debuting at SXSW, Ben Affleck and his cast of Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina and Chris Tucker brought their Nike film to Los Angeles on Monday.
Marlon Wayans,...
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves premiere
Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Sophia Lillis, Justice Smith, Hugh Grant, Daisy Head and co-directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley walked the carpet at Sunday’s L.A. premiere of their Dungeons & Dragons flick.
Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Sophia Lillis, Justice Smith, Daisy Head, Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, Regé-Jean Page and Jeremy Latcham Chris Pine, Paramount Pictures president and CEO Brian Robbins, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein
Air premiere
After first debuting at SXSW, Ben Affleck and his cast of Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina and Chris Tucker brought their Nike film to Los Angeles on Monday.
Marlon Wayans,...
- 3/31/2023
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Outfest Fusion, LA nonprofit Outfest‘s film festival dedicated to queer Bipoc storytelling, has unveiled the full lineup of films for its 20th anniversary festival.
10 features, 93 short films, and four TV presentations will screen during the March festival in Los Angeles, including Sundance documentaries “Little Richard: I Am Everything” and “The Stroll.” Documentary “Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn,” produced by Xpedition and Al Roker, and featuring Lee Daniels, will make its North American premiere during the festival; in total, 23 films will make world premieres, five will make their U.S. premiere, four their international premieres, and three their North American premieres. Over half of all films were directed by women, non-binary, two spirit, or gender-nonconforming filmmakers.
“We are at a moment where our industry is ready to have an honest dialogue about inclusion, investment and representation of people of color and yet our entire LGBTQ+ population is facing a...
10 features, 93 short films, and four TV presentations will screen during the March festival in Los Angeles, including Sundance documentaries “Little Richard: I Am Everything” and “The Stroll.” Documentary “Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn,” produced by Xpedition and Al Roker, and featuring Lee Daniels, will make its North American premiere during the festival; in total, 23 films will make world premieres, five will make their U.S. premiere, four their international premieres, and three their North American premieres. Over half of all films were directed by women, non-binary, two spirit, or gender-nonconforming filmmakers.
“We are at a moment where our industry is ready to have an honest dialogue about inclusion, investment and representation of people of color and yet our entire LGBTQ+ population is facing a...
- 3/15/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Outfest is gearing up for the 20th anniversary of its Outfest Fusion Qtbipoc Film Festival.
The organization revealed on Tuesday the lineup of films that will screen during the 10-day festival as well as the news that The Inspection filmmaker Elegance Bratton has been selected to receive the Fusion Achievement Award at the opening night gala on March 24.
The honor recognizes “an individual who has made a significant contribution to LGBTQ+ visibility in stories, arts and media,” per Outfest. Bratton has been making the rounds as of late for A24’s The Inspection starring Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union. Inspired by his own story, The Inspection follows a gay Black man who is rejected by his mother and left with few options for his future. He then decides to join the Marines where he finds unexpected camaraderie, strength and support in this new community, giving him a hard-earned sense of...
The organization revealed on Tuesday the lineup of films that will screen during the 10-day festival as well as the news that The Inspection filmmaker Elegance Bratton has been selected to receive the Fusion Achievement Award at the opening night gala on March 24.
The honor recognizes “an individual who has made a significant contribution to LGBTQ+ visibility in stories, arts and media,” per Outfest. Bratton has been making the rounds as of late for A24’s The Inspection starring Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union. Inspired by his own story, The Inspection follows a gay Black man who is rejected by his mother and left with few options for his future. He then decides to join the Marines where he finds unexpected camaraderie, strength and support in this new community, giving him a hard-earned sense of...
- 3/7/2023
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Outfest has announced its feature lineup for its 2023 Outfest Fusion Qtbipoc Film Festival, which will run from March 24 through April 2.
Outfest Fusion will be celebrating its 20th anniversary by showcasing Lgbtqia+ filmmakers and their various films depicting queer and transgender stories. There will be nine features, including two 2023 Sundance documentaries, “Little Richard: I Am Everything” from Lisa Cortés and “The Stroll” from Kristen Lovell and Zackary Drucker. Cortés documentary explores how Richard “Little Richard” Penniman worked through his struggles with his sexuality, all while he made his mark on rock n’ roll. While Lovell and Drucker follow transgender women of color as they detail the community’s history of sex work in New York City.
In addition, the Outfest Fusion lineup includes Dawn Mikkelson, Keri Pickett’s “Finding Her Beat;” Fábio Leal’s “Follow The Protocol;” Timothy Harris’ “Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn;” Joseph Amenta’s “Soft;” Lorena Zilleruelo...
Outfest Fusion will be celebrating its 20th anniversary by showcasing Lgbtqia+ filmmakers and their various films depicting queer and transgender stories. There will be nine features, including two 2023 Sundance documentaries, “Little Richard: I Am Everything” from Lisa Cortés and “The Stroll” from Kristen Lovell and Zackary Drucker. Cortés documentary explores how Richard “Little Richard” Penniman worked through his struggles with his sexuality, all while he made his mark on rock n’ roll. While Lovell and Drucker follow transgender women of color as they detail the community’s history of sex work in New York City.
In addition, the Outfest Fusion lineup includes Dawn Mikkelson, Keri Pickett’s “Finding Her Beat;” Fábio Leal’s “Follow The Protocol;” Timothy Harris’ “Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn;” Joseph Amenta’s “Soft;” Lorena Zilleruelo...
- 3/7/2023
- by Charna Flam
- Variety Film + TV
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Billy Porter, who was honored with the Outfest Achievement Award on Thursday as part of the LGBTQ+ festival’s opening night, used his onstage time for “a soapbox moment,” taking on the Supreme Court and Republican politicians.
“Fuck Scotus,” Porter declared from the front of downtown L.A.’s Orpheum Theatre, following the Court’s recent strike down of Roe v. Wade: “We worked too hard for our progress and we ain’t going back.”
Amid the Jan. 6 hearings he also called out Republicans who are now testifying and going against Donald Trump, saying, “None of you Republicans who are coming forward in these hearings right now are heroes…you agreed with everything he did until Jan. 6, until his cult followers came for y’all. You are not heroes, fuck y’all too. No more reaching across the aisle to people who don’t want to be touched.
Billy Porter, who was honored with the Outfest Achievement Award on Thursday as part of the LGBTQ+ festival’s opening night, used his onstage time for “a soapbox moment,” taking on the Supreme Court and Republican politicians.
“Fuck Scotus,” Porter declared from the front of downtown L.A.’s Orpheum Theatre, following the Court’s recent strike down of Roe v. Wade: “We worked too hard for our progress and we ain’t going back.”
Amid the Jan. 6 hearings he also called out Republicans who are now testifying and going against Donald Trump, saying, “None of you Republicans who are coming forward in these hearings right now are heroes…you agreed with everything he did until Jan. 6, until his cult followers came for y’all. You are not heroes, fuck y’all too. No more reaching across the aisle to people who don’t want to be touched.
- 7/15/2022
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Nonprofit Outfest is celebrating its 40th anniversary with the kickoff of its 2022 edition on July 11, when the annual Los Angeles LGBTQ+ film festival will launch with new awards, programming and a lineup of over 200 screenings.
“One of the things that I really did like is that [the festival] wasn’t in June, because I think there’s this way of thinking about queerness as if it is siloed within the space of one month,” Outfest Artistic Director Faridah Gbadamosi told TheWrap in a recent interview. “I like the idea that it exists beyond the month of June because it kind of brings this idea that our identities can’t be siloed within the space of one month.”
Gbadamosi has been with Outfest for over a year, and she emphasized a collaborative approach to the programming for the Los Angeles festival, which this year was sensitive to the depiction and presentation of trauma...
“One of the things that I really did like is that [the festival] wasn’t in June, because I think there’s this way of thinking about queerness as if it is siloed within the space of one month,” Outfest Artistic Director Faridah Gbadamosi told TheWrap in a recent interview. “I like the idea that it exists beyond the month of June because it kind of brings this idea that our identities can’t be siloed within the space of one month.”
Gbadamosi has been with Outfest for over a year, and she emphasized a collaborative approach to the programming for the Los Angeles festival, which this year was sensitive to the depiction and presentation of trauma...
- 7/13/2022
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
This year’s 79th Annual Golden Globes awards ceremony wasn’t televised or livestreamed, and has never been seen by anyone other than those in attendance for the show on Jan. 9 at the Beverly Hilton. Until now.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has shared with Variety three excerpts from the 2022 ceremony, which opened with HFPA president Helen Hoehne and featured representatives from educational and philanthropic organizations — recepients of grants from the org — as presenters. Despite the lack of any at-home audiences, the show was still produced with the sheen of a full-fledged telecast, as directed by Patricia Lowry and produced by Neil Mandt, Michael Mandt and Matthew Brady.
The Mandt brothers, whose credits include “Jim Rome is Burning” and “Destination Truth,” spoke to the Golden Globes website about the show: “This is certainly a unique year,” Michael Mandt told the org. “We knew the challenges given the timing considering the world’s Covid situation,...
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has shared with Variety three excerpts from the 2022 ceremony, which opened with HFPA president Helen Hoehne and featured representatives from educational and philanthropic organizations — recepients of grants from the org — as presenters. Despite the lack of any at-home audiences, the show was still produced with the sheen of a full-fledged telecast, as directed by Patricia Lowry and produced by Neil Mandt, Michael Mandt and Matthew Brady.
The Mandt brothers, whose credits include “Jim Rome is Burning” and “Destination Truth,” spoke to the Golden Globes website about the show: “This is certainly a unique year,” Michael Mandt told the org. “We knew the challenges given the timing considering the world’s Covid situation,...
- 2/19/2022
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Outfest has named the 11 writers selected to participate in the 2021 Screenwriting Lab, which it has partnered on with Netflix via its Fund for Creative Equity, along with 11 Notable Writers it will set up with industry support.
Fellows selected for the week-long lab, which kicks off today, include Amanda Kohr, Chris Renfro, Emma McIvor, Jabari McDonald, Kristin Slaney, Lindsay Calleran, Natalie Jasmine Harris, Nova Cypress Black, Oates Wu, and Sav Rodgers & Taylor Gates.
This year’s Notable Writers are Jeff Austin, Elie El Choufany and Omar Al Dakheel, Nicole Feste, Matthew Hartman, Mark Moliterni and Vasilios Papapitsios, Shawn Parikh, Michael Rodriguez, Rolando Rodriguez and Noah Schamus.
During the 2021 Lab,...
Fellows selected for the week-long lab, which kicks off today, include Amanda Kohr, Chris Renfro, Emma McIvor, Jabari McDonald, Kristin Slaney, Lindsay Calleran, Natalie Jasmine Harris, Nova Cypress Black, Oates Wu, and Sav Rodgers & Taylor Gates.
This year’s Notable Writers are Jeff Austin, Elie El Choufany and Omar Al Dakheel, Nicole Feste, Matthew Hartman, Mark Moliterni and Vasilios Papapitsios, Shawn Parikh, Michael Rodriguez, Rolando Rodriguez and Noah Schamus.
During the 2021 Lab,...
- 10/4/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Outfest has announced the award winners of its 2021 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival.
The nation’s leading LGBTQ festival ran from August 13th to August 22nd, holding its closing night at the iconic Orpheum Theatre, with Vivian Kleiman’s No Straight Lines: The Rise of Queer Comics claiming the Documentary Feature Grand Jury Prize, and Brielle Brilliant’s Firstness winning the U.S. Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize.
For the first time ever, Outfest collaborated with IMDb in choosing Audience Award winners, selecting them based on IMDb ratings. Among other prizes and recognition, eligible Outfest Los Angeles winners received a one-year membership to IMDbPro.
The winners of the Grand Jury Prizes for Best U.S. Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, and Best International Narrative Short all received a $2000 cash prize awarded in partnership with Entertainment Partners.
Also of note is the fact that the U.S. and International Narrative...
The nation’s leading LGBTQ festival ran from August 13th to August 22nd, holding its closing night at the iconic Orpheum Theatre, with Vivian Kleiman’s No Straight Lines: The Rise of Queer Comics claiming the Documentary Feature Grand Jury Prize, and Brielle Brilliant’s Firstness winning the U.S. Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize.
For the first time ever, Outfest collaborated with IMDb in choosing Audience Award winners, selecting them based on IMDb ratings. Among other prizes and recognition, eligible Outfest Los Angeles winners received a one-year membership to IMDbPro.
The winners of the Grand Jury Prizes for Best U.S. Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, and Best International Narrative Short all received a $2000 cash prize awarded in partnership with Entertainment Partners.
Also of note is the fact that the U.S. and International Narrative...
- 8/24/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Outfest announced a partnership with Netflix and law firm E-Minutes in support of its 2021 Outfest Screenwriting Lab.
The collaboration with Netflix is part of the recently announced Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, in which Netflix will invest $100 million dollars over the next five years in a combination of external organizations with a strong track record of setting underrepresented communities up for success in the TV and film industries, as well as Netflix programs that will help identify, train and provide job placement for up-and-coming talent globally.
The Outfest Screenwriting Lab, created in 1997 as a screenwriting contest, has since become the cornerstone of Outfest’s education and mentoring program Outfest Forward. Through this year’s program, eight Lgbtqia+ screenwriters will have the opportunity to be mentored by top industry showrunners, executives, and writers who will offer professional development, scriptwriting support, and insight into the latest trends within the industry.
The...
The collaboration with Netflix is part of the recently announced Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, in which Netflix will invest $100 million dollars over the next five years in a combination of external organizations with a strong track record of setting underrepresented communities up for success in the TV and film industries, as well as Netflix programs that will help identify, train and provide job placement for up-and-coming talent globally.
The Outfest Screenwriting Lab, created in 1997 as a screenwriting contest, has since become the cornerstone of Outfest’s education and mentoring program Outfest Forward. Through this year’s program, eight Lgbtqia+ screenwriters will have the opportunity to be mentored by top industry showrunners, executives, and writers who will offer professional development, scriptwriting support, and insight into the latest trends within the industry.
The...
- 6/25/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The arc of the moral universe may bend toward justice, but it needs a little boost here and there. In the case of Black LGBTQ media, a few watershed moments shot through the culture more like a geyser than a sprinkling of incremental change: When “Orange Is The New Black” introduced the force that is Laverne Cox, when “Moonlight” won Best Picture, and when “Pose” premiered on FX.
Heading into its third and final season next month, the New York City ballroom scene drama — set in the late 1980s to early ‘90s — broke records from the jump. Its 2018 premiere marked the most transgender performers as series regulars in scripted television history, and they were all of Black or Latinx descent.
“‘Pose’ was a game-changer. Centering trans women of color in their own stories, in front of and behind the camera, has not only impacted the industry, but impacted communities and saved lives,...
Heading into its third and final season next month, the New York City ballroom scene drama — set in the late 1980s to early ‘90s — broke records from the jump. Its 2018 premiere marked the most transgender performers as series regulars in scripted television history, and they were all of Black or Latinx descent.
“‘Pose’ was a game-changer. Centering trans women of color in their own stories, in front of and behind the camera, has not only impacted the industry, but impacted communities and saved lives,...
- 4/16/2021
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
NAACP Image Award winner Michaela Coel and Academy Award nominee Andra Day will be honored at the five-day 2021 Outfest Fusion Qtbipoc Film Festival next week.
Coel, known best for creating and starring in “Chewing Gum” and “I May Destroy You,” will be acknowledged with the Fusion Achievement Award; Day, the star of Lee Daniels’ biopic “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” will be presented with the James Schamus Ally Award.
“Coel’s work in ‘Chewing Gum,’ ‘I May Destroy You,’ and more portrays complex characters who have helped open the door for more empathetic conversations about the issues facing members of this Qtbipoc community,” said festival executive director Damien Navarro, in a statement.
Past recipients of the Fusion Achievement Award include Nisha Ganatra, Angela Robinson, Rose Troche, Wilson Cruz, Alec Mapa, Patrik-Ian Polk, Cheryl Dunye, Brickson Diamond and Rikki Beadle-Blair.
“Outfest Fusion believes that honoring one of the most incredible,...
Coel, known best for creating and starring in “Chewing Gum” and “I May Destroy You,” will be acknowledged with the Fusion Achievement Award; Day, the star of Lee Daniels’ biopic “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” will be presented with the James Schamus Ally Award.
“Coel’s work in ‘Chewing Gum,’ ‘I May Destroy You,’ and more portrays complex characters who have helped open the door for more empathetic conversations about the issues facing members of this Qtbipoc community,” said festival executive director Damien Navarro, in a statement.
Past recipients of the Fusion Achievement Award include Nisha Ganatra, Angela Robinson, Rose Troche, Wilson Cruz, Alec Mapa, Patrik-Ian Polk, Cheryl Dunye, Brickson Diamond and Rikki Beadle-Blair.
“Outfest Fusion believes that honoring one of the most incredible,...
- 4/7/2021
- by Mónica Marie Zorrilla
- Variety Film + TV
The 2021 Outfest Fusion Qtbipoc Film Festival is set to honor I May Destroy You icon Michaela Coel with the Fusion Achievement Award while The United States Vs. Billie Holiday star and Oscar nominee Andra Day will be honored with the James Schamus Ally Award on April 17. The hybrid fest will take place April 16-20.
The Fusion Achievement Award, which recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to Lgbtqia+ stories, arts, and media visibility, will honor Coel’s body of work. She is in good company as previous recipients of the honor include Nisha Ganatra, Angela Robinson, Rose Troche, Wilson Cruz, Alec Mapa, Patrik-Ian Polk, Cheryl Dunye, Brickson Diamond, and Rikki Beadle-Blair.
“Coel’s work in Chewing Gum, I May Destroy You, and more portray complex characters who have helped open the door for more empathetic conversations about the issues facing...
The Fusion Achievement Award, which recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to Lgbtqia+ stories, arts, and media visibility, will honor Coel’s body of work. She is in good company as previous recipients of the honor include Nisha Ganatra, Angela Robinson, Rose Troche, Wilson Cruz, Alec Mapa, Patrik-Ian Polk, Cheryl Dunye, Brickson Diamond, and Rikki Beadle-Blair.
“Coel’s work in Chewing Gum, I May Destroy You, and more portray complex characters who have helped open the door for more empathetic conversations about the issues facing...
- 4/7/2021
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
GLAAD is teaming up with Outfest to host the first virtual Queer House during the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Celebrating LGBTQ films and filmmakers at the festival, Queer House will offer panels, discussions and performances.
“GLAAD is thrilled to lock arms with our friends at Outfest for this year’s virtual Sundance Film Festival, building upon both organizations’ long legacy of supporting LGBTQ-inclusive films and filmmakers at the festival that is known around the world as the birthplace of the ‘New Queer Cinema,’” GLAAD’s director of entertainment media Jeremy Blacklow said in a statement. “From GLAAD’s long track record of LGBTQ programming during Sundance, through Outfest’s hugely successful Outfest House just last year, we are proud to once again amplify and celebrate the groundbreaking LGBTQ films premiering at Sundance in 2021.”’
Outfest executive director Damien Navarro said, “Seeing how meaningful it was to see our brief partnership in programming...
“GLAAD is thrilled to lock arms with our friends at Outfest for this year’s virtual Sundance Film Festival, building upon both organizations’ long legacy of supporting LGBTQ-inclusive films and filmmakers at the festival that is known around the world as the birthplace of the ‘New Queer Cinema,’” GLAAD’s director of entertainment media Jeremy Blacklow said in a statement. “From GLAAD’s long track record of LGBTQ programming during Sundance, through Outfest’s hugely successful Outfest House just last year, we are proud to once again amplify and celebrate the groundbreaking LGBTQ films premiering at Sundance in 2021.”’
Outfest executive director Damien Navarro said, “Seeing how meaningful it was to see our brief partnership in programming...
- 1/26/2021
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
Outfest announced that its annual Outfest Legacy Awards will take place at the Calamigos Ranch this year on Nov. 21 and honor Joe Mantello and DreamWorks Animation.
The awards, which will be streamed on-screen at the ranch as well as on Pride Media channels, Outfest social channels and Outfest Now, honors Hollywood filmmakers and creatives who help diversify LGBTQ representation in film and television. “RuPaul’s Drag Race” stars BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon will host the gala.
“Outfest continues to use this moment to reflect on the businesses and individuals in entertainment that are in most need of a spotlight,” Outfest executive director Damien Navarro said in a statement. “Animation, live-stage, music, television and film are now peppered with a cross-section of stories who are using these mediums to even further expand our stories into uncharted territories.”
Actor and director Joe Mantello will be the first-ever recipient of the Terrence McNally Award,...
The awards, which will be streamed on-screen at the ranch as well as on Pride Media channels, Outfest social channels and Outfest Now, honors Hollywood filmmakers and creatives who help diversify LGBTQ representation in film and television. “RuPaul’s Drag Race” stars BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon will host the gala.
“Outfest continues to use this moment to reflect on the businesses and individuals in entertainment that are in most need of a spotlight,” Outfest executive director Damien Navarro said in a statement. “Animation, live-stage, music, television and film are now peppered with a cross-section of stories who are using these mediums to even further expand our stories into uncharted territories.”
Actor and director Joe Mantello will be the first-ever recipient of the Terrence McNally Award,...
- 11/19/2020
- by Eli Countryman
- Variety Film + TV
Damien Navarro’s first day on the job as the executive director of Outfest LA was the day after the festival’s closing night last year. Of course, no one could have imagined that this year’s edition of the LGBTQ festival would be taking place during a pandemic.
Navarro and his team quickly pivoted to putting together a virtual event. As a leading digital media entrepreneur, Navarro knew the virtual space well and it was his mission even before the pandemic to expand Outfest’s digital footprint.
“They specifically sought out somebody that had the skillset to be able to do that,” Navarro tells Variety. “It was just supposed to be over three to five years….But with covid, now it’s not a matter of trying to stay ahead — it’s a matter of survival.”
The 38th Outfest opens today with a line-up of more than 160 films. The 11-day fest includes 35 world premieres,...
Navarro and his team quickly pivoted to putting together a virtual event. As a leading digital media entrepreneur, Navarro knew the virtual space well and it was his mission even before the pandemic to expand Outfest’s digital footprint.
“They specifically sought out somebody that had the skillset to be able to do that,” Navarro tells Variety. “It was just supposed to be over three to five years….But with covid, now it’s not a matter of trying to stay ahead — it’s a matter of survival.”
The 38th Outfest opens today with a line-up of more than 160 films. The 11-day fest includes 35 world premieres,...
- 8/20/2020
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Damien Navarro, a content development and digital media executive, has been selected as the new executive director of Outfest. The move comes after an eight-month search to replace Christopher Racster, who is exiting the role at the conclusion of the nonprofit organization’s flagship event, the Los Angeles-based Outfest Los Angeles Lgbtq Film Festival, which this year runs July 18-28.
Navarro, the founder of digital agency Earthbound Media Group and boutique consulting firm The Institute, most recently was president of Vimby, formerly MGM/Mark Burnett’s Content Studio, a brand content agency and entertainment studio.
He was selected by a search committee of current and former Outfest board members from more than 24 candidates, and when he takes over later this month will be tasked with overseeing the organization’s programs, staff, fundraising efforts, fiscal management and day-to-day operations.
“Over the last two years, our board, staff and stakeholders have...
Navarro, the founder of digital agency Earthbound Media Group and boutique consulting firm The Institute, most recently was president of Vimby, formerly MGM/Mark Burnett’s Content Studio, a brand content agency and entertainment studio.
He was selected by a search committee of current and former Outfest board members from more than 24 candidates, and when he takes over later this month will be tasked with overseeing the organization’s programs, staff, fundraising efforts, fiscal management and day-to-day operations.
“Over the last two years, our board, staff and stakeholders have...
- 7/10/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
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