
Annie Clark and Carrie Brownstein star in “The Nowhere Inn,” the opening night selection for Outfest LA Under the Stars (Image Courtesy of Outfest)
For Outfest, the show must go on.
Despite the continuing pandemic, the renowned Los Angeles’ LGBTQ film festival will kick off this week (on August 20), even without being able to host its comprehensive roster of screenings at the usual in-person venues. Instead, the fest will move online, allowing supporters, subscribers, and even just fans of world-class LGBTQ cinema access to more than 160 participating films â among them, 35 world premieres, 10 North American premieres and four US premieres.
This is great news for the many Angelenos who look forward annually to immersing themselves in the fresh, diverse, and exciting new features and shorts offered by Outfest since its humble but ambitious beginnings at UCLA in 1982. Even better news, perhaps, is that not all the screenings will be virtual. The festival has lined up a series of drive-in events, under the title “Outfest LA Under the Stars,” to take place at Malibu’s Calamigos Ranch. Itâs the first time in Outfestâs 38-year history that audiences will be able to enjoy a film from the privacy â not to mention the safety â of their cars.
The venue has scheduled screenings across six-nights on two lots, including kick-off and closing events, and will launch with the LA premiere of âThe Nowhere Inn,â a Sundance entry starring musicians Annie Clark and Carrie Brownstein in a reality-bending twist of Clarkâs alt-pop star persona St. Vincent. The additional live screenings will include the trans-themed modern-day western, âCowboys,â starring Steve Zahn and Ann Dowd (âThe Handmaidâs Taleâ), the Latinx romance, âLa Leyenda Negra,â the pre-Stonewall drag documentary, âP.S. Burn this Letter Please ,â and the world premiere of Outfest alum Travis Fineâs âTwo Eyes,â a century-spanning interwoven narrative exploring queer expression across three different eras in the American West.
More than 70 percent of the films in this yearâs Outfest were directed by women, transgender and POC filmmakers; the festival also includes several films originally scheduled for other festivals, such as the aforementioned âP.S. Burn This Letter Pleaseâ and âCowboys,â which along with the also-slated Big Freedia anti-gun advocacy doc âFreedia Got A Gunâ were selected for Tribeca, and SXSW premiere titles including âThe Carnivoresâ and Outfest LAâs US centerpiece selection âShiva Baby,â starring Rachel Sennott, Dianna Agron, and Fred Melamed.
Outfest’s other centerpiece selections include the Posy Dixon-helmed documentary âKeyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story,â International Centerpiece âMonsoonâ (directed by Sundance and Outfest alum Hong Khaou and starring Henry Golding), and Breakthrough Centerpiece âThe Obituary of Tunde Johnson,â the feature-film directing debut of âEverybody Hates Chrisâ co-creator Ali LeRoi.
âTwo Eyes,â which will be Outfestâs closing film, will also screen on the festivalâs digital platform.
Other notable titles at this yearâs festival include âThree Chords and a Lie,â a documentary about gay country music artist Brandon Stansellâs return to his conservative hometown which will be presented with a drive-in concert, and the world premiere of Emmy-nominated actor Scott Turner Schofieldâs one-man show âBecoming a Man in 127 Easy Steps,â in which viewers can interactively choose from among the 127 segments created by Schofield.
Mike Dougherty, Outfestâs director of programming, says, âIn this brand new, uncharted territory of digital festivals, we are honored that so many wonderful films have entrusted Outfest LA to be their festival home. Iâm incredibly excited that this stunning array of diverse talent â which represents Outfestâs continued mission to showcase the best work from LGBTQIA+ artists â will be more accessible than ever before.”
Executive Director Damien S. Navarro adds, “This yearâs film festival is not only a reflection of Outfestâs historic trajectory â mixing innovation with media to cast an ever-widening net of diverse and global stories â it is also a testament to Outfestâs commitment to thrive in a moment in which the future of live events, independent film, and our own rights are threatened.”
Participating films will compete for jury and audience awards. U.S. narrative feature jurors include filmmaker James Sweeney (âStraight Upâ); Neon’s director of acquisitions Ayo Kepher-Maat, Neon; and film critic Caden Mark Gardner. International narrative feature jurors are former AFI Fest and Film Independent artistic director Jacqueline Lyanga; Inside Out Toronto director of programming Andrew Murphy, and filmmaker Isabel Sandoval (âLingua Francaâ). Documentary jurors include filmmakers Sam Feder (âDisclosureâ); Ben-Alex Dupris (Outfest winner âSweetheart Dancersâ), and Daresha Kyi (âChavelaâ). International narrative shorts jurors are filmmakers Daniel Laabs (Outfest winner âJules of Light and Darkâ), Lauren Wolkstein (âThe Strange Onesâ); and Aurora Guerrero (âGentefiedâ). U.S. narrative short jurors include actor Brian Michael Smith (â911: Lone Starâ), and filmmakers Gillian Horvat (âI Blame Societyâ) and Carly Usdin (âSuicide Kaleâ).
Outfest is presented by Warner Media and runs Aug. 20-30. Information and tickets, along with a full line-up of scheduled films, can be accessed at the festival’s website.