You wouldn’t readily believe it if someone told you, but it’s been four decades since Outfest LA first became a platform for expressing LGBTQ+ themes on film. While there’s been plenty of progress where positive representation is concerned, there’s still much left to say, do and show. With the rights of the queerfolk heavily endangered now more than ever, stories which represent this experience are just as important to put out. Outfest is still full of vigor after the 40 years it has spent displaying the quintessential queer story, and doing it right.
Starting July 14th and lasting till the 24th, this year’s Outfest covers more than 200 films from across the globe, as well as 42 premiers at different locations in LA throughout the week, like The Orpheum Theatre, Directors Guild of America, The Ford, Ace Hotel’s The Theatre, Plaza de la Raza, Harmony Gold, and REDCAT. Audiences will also be able to watch several films virtually at home. One movie that’s getting plenty of Buzz is Billy Porter’s Anything’s Possible, which is also his directorial debut. For the uninformed, it follows a trans girl of high school age who finds romance as well as herself while in senior year. Anything’s Possible is set to premiere at Outfest’s opening gala, which in turn will be held on July 14th at the Orpheum. Porter is slated to receive this year’s Annual Achievement Award as well.
There are other highlights as well, such as the 20th anniversary of Far From Heaven by Todd Haynes. As part of that, Haynes and producer Christine Vachon will be joined by Julianne Moore in discussing the film after it’s been screened. Then there’s Unidentified Objects, which is a buddy comedy that’s road-trip driven; Mama Bears which is a documentary that explores Christian mothers that offer love and support to their queer children; HeBGB TV, a novel tribute to horror TV of the late-night variety, adorned with “a spooky, live-action immersive experience”; Chrissy Judy, which is a dark comedy following the relationship a drag-queen has with his best friend. Lastly, there will be a screening on closing night, of They/Them starring Kevin Bacon, touted as an “LGBTQIA+ empowerment tale set at a gay conversion camp.”
There’s plenty more too: for the kind of enlightenment that sheds a better light on the screened films, they have a Nonbinary, Trans, & Intersex Summit which will be held at the DGA on July 23rd, offering programs and discussions hosting activists, filmmakers, comedians, and others. You’ll get to see artist Lio Mehiel doing a presentation titled “Ancient Futures”, which aims at revering and affirming TGNC bodies through photo, video, and sculpture. Big Freedia will be part of the Platinum Alchemy Bash to be held at Catch One, alongside Commando, Seth Bogart, and more (July 17th). There is plenty to engage in if you show up at one of the locales Outfest is set to be at, including dance and music to education and networking.
According to Porter, “OUTFEST has always been a life-line for those of us queer folk who had no place to go. To have a queer film festival that’s 40-years-old is a testament to the fierceness of our community. Build it — and they will come.”
