Outfest Los Angeles Sets ‘The Obituary of Tunde Johnson’, ‘Monsoon’, ‘Two Eyes’ And More For Virtual LGBTQ Film Fest
Outfest Los Angeles is going virtual this year and they have unveiled their stacked lineup for the 11-day festival which kicks off August 20.
The LGBTQ film fest fest will include over 160 films with 35 world premieres, 10 North American premieres and 4 U.S. premieres to Los Angeles for 2020. The fest will live on https://www.outfestla2020.com and there will also be “Outfest LA Under the Stars”, a drive-in experience will take place at the stunning Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, where for two extended weekends the Festival will be hosting a series of drive-in screenings across six-nights on two lots, including both kick-off and closing events. The drive-in screenings will start with the Sundance pic The Nowhere Inn starring musicians Annie Clark and Carrie Brownstein. Other screenings will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
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Over 70% of films at Outfest LA directed by female, trans, and POC filmmakers. The Breakthrough Centerpiece will be the Sundance pic The Obituary of Tunde Johnson, Ali LeRoi’s directorial feature debut, as well as the International Centerpiece Monsoon, directed by Sundance and Outfest alum Hong Khaou (Lilting) and starring Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians). Posy Dixon’s Keyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story will serve as a Documentary Centerpiece. Outfest’s Closing Film will be the world premiere of Outfest alum Travis Fine’s (Any Day Now) Two Eyes.
Other selections at this year’s fest include originally scheduled for festivals disrupted by COVID-19 earlier in the year, including P.S. Burn This Letter Please; Cowboys starring Steve Zahn, Jillian Bell, Ann Dowd, and young trans actor Sasha Knight; as well as musician Big Freedia’s docu Freedia Got A Gun. A mix of pre-recorded and live virtual Q&As are expected with cast and crew across all programs.
Outfest LA’s Platinum section will continue the tradition of highlighting the cutting-edge, avant-garde and experimental work coming from the queer community while Outfest’s Legacy Project will feature repertory films not currently available on streaming.
“In 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,” said Mike Dougherty, Outfest Director of Festival Programming. “I’m incredibly excited that this stunning array of diverse talent – which represents Outfest’s continued mission to showcase the best work from LGBTQIA+ artists – will be more accessible than ever before.”
Damien S. Navarro, Outfest Executive Director added: “This year’s film festival is not only a reflection of Outfest’s historic trajectory – mixing innovation with media to cast an ever-widening net of diverse and global stories – it is also a testament to Outfest’s commitment to thrive in a moment in which the future of live events, independent film, and our own rights are threatened. We must continue to create opportunities for our LGBTQIA+ storytellers to navigate the tumultuous environment of entertainment, media and communications, year round.”
Read the full Outfest lineup and the jurors confirmed for the competitive sections below.
Documentary Centerpiece: KEYBOARD FANTASIES: THE BEVERLY GLENN-COPELAND STORY, dir. Posy Dixon
U.S. Centerpiece: SHIVA BABY, dir. Emma Seligman
International Centerpiece: MONSOON, dir. Hong Khaou
Breakthrough Centerpiece: THE OBITUARY OF TUNDE JOHNSON, dir. Ali LeRoi
Closing Film: TWO EYES, dir. Travis Fine
Drive-In Exclusives
THE NOWHERE INN, dir. Bill Benz
LA LEYENDA NEGRA, dir. Patricia Vidal Delgado
U.S. Narratives
BREAKING FAST, dir. Mike Mosallam
CICADA, dirs.. Matthew Fifer, Kieran Mulcare
COWBOYS, dir. Anna Kerrigan
DRAMARAMA, dir. Jonathan Wysocki
GOSSAMER FOLDS, dir. Lisa Donato
MINYAN, dir. Eric Steel
T11 INCOMPLETE, dir. Suzanne Guacci
TAHARA, dir. Olivia Peace
THE CARNIVORES, dir. Caleb Johnson
Documentary Features
AHEAD OF THE CURVE, dir. Jen Rainin
CURED, dirs.. Patrick Sammon and Bennett Singer
FREEDIA GOT A GUN, dir. Chris McKim
HOUSE OF CARDIN, dir. P David Ebersole, Todd Hughes
I AM THE OTHER ONE, dir. Silvia Goddinho
OUT LOUD, dir. Gail Willumsen
P.S. BURN THIS LETTER PLEASE, dir. Jennifer Tiexiera, Michael Seligman
THE CAPOTE TAPES, dir. Ebs Burnough
YOUR MOTHER’S COMFORT, dir. Adam Golub
International Narratives
ALICE JUNIOR, dir. Gil Baroni
COCOON (KOKON), dir. Leonie Krippendorff
DRY WIND, dir. Daniel Nolasco
ELLIE & ABBIE (AND ELLIE’S DEAD AUNT), dir. Monica Zanetti
NO HARD FEELINGS, dir. Franz Shariat
THE STRONG ONES (LOS FUERTES), dir. Omar Zu?iga
THE TEACHER, dir. Ming-Lang Chen
TWILIGHT’S KISS, dir. Ray Yeung
TWO OF US, dir. Filippo Meneghetti
VALENTINA, dir. Cássio Pereira dos Santos
Outfest Legacy
BLOODSISTERS: LEATHER, DYKES AND SADOMASOCHISM, dir. Michelle Handelman
LILY TOMLIN: THE FILM BEHIND THE SHOW, dirs. Joan Churchill & Nick Broomfield
STRANGER INSIDE, dir. Cheryl Dunye
Platinum
ASK ANY BUDDY, dir. Evan Purchell
IF IT WERE LOVE, dir. Patric Chiha
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, dir. Matthew Rankin
Special Events
BECOMING A MAN IN 127 EASY STEPS, dir. Andrea James
?GAYTINO! MADE IN AMERICA, dir. Dan Guerrero
NELLY QUEEN: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOSE SARRIA, dir. Joe Castel
SHOW ME YOURS, dir. Kevin McCloskey
THREE CHORDS AND A LIE, dir. Trent Atkinson
Episodics
APRICOT, dir. Sam Icklow, Jake Thompson
HIDDEN CANYONS, dirs. Brant Rotnem, Fawzia Mirza
KILLER WORKOUT, dir. Sara Werner
MAGIC HOUR, dir. Che Grayson
SIDEWAYS SMILE, dir. Hang Nguyen
Short Films
-SHIP: A VISUAL POEM, dir. Terrance Daye
#GAYBOY2020, dir.Noah Causey
ACUITZERAMO, dir. Miguel Angel Caballero
AN ANNA, dir. Denise Riedmayr
ARE YOU HUNGRY?, dir. Teemu Miukkanen
ATOMIC LOVE, dir. Imogen McCluskey
BABYDYKE (BABYLEBBE), dir. Tone Ottilie
BEFORE THE BLUE, dir. romy pocztaruk
BLISS IS ORANGE, dir. Jenna Kanell
BLOCKED, dir. Kevin Yee
BUCK, dir. Elegance Bratton, Jovan James
BURY A FRIEND, dir. Rick Wayne
CANDIS FOR PRESIDENT, dir. Michelle Peerali
CANIS MAJOR, dir. Charli Brissey
CARO COMES OUT, dir. Brit Fryer, Caro Hernandez
CATFISH KILLER, dir. Gil Hizon, Seth Harrington
CONSENT, dir. Andrew Cervantes
DARLING, dir. Saim Sadiq
DATED, dir. Zenon Samuels
DM, dir. Ariel Zucker
DOWN DOG, dir. Shae Xu
DREAMING LIKE LOUIS, dir. Valentin Merz Tan?ren
DRIP LIKE COFFEE, dir. Anaiis Cisco
DUNGAREES, dir. Abel Rubinstein
ETéREA, dir. Pedro Inoue, Tino Monetti
FEMENINA, dir. Ilana Garcia-Mittleman
FLEX, dir. Matt Porter
GAY PRE-PARTY BEFORE THE PARTY!!!!, dir. Matthew Barkley
GEN Z, dir. Mo McFadden
GO GO, BOY!, dir. Oriana Oppice
HALWA, dir. Gayatri Bajpai, Nirav Bhakta
HAPPINESS IN WHICH I LIVE, dir. Carlos Morales
HEALING ME, dir. Lauren Neal
HEART TO HEART, dir. Lilah Vandenburgh
HEAVENLY BROWN BODY, dir. Leslie Foster
HER OWN MUSIC, dir. Olivia Aleksoski
HOW TO SAY I LOVE YOU AT NIGHT, dir. Andree Ljutica
IN COLOUR (EN COLOR), dir. James Lucas
IN FRANCE MICHELLE IS A MAN’S NAME, dir. Em Weinstein
IN ORBIT, dir. Katie McNeice
INSTRUCTIONS TO LET GO, dir. Gustavo Gamero
ISHTAR, dir. Mia Georgis
JACKALOPE, dir. Cassils
JESSE, dir. Vinz Feller
JOYCHILD, dir. Aurora Brachman
KAMA’āINA (CHILD OF THE LAND), dir. Kimi Howl Lee
KAPAEMAHU, dirs.. Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, Joe WIlson
KIKO’S SAINTS, dir. Manuel Marmier
KIND OF, dir. Noah Schamus
LA GLORIA, dir. Mary Evangelista
LAST SUMMER WITH UNCLE IRA, dir. Gary Jaffe, Katie Ennis
LOVE LOST, AND FOUND, dir. Richard O’Connor
LYNDALE, dirs.. oli rodriguez, Victoria Stob
MC JESS, dir. Carla Villa-Lobos
MEET CUTE, dir. Francesca Calvo, Omar Ahmed
META, dir. Sydne Horton
MODE, dirs. Peter Kalisch, AJ Strout
MUY GAY TOO MEXICANO, dir. Lorena Lourenco
NAOMI REPLANSKY AT 100, dir. Megan Rossman
OF HEARTS AND CASTLES, dir. Ruben Navarro
OFFLINE (DESCONEXO), dir. Lui Avallos
OUR PLACE TOGETHER, dir. Clay Marshall Pruitt
PEACH, dirs.. Rowan Devereux & Sophie Saville
PLAYING FOR KEEPS, dir. DJ Turner
POMPEII, dir. Harry Lighton, Marco Alessi, Matthew Jacobs Morgan
PRETTY THINGS, dir. Pedro Suarez
PRIMER, dir. crosslucid
PURPLEBOY, dir. Alexandre Siqueira
QUERY, dir. Sophie Kargman
RICH ATMOSPHERE: THE MUSIC OF MERCHANT-IVORY FILMS, dir. Stephen Soucy
ROYALTY, dirs.. Sav Souza and Logan Thomason
S.A.M, dirs.. Eyre and Ely
SATAN’S TEARS, dir. Andrew Lush
SEE YOU SOON, dir. Tyler Rabinowitz
SEXTPERT ADVICE, dir. Tobit Raphael Capati
SHéáR AVORY: TO BE CONTINUED, dir. Abram Cerda
SOFT & PINK, dir. Zoe Ward
SPILT MILK, dir. Cierra Glaude
STALLS, dir.Jo?o Dall’Stella
STONEWALL 2069, dir. Samuel Douek
STRANGERS, dir. Jamieson Pearce
SUNSHINE IN THE RUINS, dir. Chou Yu Cheng
SWIPE UP, VIVIAN!, dir. Hannah Welever
TALK TO YOU LATER, dir. Adison Olivera
TAPE, dir. Jojo Erholtz
TEAM MARILYN, dir. LaToya Morgan
TENDER, dir. Felicia Pride
THE CYPHER, dir. Letia Solomon
THE D*CK APPOINTMENT, dir. Mike Roma
THE DOOR SHE OPENED, dir. Richard O’Connor
THE FABRIC OF YOU, dir. Josephine Lohoar Self
THE GIFT (O PRESENTE), dir. Daniel Wierman
THE HOUSE OF MARIANA Y GABRIEL, dir. Hena Ashraf
THE MISTRESS (LA AMANTE), dir. Pati Cruz
THE NAME OF THE SON, dir. Martina Matzkin
THE OUTBREAK, dir. Trent Nakamura
THE SHAWL, dir. Sara Kiener
THE STARR SISTERS, dir. Beth Einhorn, Bridey Elliott
THE TEST, dir. Jessica Smith
THIS IS AN ADDRESS, dir. Sasha Wortzel
TRANS HAPPINESS IS REAL, dir. Quinton Baker
TRASHY BOOTY, dir. Iris Devins
UMBILICAL, dir. Danski Tang
UNSPOKEN, dir. Patrick G. Lee
VICTORIA, dir. Dani Toledo
WATER (AGUA), dir. Santiago Zerme?o
WERE YOU GAY IN HIGH SCHOOL?, dir. Niki Ang
WHERE MY GIRLS, dir. Mads Engel
WHO CAN PREDICT WHAT WILL MOVE YOU?, dir. Livia Huang
WISHES, dir. Amy Jenkins
YOURS MINE OURS, dir. Ben Baur
YUNIOR, dir. Francisco Cabrera-Feo
Outfest Jurors
US Narrative Feature: James Sweeney, filmmaker (Straight Up); Ayo Kepher-Maat, Director of Acquisitions, NEON; Caden Mark Gardner, Film Critic.
International Narrative Feature: Jacqueline Lyanga, former Artistic Director of both AFI Fest and Film Independent; Andrew Murphy, Director of Programming, Inside Out Toronto and Isabel Sandoval, filmmaker (Lingua Franca).
Documentary: Sam Feder, filmmaker (Disclosure); Ben-Alex Dupris, filmmaker, (Sweetheart Dancers – winner of Best Short Doc jury award at Outfest LA 2019); Daresha Kyi, filmmaker (Chavela – winner of Best Documentary Jury and Audience Award at Outfest LA 2017).
International Narrative Shorts: Daniel Laabs, filmmaker, (Jules of Light and Dark – winner of Best U.S. Narrative Feature jury prize Outfest LA 2019), Lauren Wolkstein, filmmaker (The Strange Ones); Aurora Guerrero, filmmaker (Netflix’s Gentefied, Mosquita Y Mari).
U.S. Narrative Short: Brian Michael Smith, Actor, (911: Lone Star); Gillian Horvat, filmmaker (I Blame Society) and Carly Usdin, filmmaker (Suicide Kale).
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