Inside Outfest 2000

By Alex Simon
Photos by Terry Lilly

The 18th Annual Outfest, L.A.'s longest-running film festival showcasing works by gay and lesbian filmmakers, featured more than 200 film and video productions from around the world. As in previous years, the DGA lobby was decked out with a gift shop, coffee bar and snack stand, as well as a VIP lounge.

Opening night at the Orpheum Theater saw documentary filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman honored with the 4th Annual Outfest Achievement Award for their groundbreaking work with such films as The Times of Harvey Milk, Common Threads: Stories From the Quilt, The Celluloid Closet and most recently Paragraph 175, which deals with Nazi persecution of homosexuals during WW II. Actress Lily Tomlin presented the Award.

The DGA played a prominent Outfest role, hosting its annual filmmakers reception in the Guild Board-room. Members in attendance this year included DGA Third Vice President Paris Barclay, Randal Kleiser, Oscar-winning co-producer of American Beauty and DGA assistant director Bruce Cohen, and director/producer Loretha Jones.

"The DGA has always been a friend to Outfest and vice versa," Barclay said. "In fact, many first-time filmmakers who have had their work showcased in Outfest have gone on to become DGA members, so it's a relationship that's been mutually beneficial."

Barclay also spoke about the importance of independent filmmaking. "The whole idea of what makes a major film has changed. It's no longer about the budget. It's no longer about the stars. What makes it is the subject matter, the direction and the writing. Independent filmmakers have become much more important to the industry because they"re the ones who will be making the big studio films over the next four to five years. That's why we at the DGA want to be in on the ground floor helping you start your careers."

"Having so many of (Outfest's) events take place at the DGA adds a certain luster to the proceedings," Kleiser added. "Many of these filmmakers would eventually like to join the DGA, and we want to help make that process easier through things like the low-budget agreement. We also have a new internet agreement. So far there are few viable business models for filmmakers on the net, so it's difficult for directors to make big salaries. The DGA and the internet will be able to grow together, and when there is money, we"ll be there with the right formula."

Kleiser had a film of his own in Outfest 2000, an animated short he made in 1973 entitled Nursery, which depicts a room full of child's toys coming to life during a quiet night.

"I never showed it before because it was too raunchy," Kleiser said with a laugh. "It was sitting up in the attic all these years. I think that times have come around and now it can be seen."

Other filmmakers attending the reception also had high praise for the DGA. Ben Redgrave, director of Straight Man, said, "I know that DGA membership would be very beneficial to me as a filmmaker in terms of the resources that are involved. Everyone I've met during the festival, both members and those who hope to be members, have nothing but great things to say about the organization. The filmmakers I've met who have become DGA members say their lives as filmmakers have become much easier, which would be nice."

"I think one way the DGA has helped transform this festival is by giving us a home," added Bruce Cohen who is also a member of the Outfest Board. "People come in from all over the world and get to be at this incredible facility; it's been one of the main reasons [the festival has] been able to grow and expand. Without the DGA, we never would have grown into one of the largest festivals in Southern California."

Cohen also had praise for the low budget agreement "It's good for young, independent filmmakers to know that the DGA does have a way to handle smaller films and also bring these filmmakers into the Guild. Festivals like this will be where our future Spielbergs and George Lucases will be discovered. Film festivals are where young filmmakers make names for themselves, even more so than going to film school. You can have the greatest education in the world, but you still have to get your film made and get it shown."

In addition to screenings and receptions, Outfest also sponsored several panels and seminars, addressing different issues concerning the gay and lesbian and indie filmmaking communities. "Demystifying the dot.coms: Queer Short Film and the Web," focused on opportunities for gay-themed films on the web. "The First Time" was a discussion among three first-time filmmakers about what comes before, during and after their film premieres at a festival, and included DGA director member Jamie Babbit (But I'm a Cheerleader), directors Mary Guzman (Desi's Looking for a New Girl) and Lane Janger (Just One Time) and was moderated by Bruce Cohen. "Digital Production: Harnessing New Technologies" addressed how the leaps and bounds in the tech area of filmmaking have affected indie filmmakers. This panel was moderated by Next Wave Film consultant Judy Scott and featured DGA director member Miguel Arteta (Chuck and Buck) and director Dempsey Rice (Daughter of Suicide) as well as producer Matthew Greenfield (Chuck and Buck). Issues of diversity in gay- and lesbian-themed films were discussed in the panels "Afro Explosion!" and "Gay Latinos in Film and Television."

One of the most popular panels was the DGA-sponsored "Cinema of Outsiders," moderated by senior Variety film critic Emanuel Levy, and featured Movieline contributing editor Stephen Farber, DGA member Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters), former Vice President of Acquisitions for New Line/Fine Line Cinema Paul Federbush, and DGA member Amy Goldstein (East of A).

The panel engaged in a lively discussion about how independent cinema can provide a voice for marginal-ized groups outside of the Holly-wood system. At one point, Levy asked the group if they felt that gay and lesbian cinema was becoming more mainstream in terms of studio pictures addressing gay and lesbian themes. Condon responded by saying "The problem is that "gay film" revolves exclusively around sexuality and the romantic involvements of people in the movie. The reality is that other themes and issues that affect gay people on a daily basis are rarely dealt with (on film)."

Farber agreed, saying "Gay films are still very ghettoized, but it's getting better now that filmmakers are making genre films like romantic comedies about gay people where it's not all about coming out. You also have films like In and Out andThe Birdcage that are mainstream movies dealing with gays, and that's a positive thing."

The Outie Awards were given July 16 at the John Anson Ford Amphitheater. Humorist Bruce Villanch hosted the event once again, keeping the audience in stitches with his barrage of one-liners, nearly bringing them to tears when he walked out on stage and said deadpan "Hello, I'm Linda Tripp." The Outies were given prior to the screening of Jamie Babbit's But I'm a Cheerleader.

Thomas Bezucha's debut feature Big Eden walked away with two "Outies" including the Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film (Eric Schweig), and the Audience Award for Outstanding Narrative Feature. Jon Shear's Urbania won the Grand Jury Award for Outstanding American Narrative Feature, and Our House: A Very Real Documentary About Kids of Gay and Lesbian Parents won the Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Documentary Feature. Laurie Collyer's Nuyorican Dream won the Audience Award for Outstanding Documentary Feature.

Other winners included Francois Ozon's Criminal Lovers, which was awarded the Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Foreign Narrative Feature. Ben Berkowitz and Benjamin Redgrave were awarded the Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Screenwriting for their script for Straight Man. Actress Lauren Ambrose won the Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film for her work in Strand Releasing's Psycho Beach Party and Swimming.

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