From July 7 to 17, Outfest, the 34th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, presented films and videos from around the world, as well as panel discussions, special events, parties, and receptions in venues all around the city. As part of the DGA’s outreach efforts for independent filmmakers, the Guild’s Los Angeles headquarters served as the central nexus for the festival and the DGA served as both a screening venue and a longtime sponsor of the festival.
The Guild also hosted a luncheon on July 11 for filmmakers participating in the festival. During the luncheon, director-member Silas Howard (By Hook or By Crook) spoke to the assembled about the advantages to be found with membership in the DGA. The attendees also received tips about the festival from Outfest Executive Director Christopher Racster, and more information about the Guild from DGA Senior Manager of Special Events and Independent Organizing, Matt Gamarra.
About the Festival:
Outfest is the leading organization that promotes equality by creating, sharing and protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender stories on the screen. Over the past three decades, Outfest has showcased thousands of films from around the world to audiences of nearly a million, mentored hundreds of emerging filmmakers and protected more than 30,000 LGBT films and videos.