From July 9-19th, the 27th Annual Los Angeles Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (Outfest) presented 182 films and videos from 25 countries in seven different venues around the city. As part of the Guild's outreach efforts aimed at Independent filmmakers, the DGA served as both a venue for and sponsor of the festival and also co-presented two of the festival's premium events.

On Saturday, July 11, the Guild hosted a lunch for the filmmakers participating in this year's Outfest in the Boardroom of DGA Headquarters in Los Angeles. 2001 DGA Comedy Series Award winner Todd Holland (Malcolm In The Middle), whose own short film Wig was being shown at this year's festival, spoke to the audience about the advantages to be found in membership in the Guild.

Holland also participated in the Guild-sponsored panel discussion "Taking It To the Streets: Directors Get Political" on Sunday, July 12, alongside fellow DGA director-members Jamie Babbit (The Quiet), Katherine Brooks (Loving Annabelle), Freida Lee Mock (Wrestling with Angels: Playwright Tony Kushner), and director Kirby Dick (Outrage). Held in the Guild's Los Angeles Theatre, the panel discussed how filmmakers are taking a more active role in creating social and political change as exemplified by films like Babbit's Itty Bitty Titty Committee and Gus Van Sant's 2008 DGA Feature Film Award-nominated Milk. DGA director-member Charles Herman-Wurmfeld (Kissing Jessica Stein) served as moderator.