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Outfest Announces Groundbreaking Line-Up for
25th Anniversary Film Festival July 12 to 23
Director Bill Condon to Receive 2007 Outfest Achievement Award;
C. Jay Cox’s “Kiss the Bride” Makes its World Premiere; Sally Field and Rachel Griffiths Among Celebrity-Loaded Panels During Silver Anniversary of Nation’s Leading Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
LOS ANGELES, CA (June 15, 2007) - Outfest, the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing, showcasing and preserving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) media, has announced a groundbreaking and diverse programming lineup for its milestone 25th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, the nation’s leading festival of its kind and the oldest continuously running film festival in the city. Among the impressive list of world premieres and Hollywood celebrities involved with this year’s event, some headlining events include: Outfest 2007 Achievement Award presentation to “Dreamgirls” director Bill Condon; Robert Cary’s exquisite third feature, “Save Me” as the opening night gala film; and the world premiere of C. Jay Cox’s “Kiss the Bride” at the closing night gala. Other gala screenings include the seductive screener “Shelter” as the Dramatic Centerpiece, “For the Bible Tells Me So” as the insightful Documentary Centerpiece, while the hilarious “Itty Bitty Titty Committee” will be screened on Awards Night. The festival will also feature star-studded panel discussions including cast and crew from the hit shows “Ugly Betty” and “Brothers & Sisters,” plus discussions of 25 years of LGBT storytelling and the subculture of gay gamers.
“I am impressed by the caliber of filmmaking and the diversity of subjects tackled by the 2007 Outfest filmmakers, said Kirsten Schaffer, Outfest senior director, “the stories are refreshing, entertaining and meaningful -- they demonstrate how much this community has grown in the past 25 years while laying the foundation for the next 25.”
As part of Outfest’s 25th anniversary special programming and mission to preserve the past, showcase the present, and nurture the future, the Outfest Legacy Project will unveil its first LGBTQ film restoration project, “Parting Glances.” Outfest’s expanded Platinum Section, a signature showcase of fresh, provocative work in a range of mediums, will honor legendary experimental filmmaker Barbara Hammer with its first-ever Platinum tribute. Outfest will unveil its list of “25 Films That Changed Our Lives,” screening four of the titles with special guest hosts, and the Outfest Screenwriting Lab will present a first-ever live read of scripts from the program. Expanding beyond the film medium, Outfest will offer Boom!, the inaugural Outfest music festival showcasing queer indie pop and rock.
In 2007, Outfest will be screening 235 films from 26 countries and hosting over 40 parties to more than 50,000 attendees at nine venues across Los Angeles including West Hollywood, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Silver Lake, and downtown. Furthermore, the organization celebrates its silver anniversary in 2007, representing 25 years since it was founded by volunteers on the UCLA campus in 1982. Since its inception, Outfest has played a huge part in the growing popularity of LGBTQ media and the acceptance of LGBTQ professionals by the mainstream media as a whole.
“Over that past quarter century, Outfest has contributed to the enormous transformation of lesbian and gay identity and visibility across this country and around the world,” said Outfest Executive Director, Stephen Gutwillig.
“I’m not sure any of us present at Outfest’s humble yet passionate birth at UCLA could have predicted the longevity, scope and influence the organization would eventually attain,” said Robert Rosen, Dean, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television and a co-founder of Outfest. “UCLA is proud to continue its partnership with Outfest and to collaborate on new and vital initiatives such as the Outfest Legacy Project for LGBT Film Preservation.”
Outfest Achievement Award Recipient – Bill Condon
Bill Condon will be the recipient of the 2007 Outfest Achievement Award. The Oscar® winning writer/director secured his place in LGBT film history with “Gods and Monsters” as well as “Kinsey,” but he is best known as the celebrated director of last year’s blockbuster “Dreamgirls.” A reception will be held at the DGA on Saturday, July 14th at 6:00PM. In addition, “Dreamgirls” will be screened during the boisterous, annual Sing-Along screening taking place at 8:30PM on July 19 at the Ford Amphitheater.
“On our silver anniversary, it’s fitting that we honor gentleman and long-time friend of Outfest Bill Condon,” said Gutwillig. “He’s a visionary artist whose work seamlessly marries words and images into indelible stories on film.”
Opening Night Gala Screening – “Save Me”
On July 12th at 8:00PM at LA’s historic Orpheum Theatre, Outfest will present its 25th Opening Night Gala featuring “Save Me,” a powerful film exploring one of the most polarizing religious and sexual debates in America. Openly gay actor Chad Allen (“The Donald Strachey Mystery Series”), Outfest veteran Judith Light (“Law & Order: SVU”, “Ugly Betty”) and Robert Gant (“Queer as Folk”) star in this film about a gay relationship in an ex-gay Christian ministry. With a nuanced screenplay by Craig Chester, Alan Hines and Robert Desiderio, “Save Me” boasts excellent performances and a creative team with years of Outfest history.
It wouldn’t be Outfest without the legendary after-parties and Outfest’s 25th year will not disappoint with the infamous, on-premise Opening Night Gala after-party attracting thousands of bacchanalians, plus food from over 30 LA restaurants and purveyors.
Closing Night Gala Screening – “Kiss the Bride”
The Closing Night Gala will return to the Orpheum on July 23 at 8:00PM with the world premiere of the first film to be completed from the Outfest Screenwriting Lab. Written by Ty Lieberman and directed by “Latter Days” director C. Jay Cox’ “Kiss the Bride” is a hilarious comedy of past meets present, Matt (Phillip Kramer) learns that his old sweetheart Ryan (James O’Shea) is about to get married to Alex (Tori Spelling) and returns to rescue him.
Outfest Legacy Project Gala – “Parting Glances” (Restoration World Premiere)
The first feature film to be restored by the Outfest Legacy Project for LGBT Film Preservation—a collaboration between Outfest and the UCLA Film & Television Archive—is among the most beloved LGBTQ films of the last 25 years, “Parting Glances.” Bill Sherwood’s warm, moving debut had a big impact of the burgeoning indie film scene of the mid ‘80’s. The 1986 film established itself in the hearts of gay moviegoers and launched the career of Steve Buscemi. After AIDS claimed Sherwood in 1990, “Parting Glances” faced the limbo and deterioration to which many queer, indie films are consigned, but the Outfest Legacy Project has created fresh 35mm prints from the original Super 16mm, restored the soundtrack, and saved this timeless piece of film history.
Dramatic Centerpiece – “Shelter”
On Wednesday, July 18th at 8:30PM, The Ford Amphitheatre will showcase Outfest’s Dramatic Centerpiece, “Shelter”, writer/director Jonah Markowitz’s first feature produced by Outfest sponsor here! Network. In “Shelter”, Zach is a dead-end surfer kid stuck supporting his family, when he starts hanging with Shaun (played by Brad Rowe of “Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss”) and the two become lovers, forcing him to choose between supporting his family and pursuing his own dreams.
Documentary Centerpiece – “For the Bible Tells Me So”
“For the Bible Tells Me So” is the Documentary Centerpiece for the festival and will screen at the DGA on July 17 at 7:30PM. Filmmaker Daniel Karslake explores the way religious conservatives have misled the public into believing the Bible forbids homosexuality through the unfolding of five moving stories of Christian families with gay or lesbian members, including the Gephardts, and the reflections of major Biblical scholars.
With “Save Me”, “For the Bible Tells Me So” forms the cornerstone of this year’s “Queers in Christ” series, a collection of accomplished films that explore the hot topic of sexual identity and religion. “The Believers”—a documentary about a transgender gospel choir—“Rock Haven” and “We’re All Angels” round out the series.
Awards Night Screening – “Itty Bitty Titty Committee”
Director Jamie Babbit’s (“But I’m a Cheerleader”) satirical romantic comedy “Itty Bitty Titty Committee” completes Outfest’s gala programming as the Awards Night screening. Imbued with riot grrrl spirit and an indie rock soundtrack, “Itty Bitty…” takes a journey through feminist subculture when uninformed Anna, played by Melanie Diaz (A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints), is seduced away from her older girlfriend (“Thirtysomething’s” Melanie Mayron) by femme anarchist Sadie, played by Nicole Vicius of “Half Nelson”. The Awards Night Gala will take place at the Ford Amphitheatre on Sunday, July 22 at 7:30PM.
Outfest Panel Discussions
This year’s panel discussions are both star-studded and thought-provoking. “Brothers & Sisters: We are Family” brings together the executive producer Ken Olin, creator Jon Robin Baitz, story editor David Marshall Grant, and award-winning cast members Sally Field and Rachel Griffiths to discuss the groundbreaking hit ABC show “Brothers & Sisters”. “Ugly Betty” creator Silvio Horta, executive producer Marco Pennette, plus cast members will discuss fish-out-of-water cross over comedy in “Ugly Betty: Is a Beautiful Thing.”
Outfest will revisit its 25 year legacy through the eyes of actors and directors in “25 Years of Gay Storytelling” with Paris Barclay (“NYPD Blue” and “LOST”) Arthur Hiller (“Making Love” and “Love Story”), Kimberly Pierce (“The L Word” and “Boys Don’t Cry”), and Ash Christian of “Fat Girls” and “Mangus!” The thriving subculture of Gay Gaming will also be explored in “Ga(y)ming: Coming Out Virtually.”
Outfest’s 25th Anniversary Special Programming
The Outfest 25th anniversary expanded Platinum section, Outfest’s showcase of cutting edge work in a range of mediums, will bestow its first-ever tribute to the grand dame of lesbian experimental film, Barbara Hammer, the most prolific lesbian filmmaker in history. She will appear in-person at two screenings at the REDCAT July 14th and 15th at 4:00pm, “Hot, Hot Hammer” and “Super Dykes, Super Strength.”
Four extraordinary films from Outfest’s “25 Films That Changed Our Lives” will be featured during the festival, introduced by special guests such as Bruce Vilanch and Jane Lynch—“High Art”, “Longtime Companion”, “I’ve Heard the Mermaid Singing”, and “Poison.” An expansion of the Outfest Screenwriting Lab will see the first-ever public readings of five featured scripts, plus Boom!, the inaugural Outfest Music Festival, will premiere at The Echo on July 18-19 and feature bands such as Red Car, Vivek, Emily Wells, Team Dresch and more.
For more information and for a complete listing of films in the Festival, log on to www.Outfest.org or call 213-480-7065. Festival tickets go on sale on May 30th to Outfest members and on June 8th to the general public. Special ticket packages are also available. Outfest’s 25th film festival is presented by Axium.
About Outfest
Outfest is a leading showcase for diverse, international lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) film and video. Outfest produces the oldest and largest continuous film festival in Los Angeles, the only LGBT weekly screening series in the country as well as the only LGBT people of color film festival. Since 1982, Outfest has presented more than 4,200 film and video titles for audiences of well over half a million people.
