When the board and staff of OUTFEST sat down to discuss themes for our seventeenth anniversary, everyone agreed that our primary goal was to create an environment where filmmakers, audiences and the entertainment industry could come together and feel welcome. And as we looked at the films, venues and new initiatives that are part of OUTFEST ‘99, we realized that there could not be a better year to extend the welcome mat.

Beginning with a Welcome Home to Hollywood bash at the Pantages on Opening Night after two fabulous years downtown, to an expansion of the successful outdoor OUTFEST Under the Stars series at the Ford Amphitheater, to special Centerpiece and Closing Night screenings at the recently renovated Egyptian Theater, OUTFEST is forging new ground in creating exciting new home venues for gay and lesbian film.

OUTFEST ‘99 also marks the debut of OUTFEST California, a three-city tour (Fresno, Santa Barbara and San Diego) to bring home gay and lesbian film to audiences across the state. In addition, OUTFEST will host Summit ‘99, the first ever conference for programmers of gay and lesbian film, in recognition of the explosive growth in queer cinema exhibition around the world. Finally, because of the move to our permanent home at the Village at Ed Gould Plaza last fall, OUTFEST has been able to create the first-ever, year-round home for gay and lesbian film through a weekly film series every Wednesday. Add in the comfort, convenience and history of the Director’s Guild of America, our primary venue, to everything else going on this year and OUTFEST ‘99 suddenly seems a welcome home celebration worthy to end the millennium.

The close of OUTFEST ‘99 also marks the end of my tenure after five fantastic years at the helm of this amazing organization. After being surrounded by the talent and vision of so many filmmakers for so many years, I have found myself inescapably drawn to following my own artistic impulses and will be stepping down in August to write.

I look forward to welcoming you in person at the festival this summer and joining you in the audience for OUTFEST 2000.

Morgan Rumpf, Executive Director