Outfest Fusion QTBIPOC Film Festival
The Outfest Fusion QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous and People of Color) Film Festival curates and exhibits films, and other cultural and creative expressions from QTBIPOC creators that range from seasoned vets to exciting new voices. The festival provides both the community and these creators opportunities to participate in various events, workshops, masterclasses, and panels, both to provide networking opportunities and filmmaker development as well as to create an environment where we look towards building solutions to the industry’s gatekeeping against these marginalized voices.
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Outfest Fusion History
The Outfest Fusion QTBIPOC Film Festival began in 2004 amongst a circle of community organizers and Outfest Board Members in response to a public and industry outcry for an event and inclusive space where the convergence of storytellers and filmmakers of color who were struggling for visibility of their work and opportunity could receive it. Diverse LGBTQIA+ audiences, from regional to international, were also finding a lack of inclusive spaces and celebrations that featured expertly curated and exhibited films, stories and art that reflected the unique lives of themselves. To date, Outfest Fusion has showcased over 10,000 works to nearly 250k audiences and impacted over 2500 community members and industry career climbers with its Fusion workshops and events.
Programming & Education
Outfest Fusion is a celebration of the rich heritage of the LGBTQIA+ individuals that populate greater Los Angeles. The films and TV shows that screen at Outfest Fusion showcases the stories of queer and trans communities of color, enabling these communities to see themselves on the big screen, often for the very first time. The ability to tell one’s own story is a powerful experience and to be able to see oneself fully in a story is a validating experience, and both of these moments converge to underscore the universality of our lived experiences.
Artist & Filmmaker Opportunities
The Outfest Fusion lineup includes educational workshops, masterclasses, and panels for both the filmmakers as well as the public to empower Queer and Trans Black, Indigenous, people of color to use these tools to create content and tell their own stories. These educational opportunities are created in collaboration with Outfest Fusion’s numerous individual and community partners, all working in tandem to help uplift these voices. In addition, every year, Outfest Fusion hosts the Outfest InFusion Studio summit, in partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal. Outfest Fusion Film Festival alumni and filmmaker members who attend get to engage with studio-partner speakers, panels, workshops, and an exclusive behind-the-scenes studio tour for attendees. InFusion forges connections between emerging filmmaker’s LGBTQIA+ of color and established studios to nurture their relationships.
Public One-Minute Movie Contest
The One-Minute Movie Contest is the most democratic way to discover new voices and bring them into the Outfest Fusion family. When the theme is announced, aspiring and established filmmakers alike use their cell phones or cameras to shoot a one-minute short film on the topic. All of the submissions are screened at the Outfest Fusion Finale Party, followed by audience voting and an announcement of the winners. Winners receive a cash prize as well as an Outfest membership and their films go on to play at the Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQIA+ Film Festival.