For 43 years, Outfest has been a vital home for LGBTQ+ storytellers and a beloved part of Los Angeles’ cultural fabric. Like many queer and arts organizations, we faced serious challenges in 2023—including rising costs, the impact of the WGA and SAG strikes, and a concerning decline in corporate support for LGBTQ+ causes which all took a toll. We made the difficult decision to pause programming for 2024 so we could regroup, rebuild, and reimagine what Outfest can and should be in this moment.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our community, a dedicated new Board, and the generosity of our funders and allies, Outfest is coming back in 2025.

Outfest’s next chapter isn’t just about screening films—it’s about creating the conditions for LGBTQ+ creatives to thrive. It’s about ensuring artists have the support, resources, and visibility to take ownership of their narratives and reshape culture through unapologetically original work.

It’s no longer about curating from the top down. It’s about cultivating a creative ecosystem—a garden for growth—where boundary-breaking storytellers can bloom on their own terms. And it’s about inviting audiences into that garden—not just to observe, but to participate in a living, evolving culture of queer joy, complexity, and brilliance.

And just as important, Outfest is a community anchor—a place for LGBTQ+ people to gather, celebrate, heal, and be fully seen. In a world where some are free to live openly and others still face violence, erasure, or moral judgment, Outfest stands as both beacon and bridge—connecting generations, identities, and industries—and as a ground breaker, clearing paths for bold new voices to thrive. It offers joy, safety, and solidarity for those who dare to live fully, tell their truth, and for those seeking stories that help them understand, feel, and imagine what’s possible.

Join us in our next steps. Donate, volunteer, invite friends and attend a screening. You will be a part of charting Outfest’s future.

With gratitude,

Christopher Racster and the Outfest Board of Directors