In 2019, Damien S. Navarro was selected by the Board of Outfest to become its next Executive Director. As Executive Director Damien oversees all day-to-day leadership and oversight responsibility for Outfest staff and programs, including fundraising, finance and administration, staff supervision, and external relations. In partnership with the Board of Directors, has been specifically tapped to lead Outfest into its next 40 years, including the implementation of a strategic vision and direction for the organization, as informed by a recently completed five-year Strategic Plan that expands its footprint nationally, globally and digitally.

Damien is a native Angeleno and a graduate of film studies from California State University, Fullerton. He began his career as a start-up entrepreneur, building the LA-based digital marketing and tech agency, Earthbound Media Group (EMG) / Brighter. Following it’s in 2013, Damien co-created The Institute, a boutique marketing and fundraising consulting firm and joined the faculty of Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. In 2017, he became President of VIMBY, a global content and brand entertainment studio previously co-owned by Mark Burnett and MGM. 

His business and creative portfolio includes award-winning docs-series, as well as national and international advertising, events management, public relations, and fundraising campaigns for several Fortune 100 global brands, studios, nonprofits and publishers. He has sat on the boards of a number of Southern California trade and industry organizations, including the OC Ad Club and Think LA, and has been selected regularly as a public speaker and mentor for South by Southwest (SXSW), the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

Damien is the proud owner of Monkey Business Farms, a sustainable urban farm in LA’s Laurel Canyon, where he lives with his husband Adam.

Tarik brings nearly 20 years of fundraising knowledge and experience to this new role. For more than 9 years, Tarik has devoted his talents to developing resources and support for the health and wellness needs of LGBTQ+ and other underserved people with APLA Health (formerly AIDS Project Los Angeles) and Men’s Health Foundation.

In his role, Tarik will lead and grow fundraising initiatives, including events, annual fund/major gifts, membership, sponsorship, foundation relations, and planned giving. He joins the Outfest team as a hands-on leader, adept relationship-builder, and passionate advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and its visual arts and history.

Faridah Gbadamosi is a pop culture-obsessed lover of film working towards making the space more inclusive. In particular, her interests are in changing the space of tastemakers, rethinking the models for curation and exhibition.

She has worked in a variety of roles at different film festivals and other film organizations including the California Film Institute, Athena Film Festival, True/False Film Fest, Tribeca, SIFF, and many more. She is very excited to be joining the Outfest Fusion team as the Artistic Manager for this year’s festival.