This year marks the 40th anniversary of Outfest, the Los Angeles based film festival that has been screening, promoting and preserving cinema about the LGBTQ+ communities from across the globe. Beginning as the "Gay and Lesbian Media Festival and Conference" at UCLA, Outfest has evolved into one of the biggest events that has continuously been dedicated in mentoring future filmmakers, encouraging diversity in the community and protecting LGBTQ films for future generations. Outfest LA 2022 will begin on July 14th, running through July 24th and will be an in-person and virtual screening event.
The Opening Night Gala at The Orpheum Theatre will be "Anything's Possible", the directorial debut of the Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning performer, Billy Porter. Eva Reign plays Kelsa, a trans high-school senior who has a good life; popular in school, a supportive parent and a potential new love, Khal (Abubakr Ali). But Kelsa's best friend also has eyes on Khal, leading to messy and complicated problems for her.
The Legacy Centerpiece with be the 20th anniversary screening of "Far From Heaven", Todd Haynes's exquisitely rendered melodrama dealing with the homophobia and racial tension during the era of the 1950's. Julianne Moore stars as a housewife who discovers her husband (Dennis Quaid) romantically involved with another man, leading her to fall into a close friendship with her African-American gardener (Dennis Haysbert). Haynes, Moore and producer, Christine Vachon, will be on hand in person following the screening.
There will also be an anniversary screening of "Punks", Patrik-Ian Polk’s groundbreaking debut romantic comedy from 2000 about four queer, African-American friends in West Hollywood dealing with sex, dating and friendship. After the screening on July 16th will be a Q&A moderated by "Dear White People" creator, Justin Simien, along with Polk and cast members, Jazzmun, Vanessa Williams, and Rodney Chester.
The Closing Night Gala will be "They/Them" at The Theatre at Ace Hotel. John Logan, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter, makes his directorial feature film debut with this story about a group of queer and trans teens taken deep into the woods to Whistler Camp, a place that turns out to be a conversion therapy center. Not only do they have to band together to resist this abuse but also deal a with knife-wielding intruder lurking around the camp.
Other events at Outfest include "I Have to Laugh: Comedy Night at the Ford", a lineup of live stand-up comedy featuring Margaret Cho; the Trans, Nonbinary, & Intersex Summit, now in it's 6th year, that feature programs that will showcase a multitude of experiences as a vision for the future; live readings of selected scripts from the Screenwriting Lab; and the Platinum Alchemy Party, a sexy and outrageous event held in two rooms of the historical, Catch One that will feature the Queen of Bounce, Big Freedia.
For the complete listing of films, events and to purchase tickets, please click below:
2022 Outfest LA Film Festival
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