WINNERS OF THE 2023 OUTFEST FILM FESTIVAL

"Something You Said Last Night", the debut feature by writer/director, Luis De Filippis, received the Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding Narrative Feature at the conclusion of the 41st Annual Outfest LA Film Festival. The film tells the story of a young transgender woman who goes on a family trip that forces her to deal with the complicated relationship with them. "Anhell69" won the Grand Jury Award for Documentary Feature. This hybrid of non-fiction and fiction from filmmaker, Theo Montoya explores queer life in Medellín, Colombia that is filled with trauma and violence. And "Le Favolose (The Fabulous Ones)" from Italy by Roberta Torre was awarded the Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding International Narrative Feature. This film also merges documentary and narrative in a story about a group of trans women who discover a note from a friend who died years ago expressing her final wish, with them coming together to try and make it a reality.

Here is a partial list of winners of the 2023 Outfest LA Film Festival:

Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding North American Narrative Feature: "Something You Said Last Night"



Grand Jury Prize for Screenwriting of North American Narrative Feature: Sebastián Silva, "Rotting in the Sun"
North American Narrative Feature Special Mentions: "Fancy Dance" and "The People’s Joker"
Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding Performance, North American Narrative Feature: Isaac Krasner, "Big Boys"

Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding U.S. Narrative Short: "Dilating for Maximum Results"
The Paul D. Lerner and Stephen Reis Grand Jury Award for Documentary Feature: "Anhell69"



Documentary Feature Special Mention: "Queendom"
Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding Documentary Short Film: "Love, Jamie"
Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding International Narrative Feature: "Le Favolose (The Fabulous Ones)"



Grand Jury Prize for Screenwriting, International Narrative Feature: Seán Devlin, Jaya and Arnel Pablo, "Asog"



Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding Performance, International Narrative Feature: Choi Hae-jun, "Peafowl"



Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding International Narrative Short Film: "An Avocado Pit"

Special Programming Awards (presented by the senior Outfest programming team):

Emerging Talent: Alice Maio Mackay, "T Blockers"
Artistic Achievement: Ethan Fuirst, "Rumpelstiltskin"
Social Impact: Nneka Onuorah, "Truth Be Told"

This was a very strong year at Outfest and I saw many good movies. One of my favorites was the latest from Chilean filmmaker, Sebastián Silva with “Rotting in the Sun”. Another solid example of auto-fiction with Silva playing Sebastián Silva, a morose filmmaker living in Mexico City consumed by drugs and thoughts of suicide. After going on a beach vacation to try and clear his head, Sebastián runs into the outrageous gay influencer, Jordan Firstman (played by social media personality and comedian, Jordan Firstman) who demands that they work on something together. They plan to meet back in the city, with Jordan staying with Sebastián, but this is where the film abruptly shifts from a breezy, dark comedy (with unexpected moments of hardcore, gay sex) to a hilarious yet disturbing mystery-thriller. Jordan arrives but Sebastián is nowhere to be found. Sebastián's housekeeper, Vero (Catalina Saavedra who starred in Silva's award-winning 2009 film, "The Maid") knows exactly where he is and because of a fatal accident, has to go through some extraordinary lengths to make sure he's not located. “Rotting in the Sun” certainly deserved the Outfest award for Best Screenplay as Silva fearlessly uses elements of himself, along with Firstman as deranged characters and inventively takes us on a wild, meta romp that is filled with fanciful thoughts on class, gay life and the shallowness of fame in social media.

The documentary from Sam Shadid, "Hidden Master: The Legacy of George Platt Lynes" brings long overdue attention to this gifted photographer who first found fame in fashion during the 1930s and 1940s before putting much of his focus on taking erotically-charged photos of the male nude. Born in New Jersey, Lynes had an early interest in photographing the male body, first taking pictures of his younger brother, Russell. An early trip to Paris would change his outlook on life, befriending many of the queer creatives that were living there like Jean Couteau and Gertrude Stein, deciding to live openly gay which was very brave act at the time. Returning to the US and settling in New York City, Lynes considered a career as a writer before moving on to the idea of becoming a professional photographer. He photographed models, friends and lovers in various stages of dress which included publisher, Monroe Wheeler and writer, Glenway Wescott which Lynes had engaged in a three-way relationship with for about a decade. The work of Lynes, who died in 1955 at the age of forty-eight, had largely fallen into obsurity with the fascinating "Hidden Master" helping to place a well deserved spotlight back on his bold, influencial photography. Lynes had met noted Sexologist, Dr. Alfred Kinsey, with the men forming a bond and friendship, and the Kinsey Institute would later take a large collection of Lynes' photographs to archive including a very small number that still has never been publicly viewed, even by staff, per Lynes' request.

And finally, "Kokomo City", D. Smith's riveting documentary on four Black transgender sex workers; Daniella Carter and Dominque Silver from NYC and Koko Da Doll and Liyah Mitchell, both hailing from Atlanta, who recount their intense expereinces and reveal some tragic, brutally honest worldviews. Shot in vivid black & white and features inventively reinacted moments of their personal anecdotes, "Kokomo City" is a moving yet decidely fun document into the lives of these women who refuse to be seen as victims. Smith was a successful music producer with a couple of Grammy nominations but once they transitioned, the business left them behind with Smith ending up briefly homeless. But Smith persevered and was inspired to make this film for those less fortunate and had fewer options. Sadly, Koko Da Doll was murdered in April and Smith has stated that this film will help keep her spirit alive so that she will never be forgotten.

DALILAND (2023)

Written by John C. Walsh

Directed By Mary Harron

Where & When: Nuart Theatre, West Los Angeles, CA  June 15, 2023 7:30 PM



Salvador Dalí was an artist from Spain who became renowned beginning in the 1920's by shocking the world with his surrealist vision with work that provoked and challenged, filled with dreamlike landscapes, disturbing themes and sexual imagery. And the gifted Dalí's personal life, with his equally eccentric wife, Gala, was just as unorthodox and chaotic as his art.

"Daliland", the latest from director Mary Harron, explores the artist years after success, fame and living life wildly and weirdly on his terms. Much like Warhol, Dalí had parlayed his accomplishments as an artist into becoming a celebrated pop-culture figure. But times and tastes change and now in the mid 1970's, Dalí is struggling to stay relevant and keep the money rolling in with his wife cracking the whip for him to continue painting. And while the film does capture some of the craziness that Dalí generates and surrounds himself with, "Daliland" remains oddly a conventional bio-drama, never generating a sense of vivid artistry and otherworldly visuals that would have been expected in a story involving this singular artist.

"Daliland" opens with Dalí's appearance on the game show, "What's My Line?" with Ben Kingsley inserted in the actual vintage footage with a blindfolded Arlene Francis trying to guess who he is by asking questions. When asked if he plays sports, Dalí states that he does, assuming they mean in general, before the host steers them back on to his actual occupation. After several more inquiries, Francis guesses his identity, revealing that Dalí has become just as well-known as his art.

We move on years later with Dalí, living momentarily at the St. Regis in New York, needing to paint not only for an upcoming show but to maintain the lavish lifestyle he has acquired. James Linton (Christopher Briney), a young man who had artistic ambitions but dropped out of school, has just gotten a job at an art gallery as an assistant. This gallery represents Dalí and the new hire has been given the task of making a special delivery. With an envelope that must be given directly to Mrs. Dalí (Barbara Sukowa), James arrives to a boisterous party scene in a room filled with famous faces and exotic hangers-on. The handsome man attracts the attention of the Dalís with James quickly swept up into their orbit, being temporarily borrowed from the gallery to assist the painter.

The gallery is more than happy to lend their employee, with him being able to report back on the artist's progress with his paintings, but James has his work cut out for him. Dalí is easily distracted, observing the beautiful people gathered in his home, using them as canvases, and finding great fascination with the ordinary mechanisms of the world (like a paper coffee cup).

Flaunting an ostentatious style that included a waxed upturned mustache, madcap behavior and referring to himself in the third person, Dalí was certainly a character. And Kingsley certainly brings it all to life, gleefully going wild-eyed and outrageously excessive as the artist. But strangely the focus of "Daliland" is not really on Salvador Dalí. That would be on James, with him serving as our guide as he enters the strange world of Dalí wide-eyed and completely baffled. There is also some romance, with James falling for the aloof beauty, Ginesta (Suki Waterhouse), one of Dalí's art groupies, but it's all predictable and uninteresting.

We never really get a proper understanding of what made Dalí become the flamboyant, quirky artist, "Dalí". There is a brief moment where we flashback to see how a young Dalí (played by Ezra Miller, an actor who has become problematic of late) first met the Russian-born Gala (Avital Lvova). While she was ten years his senior and already married, there was a deep connection between them that went beyond emotional or sexual that created a bond they couldn't shake. Over time, their relationship has grown volatile and toxic, with Gala engaging in several affairs which Dalí didn't mind since he was phobic regarding sex, preferring to just watch, yet the couple still remained deeply devoted to each other.

Harron first made an impression in the mid 1990's, during the days when African-Americans, the LGBTQ+ communities and female filmmakers were emerging with indie film movements to create stories that reflected their lives, with her debut, "I Shot Andy Warhol" that features a mesmerizing performance from Lili Taylor as Valerie Solanas and her failed assassination attempt on the pop artist. Harron's follow-up was "American Psycho", her 2000 adaptation of the controversial book by Bret Easton Ellis, a dark and disturbing comedy set in the '80's about a New York banker who is also a serial killer. While the film wasn't considered much of a box-office success at the time, "American Psycho" was well-received by critics and went on to develop a large cult following.

With her stellar, early accomplishments, Harron should have had an extensive film career, like many of her male peers would achieve during this time. But due to having difficulty being able to get projects off the ground (meaning studios refusing to back them), she would only be able to make three little-seen, indie features following these two impressive movies, spending much of her time over the years directing episodes for various television series.

Harron does manage to achieve moments of visual flair and influence some fine performances in "Daliland". Yet overall the film feels far too safe, lacking in solid storytelling or creative inspiration. Perhaps the years as a director-for-hire has sadly caused her to resist taking considerable artistic risks with this recent return to the big screen.

2023 OUTFEST FILM FESTIVAL

The 2023 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival is set to begin on July 13th and running through July 23rd. This annual event, now in it's forty-first year, celebrates queer cinema with a festival designed to increase diversity and visibility for storytellers and audiences alike with works from across the globe. Outfest LA will once again this year offer in-person and virtual screenings. The filmmaker, Andrew Ahn ("Fire Island") will be honored with the Outfest Achievement Award. Melissa McCarthy and her husband, Ben Falcone with receive the James Schamus Ally Award for their support to promote our communities’ stories to a broader audience.

The Opening Night Gala will be held at The Orpheum Theatre in DTLA with the film being "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" by writer/director, Aitch Alberto. Based on the YA novel by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, this coming-of-age romance, set in the mid-1980's, focuses on two Mexican-American teens; Aristotle (Max Pelayo) and Dante (Reese Gonzales) who live in El Paso, Texas. They meet one summer, becoming fast, close friends, and we watch as they struggle with identity, sexuality and family relationships. Eugenio Derbez and Eva Longoria co-star.



Some highlights from this year's fest will include "Commitment to Life", the latest documentary by Jeffrey Schwarz, which explores the city of Los Angeles and how it would play a critical role in the battle against HIV/AIDS with doctors, movie stars and activists that came together to change the path of the epidemic. Another non-fiction film, "Hidden Master: The Legacy of George Platt Lynes" looks at the legendary photographer who began his career photographing celebrities before shifting to work with the male nude, creating pictures that were decidedly sensuous and radically explicit for their time. "Chocolate Babies", this 1996 feature film by Stephen Winter in a new restoration by the UCLA Film & Television Archive, is a hilarious yet poignant comedy about a Black, queer activist group planning to kidnap a closeted councilman.



A special centerpiece screening of "Passages", the new feature by Ira Sachs is a romantic-drama set in France about a long married gay couple (Ben Whishaw and Franz Rogowski) whose relationship is shaken when one has an affair with a woman (Adèle Exarchopoulos). "Problemista", the directorial film debut by Julio Torres, features the comedian/artist as an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador struggling to make something happen in New York. When his work visa is about to expire, he gets a job assisting an eccentric art-world denizen (Tilda Swinton). And Outfest teams up with the American Cinematheque for a special screening of the Oscar-winning musical, "Chicago" with a Sing-a-Long on Tuesday, July 18 at the Los Feliz 3. Theatre.





And the Closing Night Gala at The Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood will be the documentary, "Chasing Chasing Amy". This film explores the impact of the 1997 indie comedy film by Kevin Smith and how it affected the director, Sav Rodgers' own queer journey as a trans man. Writer/director, Smith and stars, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Lee, and Guinevere Turner share their insights in this film about this now cult classic.



For the complete list of films, events and to purchase tickets for all screenings, please click below:

2023 Outfest LA Film Festival