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.